Atmospheric, gritty, and complex, The Body Lies is a literary thriller that stands out in a sea of uninspired, over the top, suspense reads. Jo Baker relies less so on action and plot to propel the story of our unnamed protagonist, but rather on deep descriptions of characters and place. If you prefer shocking twists and page-turning suspense, this may not be the book for you. But if deep exploration of issues told through the lens of mystery and crime interest you, pick up a copy of The Body Lies.

Baker's protagonist, an unnamed young mother, is the victim of a random act of violence. After her attack, she decides to move with her young son to the countryside and start a new job as a creative writing professor at a small but elite university. There she meets a young, troubled, but captivating student, Nicholas, whose novel is disconcerting and violent, and apparently based on true events. Drawn into Nicholas' orbit, the woman finds herself, once again, an unknowing participant in a man's violent fantasy.

I was so excited to get this book, because the synopsis just absolutely made me desperate to read it. Unfortunately for me, it just was not what I expected. I think the writing style was so different and at times even hard to follow, which had me really having a hard time just enjoying it. I think it was a decent read, and I’m sure many will enjoy it much more than I did, but was not my favorite.
Will make sure I use in a challenge and let the members of Chapter Chatter Pub know about it’s upcoming release!

This timely thriller should be a first purchase for collections where the genre is popular. An excellent offering in a crowded genre.

This was a multi layered story about a young writer that accepts a job in a remote area. Her insecurities and fears stem from an assault that she suffered and we slowly understand her as the story unravels. Well written, with engaging characters that are easy to relate to.

This book was super intriguing! It started off strong and carried throughout the entire storyline. There were twists and turns in all the right places, nothing was too exaggerated, and the characters were well developed. I would definitely recommend to a friend.

The Body Lies is a perfect fall read. I am a sucker for a campus novel, especially when back-to-school season rolls around. It's a great read for those September/October cozy evenings - a creep & atmospheric psychological thriller. This book will keep you turning pages well past your bedtime, but I guarantee you'll make sure your door is locked and the curtains are drawn first.

This book wasn't *bad* it just wasn't as good as I'd expected based on the synopsis. It was slow moving and lacking the tension you'd expect from mystery/suspense. I felt no connection with the main character. I also think the setting really could have been a star here and it was nothing. If you had iffy feelings about the author's previous novel Longbourn, you'll have the same issues here.

I found this incredibly compelling and unsettling. Very timely as well. Did not want to put it down either. Sexual politics, and the way men view women, and the way male attitudes and actions so completely can change a woman’s life, even a random stranger. Also about how women are socialized to see men and to see their place in the world, and how that affects their actions and their lives. This is definitely one that will stick with me for a long time.

Baker tries her hand at a psychological thriller in this mystery about a new professor with a disturbing student in her creative writing class. The mood is unsettling, with blurred lines between reality and fiction, as well as strong themes about sexual politics. The narrative is somewhat disjointed--I sometimes struggled to connect the different pieces of the story line. Fans of popular thrillers like Gone Girl or Girl on a Train may appreciate a narrator that is not always sympathetic, but I had a hard time sympathizing with her because she just made so many dumb decisions.

Very much a thriller, this is an engaging read that has chilling moments. The female experience comes through clearly, in a way that perhaps a male author might not have managed to get so finely-tuned. The incident that springs the narrative forward at the start, Blue Anorak Man, is one that is terrifyingly real and even though it is comparatively mild (as even the protagonist says, it could have been much much worse) it will shock any reader. Or at least I hope so.
Nicholas is one creepy dude, but I especially loved the scene with Patrick where the protagonist reveals (view spoiler) Her reaction to that is spot on and will leave you cheering for her. Be warned, none of the male characters escape the novel unscathed.
I'm not sure the last chapter was wholly necessary. It felt like an info-dump that could have been handled better, but apart from that, I did enjoy this novel.

Jo Baker is a master at creating a sense of foreboding and suspense through both character and setting. In this story a woman flees London after a violent and frightening attack for a job teaching at a college in the English countryside. The move, however does nothing to ease her fears and things get frightening when one of her students turns in stories that are supposed to be fictional, but in reality, seem to star his teacher in what turns out to be a tale of violence and mayhem. This is not your typical thriller, it’s more a story of psychological suspense. For readers of Sarah Waters and Tana French