Nice, easy reading crime thriller.

The podcast angle was different and makes keeps the book moving.

I didn’t get too involved with the characters but for a quick escape this book is good.

Isla was attacked while walking home from the pub one evening. She had been celebrating her promotion at work with some of her colleagues. She was left with a concussion and a broken arm. Now, she is recuperating at home and her boyfriend, Zach, has moved in to help care for her. Isla works as the Marketing and Budget Manager at the same firm as Zach. His father owns the company and is known as a tyrant.

Isla spends her days watching television and not really caring about bathing. Zach comes home from work and orders in a takeaway. He is becoming somewhat impatient with her inability to take care of herself.

Isla starts to follow Christie’s Crime Addicts Podcast which details current and unsolved crimes that resulted in death and asks people to leave comments if they know anything or have any questions.

As Isla begins to delve deeper into who could have mugged her, she thinks maybe it could be someone she knows rather than a random person looking to rob her. But who and why?

The tension finally starts to build at this point as Isla realizes there are several people she knows who might want to hurt her. I felt that the book was a bit slow and somewhat repetitive in the beginning. This makes the book unnecessarily long. All in all, it is a good story and I feel generous in giving it 4 stars.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The couple on maple drive by Sam Carrington.
You think you’d know a killer if you met one?Think again.

When Isla McKenzie is brutally mugged, it’s her boyfriend Zach who’s there for her, who moves in to look after her when she can barely bring herself to leave the house.

But then something else happens, right on their doorstep. And it’s almost like someone’s out to get her…

Can Isla and Zach find out the truth before it’s too late? …Or at least before the secrets they’re hiding from each other surface?

I did enjoy this book. Cleverly written. Good plot. I liked Isla and Zach. 4*.

I wasn’t blown away by this book because I thought the protagonist was a big dense. There are some obvious clues and I felt frustrated by her naive, trusting behaviour. Overall, I didn’t think there was much tension developing and thought that the ending was rather prolonged.

The start of the book did have me hooked as events leading up to Isla’s mugging are revealed. I liked this part the most because I felt like I was most actively playing detective in the story. Furthermore, the use of podcast excerpts was really intriguing and, to be honest, it took me a very long time to realise how these excerpts were relevant to the story. This ambiguity was clever but I think it could have been applied more successfully to the overall plot.

As Isla’s recovery continues, she gradually becomes confident enough to venture outside. However, at the same time, her boyfriend, Zach, begins behaving oddly. Isla realises that Zach is being quite controlling and a sequence of events sets alarm bells ringing. Using the local crime ‘squad’, Isla needs their help because she feels the police investigation has completely stalled, labelling the event as a mere mugging. Yet, with Jase’s help from Christie’s Crime Addicts, Isla realises that there are few people she can genuinely trust. With no family to rely on, Isla and Jase work together to thwart listening devices, tracking devices and all sorts of spyware in an attempt to find out what really happened to Isla, who did and, more importantly, why was she the target?

There are references made to other murders that have happened in the area and again, this was helped by the podcast excerpts. These chapters added the most tension to a plot that was overall quite predictable. I grew frustrated at how the female was the victim and would have preferred Carrington to move away from such dated stereotypes. For example, there is a lot of attention paid to Isla’s workplace, where stuffy old men have the positions of authority and it appears you need to fight tooth and nail to be with any chance of a promotion. I imagined this workplace as dominated by dark, mahogany panelling, green leather and those traditional desk lamps… you get the picture. This patriarchal workplace was disappointing because I feel it has been overused and, in a more equal working society, I thought the environment was lacking a dominant female character. Although Isla’s friend, Nicci, works with her, little attention is given to this character and when her true position is revealed, I thought this was a bit too predictable once more. After I had finished the book, it left me wondering how different the story would have been if the victim, the main protagonist, were male. I think this would have made a very different atmopshere.

In conclusion, I was disappointed by this latest read from Carrington. It was well-written with developing characters, but I don’t think there was enough surprises in the plot development. It started off as an intriguing narrative, but soon became rather slow and I thought the ending could have been wrapped up far quicker than it was. I have read several of her novels and find they are a bit ‘hit and miss’ with my enjoyment. Hopefully the next one will be more thrilling and more tense.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fast paced read that kept me turning the pages
After being mugged on the way home from her promotion party Isla is becoming a recluse, afraid to venture out. Her boyfriend Zach moves in to support her but as her memories of the attack start to come back Isla must try to discover who she can trust .

I didn’t enjoy this book very much, I found it disjointed and I guessed the ending early on in this book. The most interesting part of this book were the podcasts written throughout the book. Very disappointing. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Isla is recovering from what at first seems like a random mugging, but it soon becomes clear that it’s something more than that. She begins to question things and investigate what actually happened on the night of her promotion party. I found the Then/Now time jumps a little awkward, but feel that they may have helped emphasise Isla’s confusion. The Podcast sections were a bit ambiguous, but a good way of adding detail into the story. The ending stretched my bounds of belief a little but the story was engaging and kept my interest easily throughout. This was a good thriller and made for an entertaining read. With thanks to #netgalley and #Avonbooksuk for an ARC in exchange for an independent review.

*3.5 Stars!!

This book follows Isla who is trying to piece together what happened on the night that she was brutally attacked after leaving her work promotion party. During this time she has to question if those closest to her could be the one behind the attack which nearly killed her, including her boyfriend Zack who moved in to help support her with her PTSD and her best friend who wanted the promotion but has barley spoke to her since the attack.

When Isla starts remembering things which seem to confuse her even more she turns to her favourite podcast team ‘Christies crime Addicts’ to help her piece together what really happened that night and who it was that left her for dead, but can they do this before the killer comes back to finish what they started?

At the beginning of the book I really struggled to get into it I found it to be quite slow and wasn’t enjoying it at all but so glad I didn’t put it down it did get better especially the second half which was suspenseful and left you guessing about who else was involved. Loved the twist near the end which I certainly didn’t see coming. I really liked that there was a podcast involved within the story I think because of this the book has the potential to be even better if its done as an audio book which different voices for the podcast team.

I really didn’t feel like there was any attraction between Isla and Zack at all and found that her best friend Nicci shouldn’t even be called more than a work colleague certainly not best friend especially after the things she’s done. I did feel that she had a connection to the podcast guy(can’t remember his name).

Overall I liked the book a lot and will definitely be reading more books from this author in the future :)

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.*

Absorbing and skilfully written

The art of a mystery writer is to keep their readers guessing the identity of the killer or reasons for a crime, while offering plenty of clues and red herrings along the way. At the end you should say, 'of course, the clues were right in front of me'.

Sam Carrington does all this and more. There are plenty of other reviews so I won't add more plot description, it spoils the twists and turns and there are plenty.

All along I had my suspicions but, for obvious reasons when you read this, couldn't believe it possible.

Written from both of Isla and her boyfriend Zach's point of view, the plot travels backwards and forwards from the crime to present day. With frequent excepts from a local crime podcast for some light relief.

Thoroughly recommended, an intriguing page turner from the very beginning.

ARC generously supplied by the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley, this review is my honest opinion and completely unbiased.

Isla is attacked and left for dead. Is this a mugging or something more sinister. Isla had plenty of time to reflect on that night as slowly her memory returns and some startling revolutions.

Isla is celebrating her promotion at work when she is viciously mugged and left for dead on her way home.
Her boyfriend of a few months moves in with her to help her out as she has broken her wrist and more importantly her confidence has taken a huge blow. She also has retrograde amnesia and cannot remember the events of that evening.
A smooch with her boyfriend triggers some memories and as she gains more confidence, she decides to pursue some hunches.
It's difficult to say any more about the story without giving anything away so I'm only to say enjoy.

I really enjoyed this book, second guessing everyone that could’ve been involved and there was so much happening, I didn’t get bored at all. It kept me on the edge of my seat, I wanted to find out what had happened and when things finally started tying together I was so shocked by the ending! I definitely didn’t see that coming!

A great fast-pace, unexpected thriller that I definitely recommend to thriller fans!

Sorry I found this book totally far fetched and disappointing as I usually love this authors books. it had trouble holding my attention. Not for me.

Many thanks to netgalley and Sam Carrington for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I love a book that keeps me guessing and takes me by surprise. This is definitely one of those books.
My first by this author and I loved it!
It certainly had me on the edge of my seat and got my brain in gear.
Full of intrigue and suspense, it gripped me and I couldn’t put it down. It had my heart racing, I just didn’t know who to trust.
Give this one a read, you won’t be disappointed!
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

I chose The Couple on Maple Drive by Sam Carrington as I had read one of Sam’s books before and enjoyed it, and the blurb for this book looked great.

This is a slow burn read. Isla has been attacked while walking home alone, which is relevant and current now. It’s a vile and brutal attack where she is left to die. With no reason or a memory, we join Isla on her journey of recovery and discovery. This is told mainly from Isla’s point of view; we explore her thoughts and suspicions and her feelings as she regains some of her memories.

The plot is intriguing, and Christie’s Crime podcast is excellent. The podcast is my favourite part. It adds great depth to the story and interest. It also helps to switch between the past and the present and introduce new elements to the story. Eventually, after Isla contacts Jase at the podcast, they have a more significant role in helping her piece together what happened and share it with their listeners.

Isla is initially almost agoraphobic, which is understandable given her horrible attack. Still, she quickly gets over this, which doesn’t seem very realistic. Zach’s controlling nature was particularly well portrayed. It’s disturbing and evident to the reader though not to the others in the book, particularly Isla’s friend Nikki.

The characters are pretty mixed. Isla isn’t particularly endearing. However, you feel for her after her ordeal and struggle to work through what happened and why. Zach is a bit wet; he is exceptionally well described though he didn’t come across as being particularly warm and loving, which he isn’t. I think this would have made the story better as you would have connected to him better and been more shocked when it’s revealed his true nature.

Nikki is possibly the worst best friend ever. If there was an award, she would be a winner. But, instead, she is self-obsessed and so wholly wrapped up in her own life that she really cares about Isla, which makes it easy for Zach to use her in part of his plant.

Jase is loveable and ultimately the most likeable of all the characters. He is caring and understanding, listening intently to Isla’s concerns and helping her to discover what happened to her.

The ending was slightly unexpected. A great twist made it better than some of the rest of the book. However, some ends were left loose, like what happened to the next-door neighbours? I disliked Isla’s sudden relationship with Jase. While it gives a slightly happily ever after feeling, it doesn’t feel very realistic and feels too soon after such trauma.

Overall, the book was a little disappointing, there could have been many more twists and turns, more red herrings, and it could have been less predictable. In addition, it’s not overly believable, especially the sudden recoveries and new relationships.

I wondered if Isla was correct or had an overactive imagination after her attack, and I would have loved for the book to take this route. A more realistic aspect with more paranoia would have provided a better read.

Having said all that, it’s not a terrible book at all. On the contrary, it’s an enjoyable read and an excellent introduction to the genre. I enjoyed it overall, but it had such a great premise that it just didn’t quite carry through.

Many thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

When I first started reading The Couple on Maple Drive, I did not know how the true crime podcast fell into the story. Three chapters go between what is happening in the story now and the podcast.

Isla is recovering from a mugging that left her with a concussion and a broken wrist. Her boyfriend Zach is trying to be supportive but is also stressed about work.

This story is a standard who done it book. I found the overall plot very interesting but struggled at times to keep involved in reading. It is worth the read for the ending!

Isla is terrified of leaving her home after being brutally mugged and is being supported by her boyfriend Zach, who moved in with her.
Her memory from that night is hard to grasp but it slowly comes back to her and she's not sure who is there to support or harm her.
I loved that there was a podcast show written into the story, who she recruits to get to the bottom of the crime against her

It took a bit for me to get into this one. Isla and Zach’s relationship didn’t seem particularly healthy. He moved in super quick almost like there was a different

This split narrative, between Isla and Zach, is interspersed with the transcripts from true crime podcast, Christie’s Crime Addicts, reporting on a possible murder in Maple Drive, no victim is clearly identified, and all you know is that a potential suspect has been taken away by the police.

The suspense kicks in about held way and has you wondering who the real suspect is…

The way that the podcast was interwoven with the story was really interesting and a different approach, i
It was an engaging story that definitely could be realistic in present day. If you like true crime and a mystery this one is for you. It took me a while to get into it but I think that’s more my taste and not the authors fault. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

I'd not read any Sam Carrington before I requested The Couple On Maple Drive, and I can't tell you what made me do so.
The cover as you'll see is typical of domestic thriller novels and the author was unfamiliar to me, perhaps I wanted a book that didnt involve any world building or viruses, no obscure language, something easy to read.

Suffering retrograde amnesia after a brutal mugging, Isla slowly begins to piece together what really happened. Her new found love of a particular podcast- Christie's Crime Addicts- leads Isla to an unshakeable belief; this was not a random attack. With nowhere left to turn Isla approaches the very people who sowed this seed.

Told in third person by Isla and Zach, The Couple On Maple Drive switches between the timeline before and after the attack interspersed with scripts from Christie's Crime Addicts podcast covering multiple cases in the local Torquay area.

It's clear pretty early on who the perpetrator of the mugging is, but with Carrington writing such unreliable characters you can't be certain and I found myself going back and forth often over the many possibilities.
Once motives are uncovered and the end is in sight the story accelerates leaving so many more unanswered questions for all involved.

I enjoyed the podcast script utilised as a handy summary and giving the feeling of watching the scenario unfold like a television news report. Isla's character is of a standard scared damsel with nothing left to lose finding the tenacity to stand up. I rooted for her immediately despite some seriously ill advised decision making.

Torquay, Devon isn't far from my own home so it was easy to picture the calm coastal setting and reactions of neighbours and underactive police in a small town hit by such violence.

A fun, straight-forward thriller for an easy evening read.

This was riveting I just had to keep reading to know what was happening. This author really knows how to ramp up the tension on the books. There were times when I thought I knew what was happening and then didn't, makes reading such a special treat.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.