“What a storyteller Rachel Abbott is…” Cara Hunter
“It’s obvious why Abbott has attracted her huge audience.” The Times
“The queen of psychological thrillers.” Fabulous Magazine

It would be unfair to blame the woman I met tonight for turning my life upside down. She didn’t.
It was already upside down. I just didn’t know it.

Recently life has been good for Mallory Hansen: a great job, a lovely home, and a wonderful man, Nathan, to share it with.

But now she must ask herself: is it all built on lies?

A shocking accusation has been made against Nathan, and Mallory doesn’t know who to believe. He denies everything, but all the signs point to his guilt. She has learned to trust Nathan, but she also remembers the boy he used to be.

As teenagers, Mallory and Nathan were part of a close-knit group of six friends until a vicious argument drove them apart. Now, fifteen years later, they are back in touch – only to find themselves drawn into a web of mutual distrust, one by one…

The attacks on their lives are skilfully targeted, designed to hit them where they hurt the most, and when a young woman disappears and a baby is abducted, DCI Tom Douglas must try to unravel the past and discover who is the architect of their misery.

A DCI Tom Douglas Thriller

An utterly compelling psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Elly Griffiths and Jane Casey.

*****

Praise for Rachel Abbott

“What a storyteller Rachel Abbott is… I was hooked from the start.” Cara Hunter
“Really gripping and menacing – compulsive reading.” Harriet Tyce
“A powerhouse combination of psychological thriller and intense drama. The twists don’t stop coming.” Heat Magazine
“Abbott applies elegant control to her storytelling. Even her walk-on characters are vivid creations.” Daily Mail
“It’s easy to see why readers keep coming back for this author’s thrills.” Observer
“Cleverly plotted and intriguing, all the characters are well-fleshed! Utterly compelling and truly unputdownable!” Mystery People
“It’s easy to see from this gripping story’s frequent twists and bluffs, in a narrative that’s rooted in psychology … why Abbott stands out in a crowded market.” Morning Star
“A brilliant read, full of suspense.” Closer
“Psychological crime writing at its very best.” Kate Rhodes
“An unnerving, twisting tale that you won’t be able to put down.” Caroline Mitchell
“Captivating! Sinister! Twisty!” Angela Marsons
“Clever, creepy and compelling.” Sharon Bolton
“A twisty-turnyplot that had my head reeling, and my mind full of intrigue. Superb plotting from the mistress of suspense.” Mel Sherratt

I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.

I have loved the Tom Douglas series of books as well as Rachel’s very unique writing style since the very beginning, back when she published the first book in the series. And let me tell you it has been two very long years waiting for this next instalment. It was absolutely worth the wait because, as usual, the book didn’t disappoint. Not even a bit.

We are told the story from two different points of view and that gives the whole narrative a different dimension, a better understanding of what is going on. We are never really told what’s happening, but we get enough hints in the right dosage and timing so we can do our own investigative work alongside Tom and Becky, the best detective team I have every encountered in the many, many thrillers that I read all the time. The rhythm of the story, the pacing, the timings are perfect. I did discover who was responsible for the terrible events that were taking place, but I couldn’t figure out why, so that, in my book, doesn’t make it predictable. And that is fantastic.

I didn’t really like any of the characters, since they didn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities as to make me feel any sympathy towards them. But that didn’t make me enjoy this book any less. As always, Tom and Becky make up for anything.

Quite the page-turner, I read it in a couple of evenings, and now I cannot wait until I can read a new book with Tom Douglas. If you love a good crime thriller slash police procedural book, give this series a try. Although every book can be read as a standalone, I would recommend read the series in order, so you can get the whole picture of Tom’s back story.

I cannot thank the author and the publisher enough for letting me read this book ahead of its publication. It’s always a thrill and an honor.

Anyhow, for all of that, I give this book… 5 TEA CUPS!