I highly rate British author CL Taylor after discovering her work in an earlier psychological thriller Sleep. And happily, The Guilty Couple did not disappoint. It’s an engaging page-turner with characters to empathise with and to enjoy liking and hating, written with stylish confidence. It’s told in multiple points of view but centres around Olivia Sutherland who was wrongfully convicted of plotting her husband Dom’s murder five years ago. Now free, she is focused on reconnecting with her daughter, clearing her name and bringing down her husband for framing her. Of course, Dom wants none of that with a high-stakes endgame of his own. Just how far will Olivia go to achieve her aims, and what will she discover along the way? And what is Dom prepared to do to stop her and get what he wants? There isn’t much time left and Olivia recruits old friends to help, leading to an adrenaline-pumping finish. The twist right at the end could’ve been omitted, but overall, The Guilty Couple served up just what I wanted. 4.5 stars for this one.

Awesome thriller!! This one kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The story follows Olivia “Liv” Sutherland who has been recently released from prison after serving five years for the crime of attempting to have her husband, Dominic killed — but she claims her innocence and says she was framed. The only thing she cares about rebuilding now that she’s free is reconnecting with her daughter, Grace. This story is full is twists and turns with a really great momentum! I would definitely recommend this to thriller/suspense fans! Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

3.25 stars
I've read two C.L. Taylor books previously (Sleep, which was a 5 star read and Her Last Holiday which was altogether enjoyable). So I was really looking forward to reading her latest release, The Guilty Couple.
But sadly it was pretty subpar.
The premise sounded like an intriguing one but the story wasn't all that interesting.
Even when things were happening, like Olivia breaking into the office, the stakes didn't feel as high as they could have.
As it goes on and eventually finishes, the only question I could ask was, 'what was the point in any of it?'
Why did they even frame Olivia? Does Dani actually work a proper shift in the entirety of this? And many more questions sprang to mind.
I didn't really care about any of the characters, even if I did warm a bit to Smithy, out of all of them.
Grace, in particular, felt really one dimensional and the others were pretty interchangeable.
I did race through this, reading it in 24 hours. But somehow it felt a lot shorter than I expected it to be, because I flew through it so quickly.
I just expected a bit more.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of CL Taylor’s books and this one did not disappoint! Olivia spent 5 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, 5 years away from a daughter she loves. Determined to prove that her ex husband and his lover framed her she sets out to find the proof. I never would have guessed the truth to this story and it kept me on my toes I could not put it down until I finished it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Entertaining enough, but with glaring flaws in logic. Like, at one point the MC discovers someone she knows has actually assumed a new identity and was previously involved in all kinds of crazy things, yet she denies he could possibly have knowledge of these things. Later, she, somewhat cleverly, discovers the identity of the person who has double crossed her, only to immediately and intentionally put herself in a vulnerable situation with that person. Like...?

Five years ago Olivia Sutherland was convicted of plotting to kill her husband and sent to prison. She claimed innocence of the charges and now she is out on licence she vows to reconnect with her daughter; clear her name and bring down the ex-husband, who framed her. But just how far is she prepared to go to achieve this result?
With a group of trusted friends, she hatches a plan but as dark secrets begin to unravel, she wonders who can she trust?

This story starts with action and continues throughout. I actually found myself holding my breath as the pace sped up. There are twists and turns throughout the story, unfolding as new possibilities are discovered. I was certain that I knew the ending but was proved totally wrong. It's one of those books. Red herrings abound; people you think trustworthy are not. As the story begins to conclude the pace rushes at breakfast speed. Don't start this book in the evening as you will find yourself still reading it when dawn breaks. The characters are strong and believable; the story is excellent. One thing that I struggled with initially is the constantly changing point of view from first person to third person but that is a small criticism of a super book.

Definitely, a book to recommend, particularly for a holiday read as you won't want to put it down

My thanks to #NetGalley, #CLTaylor, #AvonBookUK for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was reading another book when I received this one from NetGalley. I started to read the first few pages and couldn’t put it down! There were lots of twists and turns in this one and quite a few POV’s to keep straight, but it was very entertaining! I’ve read a couple of others from this author and enjoyed those as well.

A very gripping read, full of suspense. Was a very quick read for me and I couldn't put it down. C l Taylor is a great author
Would recommend this to anyone who wants a read full of suspense
5*****

Thank you to Avon Books UK, NetGalley, and C.L. Taylor for this ARC.

After being found guilty of conspiring to murder her now ex-husband, Olivia spends 5 years in prison. When she is released, she attempts to clear her name and regain custody of her daughter.

Olivia's innocence is made clear from the outset. Wouldn't it have been more interesting to keep the reader guessing throughout the book? If we weren't certain what we believed but knew we wanted to root for her? Did she or didn't she? Will we ever truly know? A hook like that would have kept me much more engaged.

While the premise of this story is compelling, it didn't prove to be an exciting read. Flat characterization made the stakes feel low. I didn't care about these characters or what happened to them because I didn't feel like I knew them at all. Dialogue is used for over-exposition and does little to build character or elicit an emotional response in the reader. Ultimately, nothing felt real enough to make a lasting impact.

Though I was initially intrigued by the book as a page-turning thriller, nothing felt surprising. If you have a very active imagination, perhaps this book will still work for you as, like I said, the premise is compelling. While I don't think I'll be recommending it personally, if you read it, I hope you enjoy.

2 stars.

I enjoyed this - a very quick , gripping read. I think it will do well over the summer as it's the perfect beach read.

I thought the characters were very strong and even the unlikeable ones were interesting to read. I particularly enjoyed the addition of the Smithy storyline. While we're on Olivia's side, I thought the author did a great job of the different POV's. I also thought it worked well that that the reader knows more than the characters - until the twist! Overall, a solid, engrossing thriller.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Avon Books UK and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I read it all in one day. It was just what I needed to remove myself from the world around me.

The blurb sounded right up my alley, but it really missed the mark for me.

In general, I love stories told from multiple POVs, but with this one alternating between first and third...it just felt off the entire time. There was unnecessary overdetailing, which made it hard for me to stay engaged. Too many plot points were over the top (even for fiction), and there were too many unnecessary characters, which made it hard to follow at times. Nothing really unique that will stick with me in a positive manner now that I've turned the final page.

Olivia Sutherland is convicted of plotting to murder her husband after being framed by him. She spends five years in jail, and on her release is determined to repair her relationship with her daughter, as well as clear her name. Can she bring down her husband, or could she be in danger?

I loved this book - the plot was thrilling and exciting, the twists and turns shocking, and the ending brilliant. I liked the different characters and how chapters went between them. Very much recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

The Guilty Couple seems to have a very interesting plot line; being framed and wanting revenge. Definitely intriguing! Although I found the book entertaining at parts, I did not find it living up to the hopes I had for it. By the end, many questions remained unanswered. Questions that I believed were necessary to answer to give the story more credibility. It felt as if it took a while for the story to gain some momentum, to then twist it and twist in a very short period of time. If you’re looking for a quick in-between reads, this might be for you. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so much for me.

Another suspenseful and totally gripping story from CL Taylor. It certainly keeps you guessing and turning those pages all the way through.

Fantastic read by this fab author. I'm a fan of all Taylor's books, although didn't love her last one as much as the others. This one has bought her game right back up. Tense, pacey, twisty. Was really rooting for Liv, and desperate to find out the truth. I read it in less than 24 hours.

C.L. Taylor, The Guilty Couple Avon Books UK, Avon June 2022.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

I was disappointed in this novel, perhaps unwisely comparing it with C. L. Taylor’s The Last Holiday which I found such an excellent read. However, despite my reservations about this one, I shall certainly read her next. One disappointment should not impact too heavily on reception of a good writer’s work.

The premise of The Guilty Couple is interesting as there are several couples, some obvious, and others cleverly hidden. Olivia has been imprisoned for five years, having been found guilty of planning her husband’s murder. Her daughter, Grace, is disaffected, believing that the charge was justified, as after all, the jury found her mother guilty. On her release, Olivia must develop a new relationship with Grace, as well as investigating who framed her. The clues with which she must work are the lie Dani, her former personal trainer told on the stand, and the smirk with which her husband, Dominic, greeted the guilty verdict.

Unknow to Olivia during their earlier relationship, Dani is also a police officer. As the novel proceeds Dani’s relationship with Dominic and her family tragedy become clear. Other characters are Olivia’s in laws, who monitor her meetings with Grace; her close friends, Ayesha and Nancy; Jack Law with whom Olivia was having an affair; Ian, Dominic’s friend and Nancy’s husband; and Lee, Olivia’s co-owner of an art gallery before her incarceration.

A friendly gesture towards a new inmate, at the beginning of the novel, demonstrates Olivia’s ability to come to terms with her imprisonment but does not deflect her from investigating her husband. She also tries to renew her relationship with Jack, who texts that he cannot deal with her overture.

Olivia’s investigation and changing relationships with Grace and her female friends are realistic. Olivia’s sometimes erratic behaviour is understandable, and as she comes closer to the explanation for Dominic’s lies, make for a good plot. Old friendships surface, desperation and calculation play a part, and some of this material is quite gripping. Where I felt the plot failed to live up to my expectations was in the reason for framing Olivia. It was clever, but for me, lacking in impact. While some characters’ motivations were driven by tragedy, others seemed superficial. Both contributed to the plot to frame Olivia, but tragedy was outweighed by superficiality.

However, do not let my criticism stop you from reading this novel, or the next. The ending of The Guilty Couple was wonderfully satisfying for readers, who like myself, want to enact revenge on the perpetrators. The last chapters of the novel were delightfully clever. They bring in the impact of imprisonment again, with a comic touch and reintroduction of a character from the past. This stark contrast with Olivia’s new life is fun and justifies reading the whole.

A woman is falsely accused by her husband of trying to have him killed. After spending 5 years in prison Olivia's priorities are to bond again with her daughter (she was 7 and is now 12) and to get her husband back for the false accusations!
I had an idea of how this story was going to go but I was wrong the ending was so satisfying!

Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

I was hooked from the first chapter. It was well written, fast paced and always left me wanting to read just a bit more…hence I finished it in 2 days!

A highly recommended domestic thriller.

A plot that never falls flat, that engages from the beginning with twists, surprises, a constant and agile pace and well-defined and interesting characters.
It is certainly not the last book I will read by C.L. Taylor.