The ending! I need to know what happened! Why, Elliot, Why?!
Aside from that, I was HOOKED! The opening grips the reader and submerges them into a well written and fast paced story that keeps you engaged page after page.

This book was so creepy and chilling and I cant say enough good things about it. This book was a book that made me lose sleep and trust me I like my sleep. Highly recommend.

This book is told in 4 parts which are all linked but sometimes it felt like I was reading a different book.
Very slow paced but cleverly and well written. Worth a read.

What a brilliant read! The book begins with a missing child, Constance, and how her Uncle Karl becomes the main suspect. Amanda, a tabloid journalist, is convinced he is involved in Constance's disappearance and sets out to destroy him, leaving his life in ruins. Karl then starts plotting his re enge. The storyline is told in four parts, with lots of twists and turns. A gripping psychological thriller which will keep you guessing until the end. A must read!
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A great start, and it raises interesting questions. However, it felt like vindictive behaviour was taken that step too far and everything was just a bit disturbing for me to find it entertaining.

Good book. I preferred the sections after Part 1/2 because the pace picked up.

Amanda Bowe is all that is wrong with sensationalistic journalism especially when they have an axe to grind. She found it oh so easy to insinuate and manipulate information and to steer the public’s perception exactly the way she chooses. What follows is a media frenzy that ruins lives.
Connie Lawson the teenage daughter of Justin Lawson and niece of Karl Lawson goes missing one night after a huge fight with her parents over a concert. Soon after her disappearance Karl becomes the main focus for both the media and the Garda, in the ensuing weeks and months he loses everything, his family, his home as well as his business.
On the back of her destruction of Karl and her primary source of information within the Garda, Amanda seems to now be leading a charmed life, successful career, a wealthy husband and child as well as a secret. Then one day she receives a call, the call that is every parent’s worst nightmare, her son is missing…
This book does male me think of the adage ‘revenge is dish best served cold’ and I loved it.

Read for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture

This book shows what happens when people are given a trial by media and how a reporter can ruin your life without facing much backlash. Even while trying to rectify what you have done later. Karl Lawson comes under Amanda's radar when his niece goes missing. Constance and Karl have a very innocent and close relationship. This is distorted by the media especially Amanda who insinuates that he is responsible. Karl loses everything, his wife, his daughter, brother and sister in law and his home. He knows who is responsible and even though she tried to get him released when it became apparent that he was not responsible he still vows to get her back. The story is slightly implausible in some places but still a good read. I have loved most of Laura's previous books

Not quite sure where to start with this but here goes.... The book is split into several different parts which was a good thing and made the book flow well as you skipped time so it didn't stay stagnant at any time.
The story starts with Constance a teenage girl who has gone missing, the police need to blame someone and that person is Constance's uncle, Karl Lawson. This would never have happened if reporter Amanda Bowe didn't have an axe to grind against Karl as she manages to get the public through information she gets from a corrupt copper to turn against him. Karl is cut out of his daughters life and his brothers, Justin, with drastic consequences.
I'm not going to spoil the rest but the plinks I think I'll remember in years to come!! This book is about double betrayal, revenge and comeuppance against all odds.
I would like to thank netgalley and bookouture for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

5*. Totally addictive reading. A gripping page turner. I've previously read a couple of Laura Elliot's books and really enjoyed them but this was something else. Definitely one to recommend. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Not an original storyline with a missing child, but I did like the slant taken on this one. Good story and I did enjoy this on the whole.

🌟🌟🌟1/2 Satisfying stars
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm.
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
So Guilty was the first book I have read by Laura Elliot, I enjoyed it but found the first half of the book much more compelling than the second.
If I could, I would rate the first fifty percent a solid four and the last half a three as I can't do this and to be fair I have settled on a three and a half rating for the whole experience.
So what is guilty about?
Well when Constance Lawson goes missing, it sends everyone into a tailspin of confusion, hysteria and an almost witch-hunt of epic proportions by the press.
In particular, one journalist makes it her mission to personally persecute Constance's uncle, Karl Lawson.
Amanda Bowe a journalist is mainly motivated by a past grievance and also an arrogance of her own self-importance that she is infallible in her assumptions.
she systematically closes the cage that is growing around Karl, So great is her arrogance in his guilt.
Not caring a tall that Karl could be an innocent man.
Over seven days Karl Lawson's life is destroyed in a campaign of mud slinging and half-truths.
finally resulting in him losing everything important to him, his job, his family nothing is off limits.
Loved this half of the book
Watching a world implode and the sheer helplessness and inability to call a cease-fire was a sort of train-wreck visual.
it was soul destroying, but the visuals it beheld were strangely compelling, as poor Karl is thrown to the wolves and ripped apart, to make it worse he seems such a lovely man.
A great father, dad, husband, brother, uncle.
None of this matters when it comes to the judgements imposed by others.
Amanda at the helm leading the madness, almost a figurehead.
In contrast, Amanda Bowes to me wasn't a very likeable person.
I couldn't take to her at all, so to see her thriving years later, well not exactly fair, is it.
Well, Karmas a bitch and it's coming for you AMANDA!!!
Now as I said, I found some parts of this story more enthralling than others, that is not to say I didn't enjoy Guilty, I just felt more of a connection with certain characters so found it easier to connect to these parts of the story.
Karl was easy, Amanda not so much.
I also couldn't get my head around the plinks I found them pointless and a bit bizarre, but I suppose they did serve their purpose they were just a bit weird, they also made me think a bit of lazy town.
don't ask me why they just did.
Also towards the end, I felt things started to drag a bit so I was definitely ready for that finish line.
The end in sight almost.
So, in conclusion, this was a good solid read that kept my attention mostly.
It did drag slightly for me in places, but other instances more than made up for it, keeping my momentum going.
But I'm Still slightly bemused about those bloody plinks!
sorry just saying.
Anyway shaking head slightly,
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free reader
copy of Guilty By Laura Elliot this is my own personal opinion.

Guilty is a tense psychological thriller by Laura Elliott

WOW!

Going in to reading 'Guilty' by Laura Elliot I expected it to be a novel of innocent until proven guilty, slandered hero type read. What I got was completely different. Even better!

This book was divided into 5 parts and was completely unexpected. I must say I felt like I was reading a new book every part, which is quite refreshing and kept me on my toes. The writing was brilliant and the story even better.

Karl Lawson's life gets turned upside down when his niece Constance goes missing one night. His life is intertwined with Amanda Bowe (a journalist) due to this unfortunate event and where it goes from here - well I couldn't possibly tell you could I? This novel is thrilling, upsetting and certainly very interesting.

Definitely recommend. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Laura for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant book! What a find! Genius storyline, and very cleverly pulled off. I couldn’t put this down! It’s one of those books that scares you as it could actually happen to anyone, and if it did…….. Destroys lives!

Definitely one to read by the pool on your summer holiday this year, you won’t regret it!

The tag line to ‘Guilty’ is: a gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked and boy oh boy that was certainly the case for me. More about why later. I must admit that the synopsis of this book had sold the book to me and when Kim Nash, the supremely talented Publicity & Social Media Manager at Bookouture, asked if I would like to take part in the blog tour for ‘Guilty’ I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

I don’t really want to type too much about the storyline as I have a tendency to give far too much away about books that I have enjoyed. The synopsis says it all really. Constance Lawson, a 13 year old schoolgirl is reported missing and thanks to a media campaign led by Amanda Bowe, Constance’s Uncle Karl is the chief suspect. The story continues six years later. We learn that Karl has lost it all- he has lost his wife, he has lost his child, he has lost his house, he has lost his career. On the other hand everything appears to be going swimmingly for the woman who destroyed him, Amanda Bowe. She is married to a media mogul, she has a very successful career and she has a beautiful baby boy. One day she receives a phone call which plunges her into every mother’s worst nightmare. Who killed Constance Lawson? Does Karl’s family welcome him back? Does Amanda Bowe finally realise that her actions could have terrifying consequences? What happens to Amanda Bowe? What happens to Karl? Well for those answers and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves, as I am not going to tell you.

I have to say that not many of the characters in ‘Guilty’ were particularly likeable other than the innocent victims of events as described by this book- the children. Karl Lawson comes across as a man with more than a few skeletons in his closet. He is Constance’s favourite Uncle and he is also hip, trendy and keeps secrets. He rescues Constance from a situation and he promises not to tell her parents. He doesn’t reveal this information until after Constance has disappeared, which doesn’t go down well with her parents and quite rightly, when the situation could have some part to play in his niece’s disappearance. Karl certainly doesn’t help himself. That said, I did have some amount of sympathy with him in the end as thanks to the poison pen of Amanda Bowe, Karl has lost everything- his wife, his kids, his home, his career, his wider family and his wealth. All because Amanda Bowe decided that he had to pay for something he did in the past. I do disagree with how he went about seeking revenge though. Amanda Bowe really did make my blood boil. At the start of ‘Guilty’, she is an ambitious journalist who doesn’t care who she tramples on to get to the top and she is always after the big ‘scoop’ even if that means telling a few fiberoonies and stretching the truth a bit. I got the impression too that she was ‘prostituting’ herself as a way of getting confidential information. Six years after Constance’s disappearance we catch up with Amanda Bowe. To say that she has upgraded in her love life is an understatement. She is married to a media mogul but she doesn’t appear to love him and she sees the marriage as a status symbol and as a marriage of convenience. Thanks to her husband her career has gone from strength to strength. Amanda genuinely loves her son and her son is her one weakness. I have to say that I was not impressed with how Karl’s family took against him. I can understand Constance’s parents being more than a bit miffed that Karl had kept things from them but I would have thought that blood was thicker than water and knowing how the media can fabricate information and stretch the truth, they should believe him unless there was hard evidence that he had misbehaved with their daughter. I was also surprised at how quick Karl’s wife & his daughter left him. I get that she moved away to start with to protect the daughter from the negative publicity surrounding Karl and to protect her from reprisals but I just thought that she was quick to move to the USA. I ended up thinking that Karl’s case was the excuse she needed to leave him.

I think that ‘Guilty’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the very first word on the very first page. It was almost as if the book had hypnotized me and I wasn’t released from the book’s grip until the very last word on the very last page. As I became more and more wrapped up in the story, the pages almost seemed to be turning themselves and before I knew it I had finished reading it, which I was pleased and not pleased about. I was pleased because I knew how the story concluded but I wasn’t pleased as I just wanted the book to continue. Bookworms will understand exactly what I mean by this. In my view reading ‘Guilty’ was similar to being on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and stomach churning moments. There were also several red herrings. Just when I thought that my stomach could settle then off the ride/ book would go again. More than once I thought I had figured out who was really in the wrong but along would come a curveball to send me off in another direction entirely. At times, I had to almost read through my fingers as I feared what the future had in store for the characters.

In short, I absolutely flipping LOVED this book and I would recommend it to anybody. I can’t wait to read further books by Laura Eilliot. I easily award this book 5* out of 5* but I would have awarded it more if I could have because I really did enjoy reading ‘Guilty’.

Thirteen year old Constance Lawson goes missing one night and the prime suspect is her very own uncle, Karl Lawson.

The only reason he is a suspect is because young reporter, Amanda Bowe, has a way with words; she makes some startling connections, supposedly linking Karl to his niece’s disappearance.

Six years later, Karl’s life has been destroyed: His brother alienates him, his wife and child abandoned him, and Amanda Bowe is doing excellent.

What will it take for Amanda to understand the pain she put Karl through?

What I can say about this book, is that it keeps you guessing. That is a major point for me and was basically the bonus which gives this book its 4.5/5 stars.

The reason this book lost a star is not because it’s a bad book. To be honest, this story was pretty brilliant.

I just have not read a psych thriller in so long, I was lost at some points or didn’t care..? I cared about what happened in Karl’s life though.

The reporter is one character I did not like nor feel any connection with.

Also, at some point, I thought the story would end, but then the book twists into Amanda’s story. I honestly did not care about her and her life. I truly didn’t. But her story is the bonus of the book in some ways.

What ways may you ask? When it comes to a person being guilty, so many play their role in it too.

I am seriously considering reading more of Laura Elliot’s books.

What a read! I absolutely loved this book. Laura Elliot can sure tell a tale as she has in her previous books which has also gripped my attention from beginning to end.

Guilty starts off with a gripping narration.
A point where it says "A message to the Fearless.
Then it says that no one can call them chicken again.

Intrigued? I know I was.

Just the cover drew me in, but once I started to read I just honestly couldn't put this down.

Karl Lawson has his own wife and family, nearby lives his brother and his wife and family. Their eldest daughter Constance loves her Uncle Karl and seems to turn to him when she has arguments with her parents as most teens do. This particular argument involves Karl as hes provided a night out for the Constance and the girls but under his supervision.

But her parents isn't agreeable to this.

Karl knows a bit of what Constance has been doing, but sorted it. Justin his brother doesn't know, so imagine when it all comes out.
Except.....
Constance is missing.

There ensues the story of a brilliant plot.

What if everyone had suspicions on you. Karl was under great suspicion with the Journalist outside his home, his wife even not sure about him, so much so she moves out taking his daughter with her.

He looses his job too.

I just really got my teeth into this one big time.

There is a huge twist in this that you won't see coming and not everything is as it seems.

I personally recommend this book.

My thanks to Bookoutour for my copy via Net Galley

This book started well with the disappearance of Constance and the subsequent persecution of her Uncle Karl, but I felt that it got lost after that, and although it ended well my disappointment at the middle section somewhat spoiled my enjoyment.

I really liked this book! Total edge-of-your-seat page-turner story. Complex and interesting plot and quite the psychological thriller. The book is in four parts and it first follows the disappearance of 13 yo Constance Lawson, niece of Karl Lawson whom she is very close too. Karl is the main suspect in her disappearance. Journalist Amanda is out to break a story and make a name for herself, and she basically attacks Karl making him appear guilty in her articles that she write with privileged info she gets from the detective she is having an affair with. Karl is arrested and sent to prison, losing his entire life: family, job, home etc...and basically has nothing when he is released 6 years later. Amanda, on the other hand, now has a thriving career, is married and has a baby. The fourth part of the book focuses on the downfall of Amanda. Karl vows revenge and follows through. I don't want to ruin the ending here though. I think that in reading book, it really hit home with me how far journalists will go to get a story. It's a sad statement on our times actually, how people use others to get ahead, no matter what the cost--in this case Karl's life is basically destroyed because Amanda succeeds in trying him in the press. Very, very sad but also very realistic and true. Great book--will definitely look for others from this author!