the story started out well, grabbed my attention right away. The ending was really good, but the middle felt like it just slogged away slowly and interminably. Sorry, this one is a miss for me.

This is the story of Billy Cawley, aka Creepy Cawley, and what happens in the small village of Mapledon following his release from prison after serving 30 years for the murder of ten year old, Jonie. It is told from the perspective of Anna and Lizzie as they gather clues as to what really happened thirty years ago.

This book has so many rave reviews and I think maybe its a case of this book just not being for me. I found the writing style was not for me at all, it felt contrived, weak and drawn out. The characters lacked depth and when faced with horrific revelations did not act with any emotion. In fact the whole book seemed to be devoid of any emotion at all. However, it was engaging for the most part but as I said, not a book for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book pulled me in from the first page,, Although it is set in a variety of times and is told from a variety of perspectives,I found the short chapters and strong distinctive characters, kept the story flowing with minimal confusion on my part.

What started out as an innocent childhood game ends up with terrifying consequences. One girl goes missing and as her disappearance causes shockwaves in her tightly knit community, so does the finger of suspicion point to loner Billy Creepy Cawley.

After having served 30 years in prison for the girls murder Billy has been released, but is he really an innocent man? Was the wrong person convicted? Will Billy come back to the village to seek revenge? Do old secrets and lies always remain undiscovered .? How well do you know your family and friends.?

An excellent addictive read. Full of twists and turns, if you enjoy edge of your seat thrillers then this is definitely one for you!, Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for my chance to read this fantastic book.

In the small town of Mapledon in 1989, the village kids play a sibling game of Knock Knock Ginger...harassing one resident in particular, Bill “Creepy” Cawley. Bill is not liked by the villagers, they are afraid of him, they hate him, and they make it well known he doesn’t fit in. When a 10 year old girl goes missing and is presumed dead, all eyes turn to Bill “Creepy” Cawley who is considered guilty before any evidence is even found.
Flash forward 30 years, Anna (Bella) receives a panicked call from her mum who still lives in Mapledon...strange things are happening to her and she is fearful. When Anna returns as the ‘one that got away’, she starts to uncover the sinister things that have happened within the village. The adults and children alike are not very nice, and the author does a decent job of allowing the reader to dislike the characters. There are many secrets from 30 years prior, Bill is now out of jail and on parole, but still insists he’s innocent of abduction and murder. As the story plays out, the secrets start to unravel, the truth is told and it turns out no one is as innocent as they seemed. The ending will shock you, right up until the final words.
This was a gripping thriller that goes very deep into the lives of Mapledon residents, past and present. The story is told between chapters of 1989 and 2019, which is interesting. I did fell as though the story was dragged out a little bit. There were many times events were told repetitively, and if this was cleaned up a bit, I think it would have flowed better. There were so many chapters, it felt too long. That is why I’m only giving 3 stars. I enjoyed the story itself, but I did just want the story itself to end.
Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books and Sam Carrington for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fast paced gripping story with some very creepy children . Definitely worth a read. Great cover too

In a small town in 1989, kids were playing an innocent game of Knock, Knock Ginger. But the man behind the door was being tortured with this game. The children continued to play, but one didn't come home. 30 years later, the killer is being released from prison and there are still many unanswered questions. Will Creepy Cawley come back to his bungalow? Will the community once again live in fear? Or will new information come to light? Follow this story to find the answers.

Gripping! There is no other way to describe this gem of a read. When a young girl disappears in a small Village, all fingers (and a young eyewitness) direct the blame at the local “weirdo” - a widower with a strange daughter. However, is everything so clear cut? Told in multi-perspectives and switching between the disappearance and the man’’s release 30 years later, this book drew me in and kept me turning the pages until the early hours. Packed with intrigue, emotion and small town mentality, I absolutely loved it. Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to immerse myself in the twists and turns - you kept me guessing until the very end!

I Dare You by Sam Carrington is yet another compulsive read from an author who continues to raise the bar. I was pulled into this multilayered mystery from the first page, and the superbly executed plot held me captivated from beginning to end.

In 1989, in the village of Mapledon, two little girls are playing a game of dares when one of them goes missing. Ten year old Jonie Hayes is never seen again, and the tightly knit community is quick to accuse and condemn local loner Billy 'Creepy' Cawley for the young girl's murder. Thirty years later, Cawley is released from prison, and many of the residents of Mapledon fear that he will return with vengeance on his mind. After all, this is a community that has been hiding secrets and propogating lies for three long decades. Will the truth, at last, finally out?

This is a tense and emotive read that kept me fully engaged as the mystery of a long ago murder unfurls. This one will certainly keep you guessing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

This book was so good! I honestly could not put it down. The story is told from multiple perspectives and multiple time periods but it flows together so well. I found each part to be interesting which I don't always find when reading a book that is formatted this way. This is a story of the lasting impact of a childhood game that went wrong and it kept me hooked from the start. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a well written thriller with a great twist! I find that sometimes the "great twist" is unbelievable or a bit of a let down but I did not see the ending of this book coming at all.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

this book kept me guessing! a good thriller knows how to hold all the threads and the right timing to pull them together, and this book definitely knew how to do that.

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. I really really liked this book. I felt hypnotized by the story and the narration style of the author. I felt like I couldn't do anything else other than keep reading to find out what had happened to Jonie. I also loved "The Missing Wife" Loved loved loved the twists and secrets especially how skillfully they were served. Brilliant!

I wasn't expecting much from this book but man, I was wrong. This book was nerve wracking till the end trying to figure it all out. It was enjoyable and I really liked it. You will never guess how it ends or think you know what's going to happen. Great read.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In I Dare You, two little girls are out playing dare games but only one of them makes it home. The village “creep” is accused and incarcerated for the murder, although no body was found, based on the testimony of the other girl.

Fast forward 30 years and Creepy Cawley has been released from jail, and it looks like he’s come back for revenge. Everyone in this village is hiding something and someone knows the truth about what really happened that day 30 years ago.
Told in past and present time lines, this was a pretty entertaining read which brought more lies and corruption with every turn of the page. How well do you know and trust your friends? 3.75⭐️

I loved this book! Just when you think you have figured it out you find out you are wrong. Do yourself a favor and read this book but make sure you have some free time. You will want to finish it in one sitting.

This book was a really good read, had me gripped from the beginning, didn’t quite keep me guessing until the end , but did have many surprising twists and turns.

This was an excellent read , I couldn't put it down . I've read a couple of Sam Carrington's books so I was holding out high hopes for this one and I wasn't disappointed . When Bella was young her friend was abducted by the village "creep " and was never seen again . Bella's evidence helped send him to prison but now after 30 years he is out . Bella now Anna's mum calls her in a state after a shocking discovery so with a sense of foreboding she heads back home . At the same time Lizzie arrives in the village , a journalist but only seeking the truth of her early life in the same village . Their stories cross and they find secrets and lies from way back and a small village whose inhabitants have closed ranks to protect these secrets . brilliant with some good twists .5 stars from me

Absolutely brilliant. I raced through reading this book because I didn't want to put it down. There are secrets galore in the closed knit village and slowly but surely they are revealed to the reader climaxing in a thrilling ending when you find it if you guessed correctly. I must admit I changed my mind a few times. Was an innocent man framed for murder thirty years ago? I Dare You to read and find out.

A good read with well developed characters although not an edge of seater for me personally and I did find that it dragged slightly after the middle of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The suspense was good, but dragged a bit in the end. Could have been better if it was cut short. The reasons for the family to settle in the village was not convincing. The cover is nice. 3.5 stars

I Dare You by Sam Carrington is brand new and coming out on December 12. I read and loved her book, The Missing Wife and was so excited to read this one too. Fans of suspense will not be disappointed. This is a great book that hooks you right away, that’s the best sign that a story is going to be good- when the beginning captures your attention.

Mapledon, 1989
Two little girls were out playing a game of dares. Only one returned home. The ten-year-old told police what she saw: village loner Bill ‘Creepy’ Cawley dragged her friend into his truck and disappeared. No body was found, but her testimony sent Cawley to prison for murder. An open and shut case, the right man behind bars. The village could sleep safe once again.

Now…
Anna thought she had left Mapledon and her nightmares behind but a distraught phone call brings her back to face her past. 30 years ago, someone lied. 30 years ago, the man convicted wasn’t the only guilty party. Now he’s out of prison and looking for revenge. The question is, who will he start with?

It’s so hard to put books like this down to go and actually attend to real life. I just want to keep reading!

Read Sam Carrington’s other books now and pre-order I Dare You here.