I have become a fan of Croft, reading pretty much every one of her books I can get my hands on. I enjoyed this one, although I don’t think it’s my favorite one by this author.

Zoe’s son Ethan drowned in an accident three years ago, along with his best friend Josh. Coming to terms with what happened has been a struggle for her, husband Jake, and to her son Harley. When she receives an email saying she doesn’t actually know what happened to Ethan, she starts reinvestigating on her own, trying to determine if it was actually an accident, or if there is more to the story.

I enjoyed the investigation part of the story and learning about Ethan and what his last days looked like. I think for me the ending wasn’t really a great reveal. I didn’t really buy into the truth of what happened, and it didn’t leave me feeling shocked like some of her other novels have done. I enjoyed this one, but I didn’t love it.

Brilliant, heartbreaking, family secrets, twists and turns. The loss of a child must be devastating, but then to have the question hanging in the air of what really happened and chasing answers would make the most sane person feel crazy. Couple that with a marriage that has been dealt the blow of child loss and you’ve a recipe for a very good thrilling story! Loved it, and I look forward to KC’s next write!

This was a great book and very unpredictable, I thought I had the outcome sorted more than once only for the theory to be shot down in flames.
Zoe and Jack moved when their son and his friend died in the river, it was an accident that they were there in the first place but they decided to take their surviving son Harvey and move to somewhere else. They thought they had put this behind them, that is until Zoe gets an email to say ' you need to find out the truth about what happened to your son, don't believe the lie'. This sends Zoe wanting to find out if there is more and as Jake doesn't think this anonymous email has any truth in it causes friction among the family. This book kept me in suspense right up to the end as one by one my suspicions of who had sent the email were shot to pieces and I was still guessing up to the very good ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book.

Zoe irritated the hell out of me from very early on in the story and thats what I love about Kathryn Croft's books. Her characters are so well written that some of them you just want to smack. There were the usual twists to the story but more than one of them made me "oooooooo" out loud.

THE WARNING by bestselling author Kathryn Croft is a psychological thriller that will reel you in from page one and only toss you out at the end…to regain your thoughts. A real page turner and a novel that is sure to please.

“Secrets always come back to haunt you.”

Three years ago, nurse Zoe and husband, Jake lost their younger fourteen-year-old son, Ethan and his best friend Josh, found drowned in a muddy river by their home. With no witnesses, their deaths were ruled a tragic accident.

Devastated, Zoe and husband, Jake along with their older son, Harley, move from their home in Guildford to London, to try to start a new life. They leave behind Josh’s parents, Roberta and Adrian who can’t afford to relocate. In London, Jake and his friend, Liam are working hard after starting a new business, leaving Zoe and Harley, studying to be a doctor, to hold up the fort.

But then out of the blue, Zoe, a nurse at a fertility clinic receives an anonymous email:

“You need to find out the truth about what happened to your son. Don’t let this rest. Don’t believe the lie. It was no accident.”

Shaken, Zoe starts an obsessive hunt for the truth. But why is her husband so reluctant to help? And why is Josh’s mother so determined not to believe her?

Over a short period of time…there are more mysterious emails…and so many secrets!

This fast-paced well-written character-driven novel, with short chapters is told from multiple POV’s, each chapter is devoted to a particular character and tells of what happened from their perspective. This novel kept me guessing the entire time and then managed to surprise me in the end! An easy 5-star rating from me! Read this book…you won’t be disappointed.

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller about a mother’s desperate search for the truth.

Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my digital copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my review based on my honest opinion.

This was a great thriller. I was literally on the edge of my seat reading it. I have read a few other books by this author and found myself divided on what I thought, one I really liked and one I didn't; this book is a definite like. I will definitely be reading more of this authors books if they are like this one.

Zoe, who lost her son a few years before to a tragic drowning, has moved and is trying to get her life back together when she starts getting messages implying her son's drowning was not what it appeared. her investigation into this is a thrill-ride of emotions, it is edge of your seat thrilling and I could not wait to get to the end but was scared to get there as well. So many twists and turns, so many false leads. I read this book long into the night, needing to finish it.

Zoe has worked very hard to try & rebuild her life after her fourteen year old son was drowned along with his best friend. The family moved away and now, three years on, her older son at last seems to be moving on with his life & making plans. Out of the blue comes an email suggesting that Ethan's death was not an accident & there was more behind it. Although her husband wants to dismiss it as prank in very bad taste she cannot rest until she finds out the truth- no matter what it costs.

This book keeps the reader guessing throughout. I was glued to it till the end- which I hadn't expected. This was a great five star read & thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review his book.

I loved this book. This was the first book I have read of Kathryns. I will certainly be reading more. Her writing is addictive and has you wanting to know more. Hooked in the first chapter. The storyline was what grabbed me and then I was on the journey. !

The synopsis was intriguing. The first chapter had me hooked.

Three years after the accident that killed Zoe’s son Ethan and his best friend Josh, her older son Harley and her husband are all that’s left for her. This small family are each doing their best to cope with their own grief after the tragic loss. They have even moved to another city. Then one day, out of the blue, Zoe receives an anonymous text suggesting that her son’s death may not have been an accident. Everyone is telling her to let it go but her instincts won’t allow her to give up searching for an answer.

Told from several points of view, including that of an anonymous character, gives more insight into the story, The main perspective though, is Zoe’s. She soon realizes they all have secrets to hide and lies to tell. Who can she really trust? The story is stirring, making her question everything she believes to be true about the people she knows and the ones she loves-including her dead son. Zoe is a character that earns the readers sympathy, illustrating the lengths a mother would go to find the truth, even with such resistance.

This suspenseful and well-written book made me wish I could read faster. It has twists you simply cannot see coming. It also examines the fragile dynamics of human nature that bind us together. It is thought-provoking and an exceptional psychological thriller. As soon as I made an assumption, there was another surprising turn. The tension was ever present, keeping the reader in gaged and enthralled.

The story wraps up with an astonishing ending. I was shocked and astounded. This is a brilliant work that is both entertaining and compelling. Well developed characters and an interesting plot made this a fantastic read. I would highly recommend this book to any thriller or mystery lover. Croft is definitely an author whose work I intend to read more of.
5/5 stars

This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review, or portions thereof, will be posted (when able) on Amazon, Goodreads, Kobo, Bookbub, BAM, Litsy, IG, B&N, Pinterest, Facebook, Kobo, and my own blog. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide all links at this time, as I am using my phone.

The Warning is a brilliant suspense filled psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns. I don't know how the author came up with the idea but I'm glad she did I read it in two sittings,

I loved the plot, it was really well planned out, the characters are great and the writing style is brilliant and works so well for this type of book. There is just the right amount of suspense in the book for me to keep you guessing about what might happen next. Highly recommended.

A Dark & Intense Psychological Thriller

Three years ago, Zoe's son Ethan was found drowned in a river by their home, along with his best friend Josh. With no witnesses, their deaths were ruled a tragic accident. 3 years later, Zoe receives an anonymous email “You need to find out the truth about what happened to your son. Don’t let this rest. Don’t believe the lie.” Zoe starts an obsessive hunt for the truth but is she searching for the truth or an illusion? Who is really behind these anonymous messages?

The story has a perfect start and the pace is unrelenting till the end. The Warning is not only a good psychological thriller story but beneath the surface, it’s an emotional and heart-breaking story. The story keeps you hooked with several twists and turns, strategically revealed (just when you think you have solved the mystery).

The characters in book are well defined esp. Zoe & her Family. The struggles of a family still recovering from the loss of a loved and a mother’s fight to find the truth has been well brought out throughout the book. This book has narrated through POVs of various characters including Zoe and others which keeps the story moving without getting stuck. With too many tracks going on simultaneously, it may feel the main mystery is relegated to the background at times. Also, the ending may feel a bit weak compared to the build-up. The writing though was excellent and the fairly short chapters and changing POVs never let you get bored.

Overall, the book is a fast paced page turner which will keep you guessing right till the end.

Many Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC.

Now here's a book that keeps going until the very end. Zoe and Jake have two sons, Harley and Ethan. After a tragedy occurs and Ethan and his best friend Josh are found drowned by the nearby river, Zoe and her family move away. One day, three years later, she receives an anonymous message making her wonder if Ethan's death was really an accident. Zoe goes on a mission and although several people do not believe there is another side to the story, she keeps on digging. What I liked about Zoe was that she wasn't afraid to do the footwork and she was persistent. Throughout the book, she is betrayed by some of the closest people to her but she stays strong and focuses on what is important, an answer to why her fourteen-year-old son is now gone. This book was fast-paced, had great, vivid and invested characters, and a shabang ending. Fantastic!

Thank you to Netgalley, Kathryn Croft, and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Three years ago, nurse Zoe's son Ethan was drowned in a muddy river, along with his best friend Josh. With no witnesses, their deaths were ruled a tragic accident. Heartbroken, Zoe and her family, move away from their home. They're just beginning to get back to some kind of normality, when, out of the blue, Zoe recieves an anonymous email: "YOU NEED TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR SON. DON'T LET THIS REST. DON'T BELIEVE THE LIE". Shaken, Zoe starts an obsessive hunt for the truth. But why is her husband so reluctant to help? And why is Josh's mother so determined not to believe her?

This is a first time read from this author and it certainly won't be the last! I really enjoyed this gripping page-turner that had me hooked right from the start to the very end. The plotline is emotional, tense and full of twists and turns! It kept me guessing the whole way through, with it's brilliantly-written characters, I found myself questioning everyone at somepoint in the book. And I still didn't manage to guess the ending correctly!
Through this author's excellent writing, I instantly felt for the main character and felt myself going through all the emotions she was going through! I felt her desperation to find out what really happened to her son. I felt her frustration when no-one believed her. And I felt her heart-pounding fear when the emails came through. Such an emotional read!! Can't wait to read more from this author!!!

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

Very twisted and deceptive, I was thoroughly pleased with this one! When I read books, I enjoy relating with the way the characters act when facing something extraordinary. Often, this causes me to disconnect with characters, but this book was so well written and really fabulous!

From the very beginning of this book, a sinister feeling settled in my bones. Something wasn’t quite right but I could not work out what the problem was. With a multiple perspective narrative, the story gradually delves deeper, continually pulling the reader in. All I kept thinking while reading was what was really happening. Normally I can sometimes piece bits together and get ahead of the game a bit but this book completely threw me and I absolutely loved it for that reason. Kathryn Croft manages to weave the reader into the story, not letting them go until the conclusion at the end of the book.

The story is incredibly well written, the lives of the characters interweaving throughout as lies and deceit spray the world leaving the reader – and main protagonist – unsure who to trust. Alongside the main plot, there were also a few subplots thrown in, all there to throw the reader off. This was so clever and I found myself thinking one thing before having it completely pulled out from under me. I do have to say that I had thought I had guessed one thing in the book but was surprisingly wrong which is always interesting! All of this together meant that it was very difficult to put the book down!

One of the things I really liked about this book were the characters. As mentioned above, it seemed that everyone had a secret that was threatened to be revealed and this meant that everyone was involved in the main plot. The reader constantly second guessing everyone. But what really worked was how well Kathryn Croft has created believable characters with complex and complicated lives and relationships. Emotions are seriously heightened in this story and I kept wanting to scream at some of the characters while trying to work out how it was all going to pan out in the end. Something that I always feel reveals just how invested I am in a story.

All in all, this is a book that I very much enjoyed spending the time reading and would highly recommend it to others as well. It is a very well-written psychological thriller that will have you guessing and re-guessing after each and every chapter. It was addictive, intense and emotional. I definitely did not foresee the ending but I absolutely loved the final conclusion. It was a shock to the system and it just made me feel for all of the characters in the book. Honestly, if you’re looking for a book that will draw you in from the very beginning, make sure you pick this book up!

5* Anonymous Stars

I was super excited to be able to read The Warning by Kathryn, as I really love her writing, which is nail biting and engaging.

From the first page read you are pulled into the story of wanting to find out who has sent the anonymous email informing Zoe to find out the truth about what happened to her young 14 year old son Ethan who drowned together with his friend Josh under mysteries circumstances.

The story is told from multiple POV’s of the family members belonging to the boys that drowned.

The story was a fast paced suspenseful read with many twists and turns and just when you think you have a clue you realize that you are so wrong. The story is also fraught with secrets and lies from all parties involved.

I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller and highly recommend this read and any book written by Kathryn Croft.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy to read and review.

Oh wow, this book blew me away for sure. I want to say thanks to NetGalley and Kathryn Croft for the chance to read it. I have a Kathryn Croft book on my bookshelf that I will be reading next I cant get enough of the way she tells a story. This one was good, I was wondering who was doing the talking in the small narratives through out the book, and when it came to light I was shocked to say the least, so not what I was expecting, but I can see why Harley was the way he was. I wasn't very happy with her husband or best friend and not just because of what happened, I mean who could keep that a secret. I am happy that Roberta got what she wanted in the end. I had my suspicions about who it was but I was totally wrong. There were a lot of secrets that were being kept in this story but still in the end, it ended with a secret still being kept, I kind of liked that.

Kathryn Croft never disappoints. This was a “up until 4 am read for me. Definitely recommended. Can’t wait for her next one!

What a great read! Kathryn Croft really knows how to create suspense and throw in plot twists to keep her readers turning pages and reading past their bedtime. Zoe's son Ethan drowns in the lake with his bestfriend Josh....it's ruled accidental but then Zoe receives a warning that it was no accident. Thanks to #Netgalley for the chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #thewarning #kathryncroft #litsy #goodreads #nickikendall #tea_sipping_bookworm