I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Now, I loved this author's previous books, psychological thrillers that were just so dark and weird. This is more of a conventional child-abduction thriller, nothing wrong with it, just not a stand out. The mother and aunt seem a bit flat, although the teenaged protagonist felt very real. Serviceable

An Unnerving Phycological Thriller Every Parent Should Read
It's not unusual to find a psychological thriller that will have you up all night. It's not even that unusual to find a thriller that will leave you feeling slightly unnerved, or even disturbed by the conversations being had. It is, however, unusual to find a novel that can harness all of that whilst wrapping up the story in the warmest of characters, the most loving of stories and the most thoughtful of family dilemmas.

The Pact, by S.E. Lynes, is a book that had me on the very edge of my seat, whilst holding my duvet up covering one eye from the horrors I was reading, but at the same time not able to turn the pages quick enough.

We all make promises as kids, don't we? We make promises we intend to keep, and promises we know we never will... Rosie has made a few promises to her mum. Promises she knows she will not keep, but has no idea the danger she has put herself in. But Rosie is not the only one keeping a secret. Toni and Bridget made a promise, no... they made a pact, but neither of them realised just how dangerous sticking to that pact could be. For them all.

The thing that separates this thriller from most, is the heart and emotion you find at the centre of the story. While most psychological thrillers focus on dissecting the murky mind of serial killers, or disturbing family events, The Pact explores something much more real. You find yourself dissecting a loving family rather than analysing the thought process of the villain. Find yourself asking 'how could this happen to such a normal kid' but then terrified that this scenario could happen to each and every one of us.

This is a psychological thriller that brings the evil right to your door, welcomes it inside and offers it a cup of tea.

The twists and turns within the book are not hidden under camouflage. The writing has been so effortlessly crafted that you know what is happening before it happens. The parental hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you will be screaming at the pages of the book as you turn them. Unable to pull away, but desperate to warn the characters you have so easily fallen in love with.

The twists in the novel are not scary or groundbreaking, instead, they are far more sinister than that. They are subtle and real. This could be real life, and that alone makes it the most terrifying of all thrillers.

Evil is not hidden under the bed or lurking in the closet but strides around in plain sight. These are the real dangers we face each and every day. The dangers that seem so normal that we don't even think twice.

The most remarkable aspect of this book, for me, is the relationship between mother and daughter. Their story so closely reflects the worries of modern parents and the fears we face in such a social-media-heavy world. The words on the page could have very well been formed on the tips of my own tongue far too many times.

The situations explored in the novel may not be close to us all personally, but it’s highly likely someone we know has been touched by a situation not dissimilar.

The truth is, as much as we can hope to protect our loved ones from the horrors that lurk outside the front door, we can never really see true evil, because most of the time, true evil can be right under our noses the whole time.

The Pact is an incredible novel, one that all parents should read. One that all fans of phycological thrillers should read. Hell, one that everyone should read. It is an enlightening, terrifying and real portrayal of the life we now live, surrounded by the trappings and dangers of social media.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Pact’ by S E Lynes in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Fifteen-year-old Rosie, a talented actress, lives with her mother Toni and Aunt Bridget and dreams of having a career on the stage. But Rosie is lying unconscious in hospital and is unable to tell her what happened.
I found ‘The Pact’ confusing and was more than three-quarters of the way through before I realised what was happening, but by that time I’d lost interest in the story. I’m sorry, it just wasn’t for me.

The Pact is far, far more than the psychological thriller it's marketed to be, yes it had me literally holding my breath for far longer than is healthy and I was genuinely terrified by what may happen next, but it's also a stunningly beautiful book about love, loyalty and family ties, of the fears a parent has for her child, of the confusion of growing up in this social media age, of how past traumas can influence every thought and act and how no one really knows what another person is coping with.

The often fraught relationships between these wonderfully crafted complex characters are stunningly portrayed, nailing how both love and frustration with those people we love go hand in hand. The author really lets you under the skin of each character and has a real knack of making you care about each and every one.

The story is cleverly revealed and shows how, even when face to face, unscrupulous people can take in the most careful of us. Based around every parent's nightmare, the dialogue, pacing, tension and twists are all skillfully handled and I'm not sure I can find a book to follow this one!

Needless to say that as with her first two books, I absolutely loved this one and will be shouting from the rooftops for everyone to read it - 5 stars feel miserly for this outstanding book but unfortunately that's the limit, just be aware that they are 5 GIANT stars.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC

Thanks a million Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book. I want sure about this book in the beginning but after the first few pages I was hooked. I would highly recommend it.

This is the third book I have read by S.E Lynes and it didn’t disappoint.

The story is told in narrative parts by sisters Antonia, Bridget and Antonia daughter Rosie. The story starts with Rosie in a hospital bed asleep trying to remember what had happened to her and how she got there.
Antonia and Bridget made a pact together years ago that they would only need each other and never to ask for help from anyone else if they got into trouble. What happened to them to make the pact and why?
As we find out what happened to Rosie will the sisters need to break the pact or will they get through it together as they promised each other.

I loved this book, it had some twists and turns in it, I found myself covering up half of the bottom part of the book so I could slow down my reading! A very well written book, with the characters stories told brilliantly and a unexpected twist at the end.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Simply wow! I didn’t think that Mother could be topped but it really has been.

The pact is a psychological thriller about two sisters Toni and Bridget who are bound together by a traumatic life shrouded in deep secrets and lies. The story also involves Rosie, the teenage daughter rebelling against her mother and the mother/daughter relationship reminiscent in many households across the world.

Very believable characters, thrilling storyline and very well written.
I highly recommend and eagerly awake SE Lynes next novel.

Rosie, a talented teenager with a loving mother, beloved memories of a deceased father, a fun aunt, and all of the usual insecurities of a young girl comes of age in this novel.

The all too common occurrence of sexual assault and its impact on a girl's psyche is the conflict in this novel.

The family's bond and their damaged but well-intended handling of the inflicted traumas blend together to create a satisfying conclusion.

Parenting a teenager is not easy, especially in the age of Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram….Toni is trying her best, but sometimes the best is not enough. Rosie is just any other teenager, testing her limits and exerting her independence. Toni’s sister, Bridge, is a bit of a mystery. She plays in a band, dabbles in acting, and also works with computers. More importantly, she is Toni’s rock of support. After all, she made a pact long ago and nothing’s going to stop her from seeing it through.

The Pact is a wonderfully creepy psychological thriller and easily one of the best books I’ve read in recent days. You won't be able to put it down! Highly recommended!!

This is a fabulous book, which had me hooked from start to finish. Toni and Bridget have made a pact which binds them together, come what may. Toni is an over-protective mother to Rosie, but she believes she acts with good reason in order to protect Rosie from the real world and the evil that can be out there. When Rosie plans to meet up with her boyfriend for the first time, she knows it has to be kept a secret from her mother at all costs. Highly recommended.

This author seems to get better with every book. This book leaves your head spinning from all the twists . Gripping from start to end you won't e able to put the book down

I received a free e-copy of The Pack by S.E. Lynes from NetGalley for my honest review.

A psychological thriller. A story of two sisters (Toni and Bridget) who have a pact. Toni has secrets about her childhood that only Bridget knows and they are to never speak about it. Rosie, the daughter of Toni, is a 15 year old girl. Toni's goal in life is to raise Rosie, keep her safe and protect her. Toni is so protective is is over-bearing. Now, Rosie is in the hospital fighting for her life. She is trying to talk to her mother and let her know what happened to her, but she isn't speaking out loud. She is only talking in her head. Will breaking the pact and telling Rosie about her past save Rosie?

Wow...amazing. What can I say except another 5 star winner from an author that never fails to deliver.
Fantastic storyline kept me guessing.

WOW! I can’t stop thinking about The Pact by S.E. Lynes. This is a story about two sisters, Toni and Bridget, who formed a pact 30 years ago when they were children. The promise to one another was they could never speak the truth about their abusive childhood, and they would always protect one another without involving others.

The author grabbed my attention at the very beginning and brilliantly kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out what was going on. You know that something bad has happened and little by little the layers are peeled away to reveal more. I loved all three of the main characters, Toni, Bridget, and Rosie (Toni’s teenage daughter). Through these characters you are able to see how childhood abuse affects each of them in different ways over a period of many years. Each chapter was told from a different point of view. I did find I needed to be focused while reading because of the way it would switch from points of view as well as back and forth in time.

Overall I thought this was a very perplexing and cleverly written thriller. The author did a great job telling the character’s troubled backstories. The build-up to the ending was amazing. The truth is carefully masked right up to the novel’s conclusion and the little twist at the end was totally unexpected. I would definitely read more from S.E. Lynes and recommend The Pact to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller. Five out of five stars for The Pact!!!

Thank you S.E. Lynes, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book to read.

This book I have mixed feelings about.

In some places this book was really good but others it was just so hard to follow and enjoy.

The ending was a big let down I spent a lot of time trying to work out how the two stories came together.

I feel like there was something missing throughout this book although I am not sure what.

Maybe the book needed more detail I don't know but it was an okay book.

I loved this book and consumed it in 2 days! The author writes so cleverly and I don't want to give anything but lots of topics for discussion. Full of suspense and mystery, can't wait for her next one

The Pact by SE Lynes is a story of two sister Toni and Bridget who have kept a secret for many years and their attempt to keep Toni's daughter Rosie safe from harm. Rosie is a typical fifteen year old who is secretly rebelling against her mothers efforts. Social Media plays a big part in the story and a chilling reminder of educating the young to the dangers that it can hold. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent book. A widowed mother, her teen daughter and mother's sister live together and try to protect each other. The daughter, unbeknownst to her mother and aunt, becomes involved with someone on social media. Amazing story. I did not see the ending coming. Every parent with a teen should read this book. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Rosie and her mother live together as a family with her Auntie Bridge, her mother’s sister, who is a musician and technology expert. Rosie is a very talented 15-year-old who loves drama. Her lead role in a recent production has boosted her self confidence and brought her to the attention of a talent scout who wants to sign her up. The problem is her mother. She is strict and suffocating and will not allow her much personal freedom. She wants her daughter to have a better life than she did; a life without bad things happening to her. Bridge and Toni grew up being allowed their freedom. They got into all kinds of trouble. They stuck by each other, finally making a pact that they would always be there for each other, never mind what had happened. They needed no help from anyone else. But now might be the time that Rosie needs to come first. Both Toni and Bridge know it and are prepared to make the right choice, disregarding a promise that they still hold in their hearts.
Toni talks and talks and talks. She unburdens herself to her daughter. The secrets and the lies pour from her mouth. She confesses to Rosie. She apologises to Rosie. She knows that she must change if Rosie comes through this ordeal. She would do anything, make any sacrifice if only her daughter could wake up and be able to live her life. She made no excuses. Still unconscious Rosie wants to wake up so much. She wants to be back with her family. Most of all she wants to tell her family what she has done, she wants to spill her secrets…….
‘The Pact’ is a compelling and heartbreaking novel about family and their secrets. The present day story is greatly influenced by the back story. I really enjoyed reading this novel full of tension and shocks. The twists and turns were fired out like a salvo of ammunition and what happened was truly terrible and unthinkable, but also sadly so possible in our modern times when unimaginably evil things seem to be daily events. This storyline is a message from our times, one not to be ignored by parents and children alike. I loved the fast paced storytelling, the wonderfully crafted characters and the cleverly plotted all action, all guns blazing story. I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. Lovers of modern psychological thrillers will lap up this novel. It’s well worth reading.

Oh my! So many twists and turns in this book! I couldn’t stop reading just waiting to see what’s next! Then, oh my goodness, I didn’t see that coming! I literally couldn’t put it down & on the chance I had to I would hurry so I’d be able to read more! The very end had me , I can’t wait for SE Lynes next book! Exhilarating!
Two sisters and a daughter/niece. Rosie, the daughter is caught up in a horrible web of someone she met online. She tells no one because if her controlling mother found out she would never be able to meet her secret love. So the lies begin. Rosie is a 15 year old girl who had never had a boyfriend or able to live a teenager life due to her mothers fears which are a result of the “pact” made between her mother and Aunt. As a result Rosie gets caught up in a web of deceit and a horrific nightmare. Will she be able to be saved in time? Will her mother and Aunt be able to save her????

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this advanced copy of “The Pact” that not only kept my interest but made me want for more. S.E. Lynes did an excellent job on both counts!