And So It Begins

Read this in a day a definite can't put it down book. Murder,lies, intrigue this book has it all. The book starts with a murder scene, but then goes back to build up a picture of what happened leading up to that night. Is Evie lying, will she literally get away with murder. So much going on it keeps you guessing right until the end. The back story of the two detectives builds up a picture of them so that we hope we see more of them.
Rachel yet again doesn't disappoint can't wait until her next one she's in my top 5 favourite authors

Rachel Abbott never disappoints and her latest novel is right up there with her best. An enthralling psychological thriller with a new police protagonist in the form of Sergeant Stephanie King.

Set in Cornwall and opening with the murder of a well know local photographer Mark/Marcus found dead in bed with his partner, Evie. Most of the narrative takes place as she is put on trial for killing him.
This is a seriously addictive read which is full of twists and turns. There are plenty of dark secrets revealed as the novel progresses. It has some emotional themes including revenge, abuse and obsession.

All the characters are well drawn and narrative races along. I'm looking forward to reading more about Stephanie King. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Read it in one sitting late into the night! Couldn’t put it down, well I tried, but I kept picking it back up again!

What a great read! It’s in three parts and it kept me guessing right to the end, and even then there’s a twist, you can’t be sure of what is true and what isn’t. Layers of past and present are built up in such a gripping fashion that the book is hard to put down! I will definitely recommend this one!

Thank you for providing me with a copy of the book. I loved this. Read it in a day as couldn't put it down.

Wow! What a page turner!! I really didn’t know what to believe. Beautifully told and plotted. Love the police characters and would like to see them in future books. Cleverly narrated by the female characters. A good read.

And so it begins by Rachel Abbott.
Evie met Markand they started seeing each other. Now they have a little girl and are living together.  But one night sergeant Stephanie King and detective Jason are called to the home. A woman has phoned the police scared that someone will hurt her. But when they get there they find a room. A bed full of blood with 2 bodies on it. Are they both dead? What happened? Stephanie will find outwhat happened? Won't She?
An absolutely fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters.  Especially Evie. I had my theory about who did it.  I didn't like Cleo at all.  Not how she treated Evie.  Omg. Didn't see that coming.  What a twist.  5*.

I must admit I've read all Rachel's books and was looking forward to this book with trepidation as I've loved all the others and this was different but omg it was so good I read it in a day!! I couldn't put it down I needed to know what was going on and couldn't predict where it was going!!
The characters were believable I'm hopeful that we will hear more from some of them!! Warning though don't read when you need to get up for work!!! x

Complex plot which twists and turns and makes you want to keep reading to find out what really happened. Kept me guessing right to the end. Will definitely check out other books by Rachel Abbott.

Loved this book!! Was so addictive, I couldn’t put it down, read it in one sitting. Chilling and twisty, ending was completely unexpected.

Another great thriller by Rachel Abbott. Plenty of twists which we have come to expect from her books. Just as you think you have sorted out what has happened a spanner is thrown into the works and you have to think again. A brilliant psychological thriller which I couldn’t put down. I can’t wait for the next book. I highly recommend all of Rachel’s books.

And so it begins by Rachel Abbott:

Rachel Abbot is one of my favourite authors and this latest book doesn't disappoint!

We meet a new detective in this book Stephanie King, who is a likeable character. The story starts with Stephanie attending a murder scene and then the book really starts from a few months previous leading up to that night and the consequences. I don't want to give anything away but this is full of intrigue with a fair few twists and turns along the way. Its a 5* read in my opinion!

I can't believe I saw and read this in one day. It was so fantastically written and expertly portrayed that I felt I was watching a TV show. The courtroom scenes were fabulous and were completely spot on.

The characters were fantastic, well described and had complex personalities; especially Evie and Cleo. Both woman racked with demons and a past that's quite horrifying. Evie more so.
I loved how Evie was made out to be and then how her character morphed into a completely new person; a terrifyingly chilling one. She was so believable and likeable and the ending was so chilling that it gave me goosebumps.

I hated Cleo from the get go and her character just got more infuriating as the story went on... especially with the situation with baby Lulu. She was controlling and vindictive, she didn't like ANYONE and she was annoying. But she made for such a good character to read!

The ending... I was SO shocked!! I honestly thought it was the person but then.. BOOM! The end of this book has my mouth open with shock; my jaw practically touching the floor. INCREDIBLE!

But, saying all that and how much I truly loved this story, there was some areas in the book that I had trouble with. Some places seems quite jumbled, in the middle(ish), and I couldn't decipher who was telling the story. You'll also find it'll jump into first person then back to the other and it made those parts a little difficult to understand. I also found there was some contradictory bits that included Cleo and wish now that I had made not of them so I can remember exactly what part. But then a few bits later the whole story changed again and it was quite confusing.

Great read, hard to put down, suspenseful, incredibly well written... this book is one of the best psychological thrillers I've ever read, definitely in my top 10. I can't wait to pick up this author's other work. She's a phenomenal writer and an awesome story teller.

This book kept me guessing all the way through. I kept going back and forth into believing and not believing the story Evie had given. It sounded very plausible, but something was awry - no it had to be true.

It kept me page turning all the way through. I both wanted to know the end and didn't want to finish it.

A refreshing and descriptive writing style makes this book a change from the usual thriller. A brilliant, twisted storyline that keeps you guessing until the very end. Wonderfully believable characters which draw you in. A book well worth reading

Oh my goodness what an awesome read. Mind blowingly amazing! I could not put it down, it’s a compulsive page turner. If you love the psychological thriller genres it’s a must read.

The plot and twist is exceptional, fast paced and very easy to read.

Thank you for our arc. 5 stars without a doubt.

I have read the previous seven Rachel Abbott novels and found them all compelling reading and thoroughly enjoyable. ‘And So It Begins’ is as good, if not better than the others.

Mark is a photographer and Evie commissions him to take pictures of her. They become close, fall in love and when Evie becomes pregnant she finally moves in with him. His stunning house was from his previous marriage and his former wife was found tragically dead at the bottom of the stairs leading down to the gym area. Cleo, Mark’s sister, disapproves of the relationship from the beginning.

There is an undercurrent of lies and deception throughout the book and it is not clear until the very end where all the deceit lies.

The characters are cleverly developed and my opinion of who I liked and disliked changed as the story progressed apart from Stephanie. She is the police sergeant who attended the death of Mark’s first wife and attends the same house when the police receive the call with a woman screaming that she is being hurt. When Stephanie arrives she finds Mark is dead and a room full of blood, some of it Evie’s.

There are numerous twists and turns with an excellent ending.

Thanks to NetGalley, Headline Wildfire and Rachel Abbot for my ARC in return from my honest review.

Excellent novel. Highly recommended.

This is a rather different Rachel Abbott book in that the second half is effectively a courtroom drama. All the major characters in this book made me uneasy for various reasons. Nobody was being honest. Everyone was, in some way, damaged. The thing about damaged people is that they are all damaged in a different way. This has given an excellent author a great deal of material to work with. Guilty or not guilty? Murder or manslaughter? I had my mind changed for me so many times during this book. It’s a tour de force from the author and a totally entrancing read.

And so it begins by Rachel Abbott was an excellent psychological thriller, full of lies, deception, murder and revenge.
Evie is in a relationship with Mark and they have a baby girl. Mark's sister Cleo is jealous and wants Evie out of the picture.
One evening the police are called to the family home and find Mark dead and Evie injured, did she murder him or was it self defence?
Quite a few twists and turns in the story and an underlying feeling that everything was not quite as it seemed. I didn't predict the ending.
I enjoyed this book it was wickedly good.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book from Rachel Abbott. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
This book introduces a new detective called Stephanie King. Read this book in 2 days. Couldn’t put
it down.

What a fantastic book , loved the twists and turns and the relationships between the characters . This is the first Ive read by this author but judging by the writing skills it won’t be the last . Would highly recommend

This is not a “who done it”, the police know from the beginning that Evie killed her husband Mark. She phoned them and admitted to killing him but she said she had no choice. Evie said she had loved her husband but that she had suffered his abuse and she was in fear for her life. The story that follows the murder is such a tangle of lies and deceit that it is impossible to decide who is telling the truth that is until the mind blowing finale. Another brilliant book from Rachel Abbott, I absolutely loved it.

I loved all Rachel Abbott’s Tom Douglas books, so was intrigued by this new book, with a new location (Cornwall), and a new detective (Stephanie King)

Evie has had a whirlwind romance with Mark, and they have a daughter.
Marks’s sister Cleo is very wary of Evie.
One night, the police are called to their house, where a body is found. Mark’s first wife also died in the house.

That’s the bare bones of the story, but as the tale unfolds, things are not so clear – everyone is hiding secrets.

Some of the book is narrated by Evie, and it soon becomes clear that she has her own agenda.
My feelings for the main characters kept changing, who was lying, who was manipulating whom, nobody was squeaky-clean, and the story built to a climax, where the truth is finally uncovered.

But even then, there are more twists, with a delicious ending.

I look forward to the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read this book.

So if this isn’t the book to read in 2018 I’m not sure what is! Can’t say too much as publication date is Nov but dear god it’s a book and a half....full of twists and turns and just edge of your seat stuff lol a bloody corker of a book!!!

Very good book. Did not expect it to be so descriptive and interesting, I would gladly recommend the book to others, please read.

This is a really good read. I read this in one afternoon. I was totally gripped by it from the start. The twist is very clever. I did not see it coming. The whole book is very well written and very well thought out. Rachel Abbott has written another great book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Excellent story. Wonderful characters and plot line. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.

Another excellent read by Rachel Abbott. I would love to spend a day in her head, where she gets her ideas from I’ll never know. All I do know is she is a literary genius!
You’ll be on your toes right up until the final chapter!

Thanks to Headline for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Rachel Abbott, the Tom Douglas series are among my favourite books so I was really looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint.

Marcus North is found dead in bed with his partner Evie who admits to killing him. Evie is put on trial for murder and what follows is a story of twists where the reader has no idea what is true and what isn't. I was gripped reading this book, there was no way of working out how it was going to go and the end was a real surprise.

Absolutely fantastic read. Thank you NetGalley!

Wow, just wow ! Absolutely loved this one. Could not put it down.

A well paced psychological thriller centring around the relationships between Mark and Evie (who have a baby girl together) and Marks jealous sister Cleo.

The police are called to the family home to find Mark dead and Evie seriously injured. Where was Cleo? What happened? What also happened to Marks first wife who was found dead at the foot of the stairs by Cleo some time before?

There is a feeling right through this book that everything is not quite what it seems but it was hard to say what that was. No spoilers but this should be an enormous hit when it published!


Quite a few twists and turns in the story and an underlying feeling that everything was not quite as it seemed. I didn't predict the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley for this review copy.

This book has been so cleverly written it left me on the edge of my seat throughout. What did happen that terrible night and why. Slowly the full story comes to light but with so many twists and turns along the wAy. I really wanted the answers which means this book is not one that you can put down but also you don’t want it to end. Clear a space in the diary and enjoy this brilliant book. Rachel Abbott gets better with ever book she writes

The story revolves around two women. Cleo is Mark’s sister and has always looked out for him. No woman has ever been good enough for her brother including Mia, his first wife, who was found dead at home after Mark left on a business trip. Then there is Evie, Mark’s partner with whom he has a baby girl, Lulu. One night the police are called to Mark and Evie’s home and arrive to find a tragic scene whereby Mark has died and Evie is accused of his murder. It’s a ‘did she do it?’ Which is very well written. I found it a bit hard to get into the story at first but I hadn’t read the blurb at all, I started reading it purely because I like this author’s work. Anyway after reading a synopsis I then went on to enjoy all the twists, turns and wide eyed moments. I didn’t like the character of Cleo that much so probably wasn’t that sympathetic towards her and her drive to try to prove Evie killed her brother. Overall it’s a story I enjoyed and would recommend it.

A really addictive thriller that keeps you wondering who really has done what.
Evie and Mark are living in a stunning modern house with beautiful see views. They have a young daughter Lulu and Mark’s work as an artist is doing really well. But everything isn’t as idyllic as it should be. As far as Evie is concerned, Cleo, Mark’s sister is far too close. Marks wife died in the house under questionable circumstances that have never been properly explained. Evie has had a series of accidents in the house but are they accidents or is Mark responsible.
Seargent Stephanie King is called to a major incident at the house and the story takes a different turn.
I couldn’t put this down, a true page turner with lots of surprises.

Wow.....just wow!! I was unsure if Rachel Abbott would be able to create another series as thrilling and unputdownable as her books featuring DCI Tom Douglas but I should never have doubted her or her writing skills! The new book features new characters Sergeant Stephanie King and DI Gus Brodie, who’s relationship is revealed to be more than meets the eye. But the main plot of the story revolves around 3 main characters - Evie, her partner Mark and his sister, Cleo. Tragedy follows each of these 3 throughout their lives but nothing is as simple as it appears, and Rachel has done what she is best at.....leaving me on the edge of my seat needing to know more and unable to do anything else until I’ve read the entire book!! Bravo Rachel Abbott!! You’ve done it again! A fantastic book, with so many twists and turns it leaves your spinning, and not quite knowing who to believe. A fantastic start to another no doubt top selling series. I can’t wait for book 2 and to learn more about Stephanie and Gus. 5 stars from me!!

I adore Rachel Abbott. And I loved her new novel "And So It Begins" It has almost everything that I like in a book: believable characters, a good mystery and most of all... a huge dose of suspense! The only thing I missed in this story were the characters, Tom & Becky. Perhaps that's why I feel as if there was something tiny missing from it. But that's just me being obsessed with Rachel's amazing Tom Douglas series. All in all, great read :) Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for ARC of this book.

Fantastic. I genuinely couldn't tell who was telling the truth, to us or to themself, and who was lying. The twists and turns continue right to the very end, and are rarely predictable. The characters are well drawn and believable.
I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A well written book that makes you want to read the next page to see what happens. Gripping and tense. Such a good twist that you don’t expect

Wow - this book was awesome. It had all the components of a good psychological thriller – unreliable narrators, intriguing backstories, oppressive setting etc – but somehow managed to amalgamate all of these elements in a new and interesting way. I can't exactly put my finger on exactly why this book seemed different to other thrillers, I just know it was. Perhaps it was Abbott's unique tone of voice, or maybe it was the way she created the main characters. Either way, this book is full of conflict, intrigue, and twists. During reading, my heart was either hammering with anxiety (the good kind!) or sinking with empathy. I will recommend it to everyone!

This is a stand-alone psychological thriller rather than the next in the author's Tom Douglas series. And what a corker. This author sure knows how to write a gripping book.

This is a chilling read with many twists and turns. Evie lives with Mark, a photographer and their baby daughter Lulu.
Mark’s sister Cleo lives nearby but although Mark is very close to her Evie keeps her at a distance.
Mark’s first wife Mia died in a tragic accident which has left him in a dark place but Evie seems to be bringing him out of himself.
However Cleo doesn’t trust her and when Evie starts having strange accidents, Cleo cannot work out what is going on.
Finally Stephanie the police detective discovers two blood covered figures entwined on the bed in Mark’s house. Someone has been murdered but who is it?
As the novel progresses we see things from Evie’s view and also from Cleo’s. Is Evie a battered wife or is there something else going on? Does Mark have a violent side or is it all an elaborate plot on Evie’s part?
This is a compelling read and it was impossible to guess what was really happening. The end was so spectacular I wasn’t really sure what had happened until the last page.
This is a cleverly written and plotted book which I’m sure will be a big hit.
It is impossible to work out what is going on as Rachel Abbott is very careful not to reveal too much and this certainly keeps the reader on their toes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Well to say I am super impressed and a bit disappointed with myself for not reading any Rachel Abbott books before now, is an understatement, and I now need to catch up on previous books.

The two main characters Evie and Cleo are both flawed in their own ways and my opinions about them both kept on changing throughout. Cleo is a strange woman and it seems that the only two people she truly cares about are her brother Mark and niece Lulu.

Evie confesses to killing her partner, so there is no investigation into finding the killer. The second part of the book is all about the court case and when I really couldn’t put the book down and kept me guessing and constantly changing my mind.

I highly recommend And So It Begins and now look forward to starting the DCI Tom Douglas series.

This was a real page turner that I just could not put down.
It certainly had me wondering which way it would turn and kept you wondering right to the last page.
Great.

I love Rachel Abbott books and she never disappoints with the perfect pace and plot. I really enjoyed, thanks.

Rachel Abbott knows how to grab a reader on the first page and spit them out on the last page. And So It Begins did just that to me.
An edge of your seat, unputdownable tale with well-developed characters and a clever plot which was highly enjoyable to read.

I received a copy of the novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dead clever...literally.

Oh, this is a great story. You genuinely don't guess who's who or what's what till it's spelled out for you - which doesn't happen soon, I assure you.

Author Rachel Abbott plays on our own tendency to make assumptions based on certain 'clues': battered wives don't always show the bruises, abuse isn't limited to the poorest homes and artistic types have fiery temperaments.

What seems at first glance to be a fairly straightforward story of a marriage gone wrong soon ascends to something far darker, far more clever and so far more enjoyable.

And when I say you'll be flipping pages into the dawn hours when faced with a cliffhanger, you'll know exactly what i mean when you get there...

Really enjoyed reading this book. It was well paced and had an interesting mix of characters, though thankfully to too many. So many books seem to have endless people i them and sometimes it is just too confusing. This book had the right mix, the geographical situation was great and there was a lovely feeling to it all, despite the murderous content.
There is the undercurrent running throughout that you know is going to come to a sticky end, but the plot is so well thought out that at no time did you feel that you could not believe it.
A great book by an author that I would like to read more of. Thank you Netgalley.

This had all the hallmarks of a Rachel Abbott novel , intriguing characters , twists and turns and brilliantly written , finished this in one night as was desperate to know the outcome !

This was my first Rachel Abbott novel but it won’t be my last. I love psychological thrillers and like most people enjoy trying to figure out what will happen. However I didn’t quite manage it with this one as it twisted and turned to its dramatic conclusion.
The opening is at once dramatic two bloody bodies are discovered entangled in a sheet in a remote house by the sea. Then we are sucked into a whole world of drama with credible and interesting characters, just what had happened that night. I love a good Court case too which still leaves the reader wondering. The characters are great the plot is very readable and the ending doesn’t peter out which is often the case with thrillers. I particularly like reading about the main characters back stories so that you can form a better picture of them in your mind. A great read and I look forward to looking at more of Rachel’s work.

This book is brilliant. Evie Clarke starts a relationship with famed photographer Marcus North after seeing his photographs in his gallery. Marcus was in a deep depression following the death of his first wife. Marcus' sister Cleo is fiercely protective of her little brother.......but does she have reason to be??

But what happens in this book you will not believe. You will experience anguish for the characters and anger for them also. You will love them and hate them at the same time. Its a sensitive subject that Rachel Abbott covers in this book but the twist and how it ends I didn't see coming, which is the mark of a great book.

I absolutely love Rachel Abbott's books and her latest did not disappoint. A riveting page turner with lots of twists along the way and an even bigger shock at the end. I really loved it and cannot wait to recommend it to my customers. I'm looking forward to her next book already!!

This is Rachel Abbott's standalone pyschological thriller with brilliant characters and a story line full of twists and turns.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for ARC in return for unbiased review.
Read this in one sitting whilst on the beach in Greece.
Strong characters, more than a few twists along the way and an ending I didn't see coming.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and glad I read it.
No hesitation in recommending.

This book is bloody brilliant! I have read and enjoyed all of this author's books so was delighted to have an opportunity to read this as an arc. Rachel Abbott is definitely the queen of domestic noir!
We know from the beginning that something is not quite right with the relationship between Evie and Mark, and the story gradually reveals what has really been going on between them. This is a story of jealousy, violence, toxic family relationships, secrets and lies. It is also in part a courtroom drama, which I am not usually too keen on but in this case it really works. I love a story with damaged characters who have tragic backstories, where the reader can't quite figure out the motivation behind their actions. I have to admit the ending really shocked me, there was definitely an 'Ah, now I realise what has been going on!' moment and I just love books which keep that moment of realisation just beyond the reader's grip until near the end.
Absolutely wonderful book and although I thought I would be missing Tom Douglas, this worked brilliantly without him!

This is a really good read. It’ll keep you guessing right until the last page!
You’ll be unsure who to root for. You’ll be mesmerised by the clever and unusual story.
When you think it’s over - it’s not!!!!
5/5 on good reads

That Rachel Abbott, she knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat! I was totally entranced by And So It Begins; walking around the house reading because I couldn't bear to put the book down, even for a second! I was fascinated by Evie and desperate for clues to her motivation. Mark was such a likeable and straight forward character that it was obvious he must be some kind of monster! WRONG!!! My heart broke for Cleo, so much love and no one to give it to. The warped and twisty conclusion blew my mind, I didn't see that coming! And So It Begins is yet another example of Rachel Abbott at the top of her game. A genuinely thrilling thriller, I highly recommend.

I’ve read all of Rachel Abbott’s previous books and really enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to reading this one. It didn’t disappoint and is up to her usual brilliant standard. The story is cleverly plotted with three dimensional characters and a lot of tension, which is stretched like a piece of elastic, to the point where you literally can’t put the book down as you just have to know what happens. A well deserved five stars. I’m already looking forward to the next one!

And So It Begins is an exciting psychological thriller. At the very start of the book we know that out of two characters one must die. We don't know, however, who or why.
Evie and Mark are a couple with an infant daughter. Mark's first wife died accidentally and he is now a wealthy photographer in a magnificent house overlooking the sea. All in the house is not as it appears though and the story of Evie and Mark unravels slowly and with great suspense.
Told in 3 narratives, this book has it all...murder, jealousy, betrayal, family tensions, secrets and lies. There is great character development in the book and you're never quite sure which character you're rooting for, particularly during the courtroom scenes which were at times so tense I was on the edge of my seat. There are lots of twists and turns which only serve to enhance your confusion over who is the real victim. A great read.

We know there's something very strange going on as soon as we join the story: we begin by hearing how it's going to end and that someone must die. But that's just a hint: for the time being we're with two police persons. Stephanie's the sergeant and she has Jason, the probationer with her in the squad car, but Stephanie doesn't like where they're heading. The house is stunning, but the last time she was here it was because there was a dead body at the bottom of the stairs to the pool. This time there's been a 999 call with a woman screaming for help: the omens are not good and when they enter the house they find two tangled, blood-soaked bodies in the bed. They both look dead, but one of them moves - it's Evie Clark and she confesses to killing her partner.

Although Evie's not saying a great deal about it you suspect that there's a lot more behind her story. People who know her are suspicious that her partner, Mark North, has been abusive. There have been a few too many injuries requiring hospital treatment, explained by stories which ''might'' be true, but - somehow - don't ring so. They all seem to happen just as Mark is going away on an assignment and Evie has recently seemed frightened of him when he returns, although she's quick to point out that he's an excellent father to their baby daughter, Lulu. The situation is exacerbated by Cleo North, Mark's sister. She freely admits to not liking, or trusting Evie, but then she didn't like Mia, Mark's dead wife, either. The only people she does like is a friend, her brother - and his daughter, with whom she's besotted.

You're sympathetic towards Evie. We all listened to ''The Archers'', didn't we? We know what can happen in marriages and relationships which look perfect to outsiders, but which are abusive. And yet, and yet... there's a nagging voice which tells you that all is not quite as it seems, or even as you feel it ought to seem. We've a lawyer wanting to make a name for herself by defending the case - and even the police are torn. Stephanie is seconded to CID and sympathises with Evie. Her boss is convinced that Evie is guilty of murder.

The plot is excellent: it's a book to read to enjoy and then to read again later to see how it was all done. I was surprised by just how quickly I got through what's quite a big book. The chapters are not ''very'' short, but I kept succumbing to the temptation to read 'just one more' before I did what I ought to be going. I was impressed and I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

Another great read by Rachel Abbott.
A real page turner that I just couldn’t put down.
Did not know what was going to happen next.
Highly recommend

And So It Begins is a brilliant psychological thriller. If you are looking for lies, secrets, revenge and more twists than you can keep up with, then you are in for a treat.

The story starts with the police receiving a 999 call from a distraught woman screaming for help then the line going dead. With the call traced to photographer Marcus North’s impressive cliff-top house, Sergeant Stephanie King can’t help but think about the last time she was there. This time though, it is a very different scene that meets her. Two bodies in bed, covered in blood with no signs of forced entry means this is going to be a very interesting case.

I really don’t want to say much more for fear of spoiling anything, but what follows is a story that starts as a domestic thriller, turns into a courtroom drama, then back to thriller again! It was a nice change to read a book that doesn’t pretty much finish as soon as the verdict is reached. I love Rachel’s writing style and I was gripped from the start and throughout. I literally had no clue what had happened until it was revealed. With some very well written characters, believable but not necessarily likeable, it was difficult to put down.

This was such a rollercoaster of a read! Real twists and turns, right up until the last page.
Mark North’s sister Cleo has looked after him since they were young, now he has a partner and baby. Tragedy atrikea fairly early on and Mark is killed, his partner Evie says it was her, but he’d been abusing her.
What is the truth? Did Evie kill Mark? What other secrets will be uncovered along the way?
I really enjoyed reading this, and wasn’t 100% sure what the ending was going to be until I got there.

This latest book by Rachel Abbott begins with the police attending a clifftop house after a 999 call from a woman screaming for help, when they arrive they find two bodies entwined on the bed covered in blood.  Sergeant Stephanie King is one of the attending officers and this house is not unfamiliar to her as she was brought here two years earlier to another reported death, Mark North's wife, it's now her job to find out if they are linked.

The story is told in three parts and revolves around the lives and relationships of Mark North, his girlfriend Evie Clarke and his sister Cleo North. The first part of the book tells how Mark and Evie first met when she came to his gallery to ask him to do a commission for her father, Mark has been very withdrawn since his wife's death and Cleo thinks it will do him good to take on this job and he finally accepts, what she didn't expect to happen was for the two to become emotionally involved and she doesn't like it, but nobody will be good enough for Mark in Cleo's eyes. Part two concentrates on the trial of the suspected killer and part three tells us about what happens when the trial is over. 

This is a seriously eerie story and had me changing my mind frequently from one chapter to the next as to what was truth and what was lies, the characters were THAT convincing.  It's an edgy psychological thriller full of mystery and intrigue that grips you by the seat of your pants and doesn't let go till the very end, each twist bringing with it a new possible outcome, I've read other books by this author which i loved but this has to be her best yet by a mile. 

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for the approval and will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Plenty of twists & turns in this to keep you intrigued. Bodies too!

I’ve loved Rachel Abbott’s previous books & was delighted to be able to review this one.

Just a little slow paced for me but a great storyline.

After an explosive prologue that draws you in, And So It Begins is a tense thriller split into three parts. There’s bodies, blood and some deep, dark secrets. It’s well written with some great characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

I am new to Rachel Abbot's work, although I know how well-respected she is as an author. I believe And So It Begins is her first psychological thriller and so I was really keen to make this my first Abbot.

It's a fabulous read and one which intrigues from start to finish. It's a masterclass in revenge and we never know who to trust, who is telling the truth and who is lying.

The story begins with two police officers attending a bloody scene in a bedroom in a house by the side of a cliff. From there, we travel back to see what led to that scene. Evie Clarke is the main protagonist and we hear from her throughout in the first person. She's in a relationship with photographer, Mark North, whose sister is Cleo. Cleo is very protective of Mark due to their early years together and she never really takes to Evie, especially when Evie starts to have 'accidents' and suspicion falls on Mark. The dynamic between this trio is fascinating throughout the book and they're three very cleverly written characters.

From the start this is a fast paced story. It's full of twists and turns and centres very much around relationships and how intense and difficult they can be at times. It's a book that crams so much into its 416 pages. We have a death, we have the complications of family, we have a police investigation and we have a courtroom drama. It's just such compelling reading. I found the courtroom scenes the most thrilling as the reader begins to learn so much about Evie's past.

And So It Begins is tense and gripping, exciting to read and a book that throws up so many questions before it answers them. I loved it!

An engaging psychological thriller with a detailed courtroom section and a host of absorbing female antagonists and protagonists. The plot is twisty, and although I worked out Evie's secret in the last third of the book, I think this is the author' intention, so that the final dramatic chapters have maximum impact.

Evie, Cleo and Mark all have mental health issues, the question for the reader to solve is who is the most twisted and manipulating the facts for their ends. This story has a menacing quality but also an inherent sadness due to the waste of life and the opportunity to be happy.

The female detective protagonist's role in the story is pivotal, and although Stephanie has her emotional heartache, her detective skills are notable.

Packed with detail and characters who are not what they first seem, this is a standout read in the crowded genre of psychological thrillers.

I received a copy of this book from Headline- Wildfire via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

There’s nothing more thrilling than reading a psychological thriller that is deliciously twisted, one that literally leaves your head in a spin, and a plot that’s big on the unpredictable And So It Begins by Rachel Abbott fits the bill perfectly. Evie Clarke meets Mark, a reclusive widower, and they soon become a couple. Mark starts to feel he has a future after the accidental death of his first wife. There’s only one fly in the ointment, and comes in the shape of Cleo, Mark's overprotective sister, who is is mistrustful of Evie from the start. What first appears to be a fairly straightforward story of a marriage gone wrong soon ascends into something darker and far more disturbing.

As the reader you are privy to details of the couples personal struggles, at times this made for a disquieting read, but you can’t help but read on in fascinated horror as Rachel Abbot reveals more details about the couple and Cleo’s past. Now normally I have to feel some connection to the characters to invest in their story, both Evie and Cleo had qualities that made them impossible to like, but if anything it actually made the story far more interesting as I only took them at face value. I do love an unreliable narrator and in this book you don’t get one but two! and so I found myself constantly questioning their involvement and motives. There is an undercurrent of lies and deception throughout the book and it is not clear until the very end where the deceit lies.

I was pleasantly surprised when I realised this novel was part court room drama, but if anything this was the part of the book I enjoyed the most, as the author deftly reveals more details about the damaged characters within the book. And So It Begins Is a book that is guaranteed to keep you guessing it’s not about the “who” as that’s revealed early on in the book it’s the complexities of the “why” that make this book such an exciting read. With themes of jealousy, violence, toxic family relationships, and damaged characters, it’s one of those books that holds surprises at every deviously twisted turn. I must mention I love the fact that author Rachel Abbott manages to maintain the element of surprise right up to the last page, making this novel a thrill a minute read. Highly recommended

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

Mark, Evie, and Cleo… Mark is a reclusive photographer whose first wife died suddenly. He is coaxed out by Evie who wants a series of photographs taken. Cleo is Mark’s sister and is very protective of him and doesn’t appreciate Evie spending time in Mark’s life… Evie stands trial as this dark and twisted thriller unravels their stories.

Wow…and Wow… and why have I not read anything by this author before…?

This is such an addictive read that really did have me on the edge of my seat. This author really knows how to keep me guessing from the tantalizing few words of the prologue right through to the very end. She had me second guessing my thoughts, the characters, and the motives. When I thought I had a handle on things she managed to twists things and leaving me wondering what was going to come next.

As the stories of each of the three main characters start to open up I was given the chance to see their roots as it were, a chance to get a glimpse into their childhoods and their upbringings. A chance to get into their thoughts and how they worked, but nothing quite prepared me for what was to come.

The trial part of the story was something I really enjoyed and when combined with the police investigations the truth starts to be revealed. Some of these had me squirming and others had me horrified as abusive treatment details came to light.

This book is so well paced and I found myself not wanting to put my kindle down for a single moment. This is a dark and devious psychological thriller that encompasses a crime, with wonderful of courtroom and police procedural elements. A story that delves into family and relationships. This is a real cracker of a read that kept me guessing and one that I would highly recommend.

And so it Begins is a fabulous psychological thriller with many twists and turns and secrets, fantastically written.
A chilling thriller full of twists turns and secrets, 'And So It Begins' hooked me in from the start. Addictive, definitely a page-turner. Brilliant. Recommended..

And So It Begins is a chilling and twisty story of a marriage gone wrong, and a gruesome murder leading to a trial that could set an example and provide hope for domestic abuse victims.

Evie is either the clumsiest woman in the universe, or there’s something sinister going on behind closed doors. She claims her marriage with Mark is just fine, and basically nothing to see here. So when the dude ends up dead in a puddle of his own blood in the bedroom of his own oh-so-oppressive cliff house, eyebrows are raised.

Mark’s sister Cleo wants to see Evie behind bars for murder, while a well known lawyer and women’s rights supporter wants to use this case to get public attention and help other women get the courage to come forward and get their justice. It was quite emotional, and frankly, I couldn’t help but sympathize with Cleo, even though she did come across a bit of an asshole from time to time. Her relationship with her brother was a tad bit questionable though. In the “bloody hell, lady, what’s wrong with you? Obsessed much?” sort of way.

Part domestic thriller, part courtroom drama, this story has something to offer for the fans of both genre. Rachel Abbott had me guessing about a lot of things. Who did what? Why? It was crazy!

Sergeant Stephanie King, while not the main focus of the book also had her own story line, and it was nothing short of heartbreaking. How she still managed to function and do her job properly, I don’t know, but I want to be just half as cool as she is!

The shocking twist at the end was a bit overshadowed by the theatrical events that took place, and I’m not particularly fond of characters launching into dramatic monologues either, but the rest of the story was so good, that it didn’t bother me too much. I’ve read the DCI Tom Douglas series by Rachel Abbott (which is awesome by the way), and I don’t recall anyone behaving like a Shakespearean villain in those.

Although this seems to be a standalone, I wouldn’t mind seeing Sergeant King again!

This is a brilliant story that had me gripped all the way through.
I just had to check the blurb to see what I can and can’t say about it, as I really don’t want to spoil it for you.
The story focuses on three main characters, Evie who is living with Mark and his sister, Cleo.
It’s clear from the beginning that Cleo does not like Evie but basically she is so protective of her brother, I don’t think she would approve of anyone.
The story begins when the Police are called out to Mark’s house following a distressed phone call from a woman. When they arrive two bodies are intertwined on the bed, covered in blood.
Someone has been killed and we follow the trial to see if the other person is found guilty or not.
The story doesn’t end after the verdict and Rachel Abbott takes the reader through yet more twists and turns which was brilliant.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read more of Rachel’s books.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I am a big fan of Rachel Abbott's work so I have been looking forward to reading. 'And So It Begins' did not disappoint, Rachel has delivered another story that I found difficult to stop reading.
I didn't really like either of the main two female characters, but I am not sure I was supposed to.
It was a little slow to start with, but for me this helped to build the story and it turned out to be a rollercoaster with a brilliant ending.
I can't wait to see what Rachel Abbott has to offer next.

Is she accident prone, abused or a liar?

Mark and Evie had a whirlwind romance, much to his controlling sister Cloe’s disgust. Evie has made Mark live again after the death of his wife from a tragic accident.

But when Evie starts to have ‘accidents’ and eventually is involved in Mark’s death, questions begin to be asked. Was Mark abusing her? Is she accident prone or is she just lying to absolve herself of his death?

Can Cleo convince the authorities that Evie is not all that she seems?

Miss Abbott is becoming one of my new favourite authors. This is the second book I have been asked to review and they have both been exceptional. Her stories are original which, when you read as much as I do, is always a good thing. Her writing is professional and well researched, the books are easy to read and fast paced.

This book had me hooked and I could not decide if Evie was good or bad right until the end. I was swinging one way then the other. Fantastic!

Keep it up Rachel, I am looking forward to the next book and hope I get asked to review it.

Ellezig.

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

I make no secret of the fact that I am a bit of a fan of this author, especially her Tom Douglas series, so I was very happy to get my mitts on this, her latest stand alone book.
Mark is a photographer and a widow and he first meets Evie when she approaches his sister Cleo, explaining that she wants Mark to take some pictures of her for her father. Mark is still getting over the death of his first wife who recently dies in a tragic accident at their picturesque, coastal-viewed home. Mark and Evie become close and start a whirlwind romance albeit remaining unmarried. But then Evie starts to suffer little accidents herself, mostly times when Mark is out or away through work. Her friends start to worry but is she just a bit clumsy, maybe a bit baby-brainy since the birth of their child. Then, one day, police Sergeant Stephanie King is called to the house and what she witnesses there is rather shocking. Mark is dead, Evie is injured and there is a lot of blood. As Evie stands trial for the death of her partner, protesting her innocence through accounts of their shared past, can Stephanie cut through the noise and find out what happened once and for all? Did Evie act in self-defence or is there much more to the tale than initially appears on face value?
Oh my goodness! What a book. What a story, what characters. This book led me round the houses and back again, several times as I, along with Stephanie, tried to work out exactly what was going on. Talk about secrets and lies and more than a fair share of duplicitous behaviour. With some very strong characters in the form of Mark, Evie and Cleo, all playing their parts perfectly, how could I possibly work it all out myself? Well, basically I didn't. I couldn't. Goodness knows I tried. I formed and dismissed several theories along the way and although I got some bits and pieces in place, the whole truth really did elude me right up until the end when I actually had to wait and get the full gory details from the characters themselves (ok so that bit was a little long, ott, and drawn out). Considering the sheer number of this genre book I read, it's quite a refreshing feeling to be proper duped by an author without feeling in the slightest bit cheated at the end. Kudos to Ms Abbott indeed for that! If this book doesn't end up in my top five reads of the year, well...
All in all, an extremely clever and very well plotted part psychological part courtroom drama that gripped me from the off, confused me and made me question everything along the way, and shocked me at the end. Job so well done by the author. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Oooohhhh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. There is so much I want to say about this book but it is so difficult to do so as there are many elements which could easily slip into spoiler territory. This is the story of Evie, a young woman who meets photographer, Mark, and his sister, Cleo, when she commissions him to take some pictures of her for her father. Work turns to love and soon Evie and Mark are a happy family unit, complete with a beautiful young daughter. But not everything is as it seems and even a beautiful cliff top home, even one which to those outside looking in appears much like a fortress, cannot keep the secrets locked up for long.

The opening of this book is brilliant. Two police officers called to Mark and Evie's home after a distress call from the address. What they find is horrific turning the stomach of even the most experienced of investigators, but this will not be a simple case to solve even if they appear to have a confession. From here on in the first half of the book primarily focuses upon events which led to that fatal night, to how Evie met Mark and how the police came to be drawn into such a twisted story. This is a deliberately slow burning read, and you can feel the tension and the intrigue build with each page turn, drawing you in and making you question what is visible on the surface and what lies beneath, unseen and unspoken. It left me with many ideas as to what may be happening but also as many questions left to answer.

A good proportion of the second half of the book deals with the court case in which many of those outstanding questions are answered. Again, this is not a fast read, but Rachel Abbott still keeps you on the hook as a reader as more and more secrets are revealed and you are forced to question even the most simple elements of the crime that you thought you knew. There appear to be no easy answers to the questions posed by both the Prosecution and Defence. And one thing which is abundantly clear throughout the whole story, is that you cannot rely on any of the protagonists to give you a clear picture. This is a book full of unreliable narrators, with scenarios which will make you doubt their integrity nearly every step of the way.

I can't say that I particularly liked any of the characters in the story and yet I was still compelled to read onward. There are really only two who, by the end of the story, I felt any kind of sympathy for, both of them ultimately victims in a dangerous and deadly game. This is such a twisted and thought provoking read, and the author managed to manipulate my emotions so brilliantly that I went from sympathy to anger in no time flat. She definitely threw in a good few red herrings, although along the way and whilst the ending was not particularly a surprise over all, she still managed to catch me unawares with an unexpected revelation.

Overall this was a truly engrossing read that I finished in a day. It has a strong theme of family, forcing the reader to think about just how far they would go for their loved ones, and if the ends, in this case in particular, can ever justify the means. I loved the way in which the tension and uncertainty was created very early on and how the story drew me in, leaving me with the need to know the absolute truth. Definitely recommended.

I was really looking forward to reading Rachel Abbots new book and I was slightly disappointed .I am not keen on courtroom dramas and a lot of the book is devoted to Evie's trial .None of the main characters are very likeable so it was hard to sympathise with them but the book is very well written and the last few chapters were very exciting and gripping .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and Netgalley for my review copy in return for an honest review