Cover Image: The Suspect

The Suspect

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Oh my goodness where do I start with this one?! This was my first audio book and let me tell you - it will NOT be my last. The narrator was absolutely lovely. The book itself - wow, just wow. From the very first chapter it had me hooked. I loved how it went back and forth between a daughter telling her story in the present and her mother telling her story in the past. The lies and secrets were phenomenal. This story definitely shows how complicated families and lives can be. It also depicted the love between a mother and daughter perfectly, even after the mother is gone. This book had me questioning every single character. Just when I thought I had it figured out another jaw dropping revelation was made and I was shown that I was wrong. The story comes together nicely toward the end and it all makes complete sense. I still can't believe the final twist; I definitely did not see it coming at all. I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone who loves thrillers with great twists.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for audiobook copy, however, when I realised the story is told in two timelines I managed to get a text copy. Only reason being is that I find varying timelines too difficult to follow in an audiobook. I need to be able to flip back and forth which - for me - is easier with text. Not everyone has this problem!
The story
I'm not always the biggest fan of psychological thrillers but this one worked for me, creepy but not silly creepy!
It is written from the historical point of view of a mother (Lori) and the present POV her daughter Jess.

A man (Nathanial) who is the only suspect in a murder, contacts one of our protagonists in the hope of clearing his name, then he is found murdered! This event throws all theories and suspicions to the wind, or does it? What happens now?
despite there being a few somewhat predictable twists I found this to be an enjoyable read

Was this review helpful?

This was a fantastic thriller that pulled me in instantly. Great characters that were so well written, an excellent storyline that was so well constructed even with the dual timeline. I loved that it slowly revealed the dreadful truth behind the murder. The constant twist drove me crazy but in a good way, I loved the dark motives and would never have expected that ending. I love a dark thriller and this a firm favourite.

Was this review helpful?

Nothing is better than a murder mystery without a predicted ending. I loved everything about this suspenseful and thrilling story. I found it easy to grab my interest and keep it throughout the entire book. The ending could have gone so many different ways and I love not being able to guess.

This story is about a girl named Jess, whose mother was murdered right in front of her at the age of 2.5 years. She has spent her entire life trying to figure out her mothers unsolved murder case. Her questions finally starts getting answered.

Was this review helpful?

Once I got going, it was un-put-downable! So good I’m making up words to descriptor it.
The lies, the twists, everything was keeping me on the edge of my seat as I got through it - I didn’t want it to end.

Everyone needs to run out and get this book ASAP!

Was this review helpful?

Not the best Audio book I have listened to but also not the worse the basic storyline is good
Who Killed Lori? Jess was a toddler when her mum was killed in front of her on Clapham common but no one was ever charged , there was a suspect but there was never enough evidence to convict him , when he tracks Jess down 20 years later to say he is innocent it opens a whole can of worms.
I struggled with all the characters and the flicking forwards and back from current to past it took me to chapter 19 to grasp who was who
I then found it a bit slow going and I knew who killed Lori? well before we found out

Was this review helpful?

Jess’s mother was murdered at the park, and she was just 2 at that time. When she comes face to face with the suspect many years later she is shocked to learn that he has been following her around to get her attention and also to tell her who the real killer is!
Right when Jess thinks she will soon learnt about the identity of the real killer, the suspect is found dead and more mystery surrounds around the death of Jess’s mother.
This book was really intriguing and kept me guessing at every chapter – thank you to netgalley, bookouture audio and Kathryn Croft for approving the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

This is a fabulous audiobook delivering high standard both in the narration and the murder mystery fronts.
Tamsin Kennard, the narrator simply brings the story to life with much talent.
Kathryn Croft, a new author for me delivers this brilliant whodunit murder plot that kept me guessing right till the end. The dual timeline and dual point of view between the present with Jess whose mother was brutally murdered while she was a young child and Lori, Jess' mum, the murder victim.
This is a fabulous book, superbly narrated with a very satisfying epilogue where the author takes some considerable effort into finishing properly all character's fates. I really liked that.
Could not recommend this highly enough!

Was this review helpful?

Just wow! Twisted storyline wants you to keep reading or listening. I highly recommend. If you want to find out what happens pick it up or listen to it. It will keep mindboggled.

Was this review helpful?

Over 20 years ago, Jess was only 2 1/2 years old out for a walk in her stroller, when her mother Lori was murdered. Now present day, Nathan French, the man who was accused but never convicted of the murder has found Jess and once again is proclaiming his innocence, but this time he has something that could prove he isn't guilty. Before he has time to tell Jess the entire story, he is murdered. This leads Jess to believe even more that he is innocent and that her entire family may all be a bunch of liars.
This is told from two different view points, Jess during the present day and Lori in the past months leading up to her murder. This grabbed my attention right away and kept me on my toes the entire time. There was always something happening! This had me guessing and changing my mind so many times and at one point I think I had accused everyone. This is the kind of thriller I love that keeps me guessing until the very end. There were quite a few characters to try to remember and keep up with but the character development was exceptional for every one of them. The narrator was also a lovely choice. This is a very well written, fast paced thriller full of suspense, go check it out!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kathryn Croft for allowing me to listen to an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Well this book caught my attention right from the start. The story starts with Jess receiving a call from Nathaniel, the man who was accused of murdering her mother in the park when Jess was only 2 yrs old. Now 20+ years later this man shows up and informs Jess that everything she was told was a lie and he was not responsible for her mother's murder. Jess tries to get answers from her dad but he is keeping secrets from her as well. All of a sudden Jess feels that someone has been watching her and entering her house and studio when she is not around. Who can she trust? Is Gabriel now keeping secrets from her as well? Yes their relationship has just started but he has been friends of Jess' sister and brother-in-law for awhile now. As Jess digs deeper into her mother's murder, she starts to reveal secrets that some people what to keep buried in the past....how far will they go to achieve this? Enjoy!!!

Was this review helpful?

I like thow the story was told set in two time lines. It helped to keep up the suspense. It took me a long time to figure out who the killer was. The pacing wa sa bit slow at times, but it was a good plot. The narrator did a good job. I'm looking forward to read more by this author.
I received a copy from NetGalley in return for a honest review

Was this review helpful?

I started this one knowing exactly what had happened. And then I read a little more and went what. And then I had no idea what had happened. Told in dual timelines, the past is narrated by Lori and the present is narrated by Jess, Lori’s daughter. Lori was murdered and no one was charged for the crime. Then the most likely suspect tracks down Jess because he has something she needs to know about the murder.

This was a rollercoaster read for me. Every time I wrapped my head around new facts, there were more new facts. Filled with twists I never saw coming, I was always on my toes reading this one and raced through it to find out the ending.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley, The Author and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

"My family said he killed my mother. They lied

All happiness in Jess vanishes in a heartbeat when a man from her past walks towards her.. she recognise his face from the picture in the papers. He killed her mother. But did he? When Nate denies being the killer, Jess tries everything to uncover the truth in this new revelation and find out who truly did.

Lots of secrets and lies.
This book was enjoyable throughout. But I felt the synopsis gave a lot away.
I was not surprised by most of the turn in events but i still liked it anyway.

But I was rather annoyed by Jess's mom throughout the book and blame her for almost everything that happened, if you and your child is unsafe, you open up to other people, period. but i still felt sorry for her, no one deserves to die right?

3.75⭐️

Was this review helpful?

I am a huge domestic thriller fan, but lately.... well. It kind of feels like they have run out of ideas and are either falling back on the same old thing over and over or becoming more ludicrous and unbelievable by the day.

This was a lovely surprise. Great characters, an excellent storyline, and a marvellous twist in the tail. Poor Nathaniel, I was exceptionally sorry to hear of his fate, what dreadful, dreadful people Laurie had in her life. Highly recommended, and the narrator was spot-on for me.

4 solid, sparkly stars.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

My family said he killed my mother. They lied…

Told in two timelines, The Suspect kept me on my toes doing on my own super sleuthing while trying to figure out who killed Jess's mother. Secrets and lies are the name of the game here. But who is lying and what secret are they protecting? There is a sense of need and want in this book. Jess was just a little girl asleep in her stroller when her mother was murdered. She has no memory of that day. She has been told who killed her mother but when he approaches her and proclaims his innocence, Jess searches for the truth. She not only wants to know what happened to her mother but needs to know. She wants the truth so that she has closure. But will searching for the truth put her in danger?

The past storyline is told by Jess's mother. The present is told by Jess. I loved the going back and forth and learning more details the same time that Jess did. I enjoyed the suspense, tension and mystery in this book. I felt for Jess as she longed to know the truth. I also felt for her mother as well. I could feel her frustration as she wanted answers, and some were not being forthcoming with her.

This was a gripping murder mystery that was intriguing, full of twists and had a jaw dropping ending.

I had both the book and audiobook and felt the narrator did a great job.

T

Was this review helpful?

The Suspect is told in a dual timeline. Jess’s mother Laurie was brutally murdered in 1993 when Jess was a toddler. Jess has no recollection as to the events that happened the day her mother was murdered. As an adult those closest to Jess don’t speak freely about it. They would rather forget it happened. One day a man approaches Jess, he was a suspect in her mother’s murder and pleads to Jess he is innocent and always has been. He would have never hurt Laurie. Rattled by this news Jess wants answers, and wants the truth. The timeline is goes back and forth from where Jess is at currently and the other dates back to days leading up to Laurie’s death.


I really wanted to like this book. I thought the premise was solid to be a good murder mystery plot with a cat and mouse chase. However, I was let down. The book was overwritten. I found no bond with any of the characters. The characters and plot were just flat. I did not find any excitement in the story. It seemed very amateur to me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book to review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A fabulous audiobook…..From the very first page of this book, I was stunned, mesmerised. Written with a ferocious passion that'll knock the wind out of you!

Was this review helpful?

I really loved the Dual Timelines in this book...we follow a mom in the past and her daughter in the future! Between both we see the story unfold!
I think at times the book seemed long, but I see how it all built up to the end...and let me say the end was shocking...I certainly had no idea that was going to be the conclusion!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing me the audio version of this story for an honest review.

I honestly really enjoyed this book. It was a very good thriller/mystery/suspense novel. There were a couple times throughout the story that I thought I had figured out and then BAM curveball...and i was like... damn... well i was wrong... and THAT. ENDING. did not see that coming!

This story is told between to views, Lori and her daughter Jess.

Lori was killed when Jess was just a baby when she was out for a walk. They never found Lori's killer. Now years later Jess wants answers. A strange man confronts jess about her mother. Now after all these years Jess is on a search for answers...

what she finds out is that her whole family has secrets and lies and one by one each secret and lie gets reveled until the end when jess finally finds out who kills her mother.

There are many twists and turns through out this book that you will not be disappointed. I gave it 4 stars because it felt like it was missing something.... granted the book was a page turner, but it was not something that I HAD to sit and read in one night page turner.

It is definitely worth your time you will not be disappointed!

Was this review helpful?