I'm a huge fan of Jo Spain novels as they are always full of twists and turns. This is no exception and was a brilliant read from start to finish.

Luke Miller works for a pension fund and is wealthy, good looking and quite the catch. He married Rose after a whirlwind romance and even his friends thought it was too quick.

However, she surprises him with a last minute honeymoon trip to the Caribbean. On the evening they are due to return she confesses that she has killed a man in their apartment.

Now, we are introduced to a clever character, Mickey, who will always help women who have been mistreated.

Everything snowballs. Excellent read and highly recommended

I've loved all the Jo Spain novels I've read and Don't Look Back was no exception.
The novel is so skilfully plotted - I started the novel expecting one thing and it went in a completely unexpected direction with brilliant twists, great characterisation and sense of place. I loved the character of Micky and would love to see her return.
Jo Spain is a go to author for me and I'd highly recommend this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

My first book from Jo Spain and won’t be my last, I was hooked from the beginning and read this over the space of a couple of evenings. Fast paced, intriguing, twisty, basically all the things I love in a novel.

Don't Look Back by Jo Spain

Luke Miller used to work in a more high stakes financial ring but he now works in the much more sedate pension fund sector. He's wealthy, good looking, quite the catch. His last serious relationship was long ago but less than a year ago he met the most remarkable woman and fell head over heels in love and they are already married and celebrating a late honeymoon trip in a Caribbean paradise. His wife, Rose, surprised him and whisked him off on this trip without even letting him go home from work first. It's been a wonderful week although Rose is acting a little off.

Now he knows why Rose was off. She killed a man! A violent man from Rose's past tracked her down and now he's dead. Luke will do anything to protect Rose, he won't let her come to harm. He knows who can help them, an old friend Mickey Sheils who is a crusader for battered women. Luke hates to ask for her help because of their past but he has no where else to turn.

So many secrets! Luke has them, Mickey has her own. What about Rose? There is so much she doesn't want to talk about, there is a deep sadness about her, walls that are hard to knock down. And now she wants Luke to just walk away from her as she disappears into the unknown.

And I was not sure I could trust any of them. Dreamboat Luke with all that money and things he regrets. Mickey, with her strange marriage that seems held together with money and guilt. And Rose, she seems so meek, so touchy, so afraid to trust, holding back way too much.

The story will take you places, beautiful places, dark places, and be sure to bring your raincoat because you go to cold, wet places. There are some very interesting side characters here, friendship comes from some far off places, and help comes from where it's least expected. Ride the roller coaster and see who gets off in one piece.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

my first read from this author and I so enjoyed a very addictive read. Rose has fled an abuse relationship she leaves Ireland and restarts her life in London she then meets Luke and they fall in love and marry. Rose is always looking over her shoulder. then one day when she arrives home her ex partner is in her home something happens and she books her and Luke a holiday and picks him up from work. and on the last day she tells him something. Mickey helps women who are in abusive relationship s she does what the police system does not. her and Luke are old friends she not heard from him in years and she gets a phone call off him he needs her help I won't say no more but its so good so twisty you think you got the plot but nope

Another brilliant one by Jo Spain. I found this incredible easy to sink into. Characters were very familiar and there was a certain ease to reading the book. Thank you for the couple of hour escape that it offered me while I read it. A must read.

Rose confesses to new husband Luke, during their honeymoon, that she accidentally killed someone and this person is still in their apartment. Luke enlists friend Mickey to help try and sort out the problem. What follows is a suspenseful, twisty tale.

I really enjoyed this story and found my self absorbed in all parts of the story. The book is action backed with plenty of twists to keep you on your toes. The characters are well rounded and I found myself really liking the character Mickey and colleague Elliot. Overall this is definitely a thrilling read. I have only read one other book by this author previous to this but will be checking out the rest! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my early copy.

Your dream island, the love of your life, a secret that changes everything.

After a whirlwind romance Luke is coming to the end of his surprise honeymoon with Rose when she breaks down and explains they can’t go home. Before they left Rose killed a man and the body is on the floor of their apartment. Luke turns to Mickey, the only person he can trust to get them out of this mess but does their loyalty from the past endanger present day?

My first book by this author and it won’t be my last. Action packed from the start and it intrigued me throughout. I really liked Mickey’s character and what she stood for. Thank you @netgalley and @quercusbooks for the opportunity to read this book and I wish the author well on its release.

Publication Date - 11/05/2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#DontLookBack
#JoSpain

4.5 rounded up

Saint Thérèse, Caribbean. It’s the last day of Luke and Rose Millers’ honeymoon and as he treads the white sand he appreciates normality will arrive all too soon. He’s so relaxed and he’s seen an improvement in Rose in the first few days as she rarely feels safe. However, he also reflects that over the last couple of days something is off kilter, she appears desolate, further thought brings the realisation that she’s actually terrified. He returns to the hotel to talk to her and she says she can’t go home. He’s dead. Who is dead? What’s worse apparently the body is in their London apartment. Luke turns to Mickey Sheils for help, she promises she will despite never expecting to hear from him again. Has Mickey promised the impossible? The story is told in the present day in Saint Thérèse and in several timelines in London and Donegal, Ireland which flows well.

Let’s establish from the start that I love Jo Spain’s novels! As per usual she effortlessly pulls me into the storyline which starts with several wows as the desperate tension is palpable almost immediately. The terror of Rose and the shock that Luke feels at the situation they find themselves in makes for compelling and immersive reading in a plot that’s constantly on the move. I really like the multilayered way the author chooses to tell this story as she makes you feel the dread and trepidation, to wince at some of the madness of decisions but also to feel sympathy and understanding. It’s edgy, twitchy, characters are spooked and vulnerable, on more than one occasion in great danger and clearly not processing rationally. The tension builds to holding your breath levels and thankfully the release with some backtracking to add to your understanding or perhaps not!! On more than one occasion you are left in suspense until the next bombshell drops. The unpredictable plot is clever as it keeps you guessing often wrongly (!), the pace is spot on and of course as this is Jo Spain, there are some excellent jaw dropper twists and I might, just might, have uttered the odd naughty in shock! There are secrets in abundance with situations you don’t see coming some of which end disastrously.

The characterisation is excellent, you realise some are not entirely what they seem so your feelings fluctuate which is very enjoyable. You are full of questions about what some of them are up to which is very intriguing. I love Mickey, she’s someone you would want on your side and she sure goes an extra mile. Others are stand up guys like Detective Marcel Alleyne in Saint Thérèse who is immensely likeable and fair whilst others are devious, vicious and evil.

Overall, this novel takes you on a journey of unforeseen causes and outcomes with the ending dovetailing the plot strands well. There’s everything from love and courage to fear and violence, from humiliation to tragedy and everything in between. It’s another winner for me as it keeps me glued to the pages and often perched on the edge of my seat. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I found this book hard to put down. The plot was different and the twists had me second guessing on who was telling the truth or not. The settings were described well and the characters were easy to like/hate. The abuse back story was believable and made me sympathise with Rose. A book I would recommend reading.

Firstly, thank you to Netgallery, Quercus Books and Jo Spain for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and it won’t be the last! This book totally gripped me from the first page to the last, suspicious of everyone and everything, it was good I read it in a day! A tense, faced paced thriller that will keep you up at night.

The twist and turns in the book were so clever that I was left thinking about it for days after. Jo Spain definitely should be on everyones shelf!

Luke and Rose are having the perfect honeymoon until Rose drops a bombshell. She has been stalked by her very violent ex and now there is a dead body in their apartment back home. So now begins a very twisted and exciting tale.

I always find something magical about the way authors have the ability to create a situation that has the reader totally engrossed in their writing. There is nothing better than being taken away from reality for a few hours and Jo Spain definitely has this skill, I have always been a fan.

There are some great supporting characters, Mickey in particular, who provide another layer to the story and you cannot help but be taken in by this whole situation. This is another fabulous book by Jo Spain, the action is fast paced and once you begin it is really hard to put this book down. It is one of those books where you will read it in a couple of sittings, it really is that good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.

Jo always manages to deliver first class books and this is no exception. The premise is enough to make you want to sit and devour the whole book immediately and the story itself just builds on from that. I enjoyed the plot, the thrills and the characters and found the structure of the story to be as solid as ever, Excellent.

Having read three of Jo Spain's stories before this, I was really excited to find out that she had a new book coming out soon. So when I started reading Don't Look Back, I felt a little disappointed that I could see where the story was going. But as it turned out, I was wrong. So very wrong.

The first half of the book may at times seem slightly predictable, but as I indicated, that simply makes the second half of the book hit home even harder. The number of times I went back and forth on the actions and motives of various characters - trying to figure what was actually going on - left me feeling as unsure as it made me determined to find out the real story!

When Luke Miller meets Rose Gallagher, he feels like all his Christmases have come at once. Even his realisation that a horrifically abusive relationship from her past has left Rose deeply damaged, and unable to trust men, does not deter Luke. Instead, he decides to prove to Rose that his love is the forever kind, and that she will always be safe with him.

So after a worldwind courtship, they get married. And when Rose surprises Luke at his office with tickets she has spontaneously booked for their delayed honeymoon, the two jet off to the tropical paradise of Saint Therese. It is only on the day that they are due to return home that Luke finds out the real reason behind the surprise "honeymoon".

Rose's violent ex-boyfriend had tracked her down from the home she fled in Ireland to her refuge in London. After being attacked in their flat, Rose accidentally killed her ex and panicked, leaving a dead body in their flat in order to escape - however temporarily - to Saint Therese.

Luke is determined that she must not be sent to prison for defending herself, even though he admits that it looks bad for Rose to have left the country after killing the man, instead of reporting the attack to the police and letting justice take its course. With the aim of joining Rose in her new life as a fugitive, Luke realises he needs just one thing from his flat in London to enable him to start a new life with Rose beyond the reach of the law.

The only problem is, in order to retrieve that one rather important thing, Luke will have to ask Mickey for help - a woman with whom he has a history that is not altogether a happy one.

But Mickey's passion is helping women who are trying to escape the violent men in their lives. So Luke is gambling that Mickey's desire to help someone in Rose's position will overcome any hostility she retains towards him for his past actions.

But very few things in this situation are actually as they seem, and things are about to get a whole lot worse, so strap in for a rough ride...

All in all, this was a five star read for me. The twists and turns of the story make it very compelling, and Jo Spain brings her complex and often flawed characters vividly to life in the pages of this thriller. Highly recommended.

Captivating, with twists and turns on every page. A beautiful setting, a troubled wife and a protective husband..or so it seems. An elaborate plot to extract revenge courses through this book making it an addictive page turner. A very clever and easy to read book. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy and well done Jo Spain for another great standalone (though it would be great if this was the start of a series, there’s more to come from Mickey I’m sure!)

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Luke and Rose are married, and one day Rose collects Luke from work and takes him on a belated honeymoon to the Caribbean. Luke thinks his life is perfect until, just before returning home, Rose confesses that back in London a man is lying dead in their apartment after she fought back and defended herself. Luke only knows of one person who can possibly help, Mickey. Mickey is a friend from the past, and she is shocked to hear from Luke again after what happened before.

Another excellent read from this author. When I open a Jo Spain book, I know that I’m getting a cleverly thought out plot, with characters that are well written. And that’s exactly what we have here. The plot was brilliant, and everything that is happening is not what you think. The twists and turns were great, and some I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the characters, Mickey was my favourite. I’d like to see this book turned into a TV film, as it would be brilliant. I also hope that the author revisits Mickey one day so we can see how life has panned out for her.

Wow! This book was brilliant! I loved the storyline and it kept me guessing. Once you think you've got it figured out it goes another way! Jo Spain's style of writing allowed me to imagine I was on the Carribean Island and also Donegal. Being from Ireland and someone who spends a lot of time in Donegal, I can say Jo described the surroundings perfectly. I loved the way the story went between the Carribean, Donegal and London.
Thank you to Jo Spain and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’ve previously enjoyed Jo Spain’s work but this one left me a bit underwhelmed. I didn’t feel particularly engaged with either Luke or Rose as it seemed clear to me from the early stages that there was something amiss with their relationship. And once some of the historical background was revealed I found it unlikely that Luke would have been quite so naive.

I admit that I was quite intrigued to discover “who dunnit’ or more importantly “why” I felt that the exposition was rushed and slightly confusing.

Sadly I’m not sure that I’d wholeheartedly recommend this read. Nevertheless I’d like to thank.NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thriller with plenty of excitement and twists

Luke and Rose are enjoying a perfect (belated) honeymoon, until Going Home Day changes everything. Rose’s past is catching up with her, which is scary for her and Luke but makes for an exciting storyline. Can they escape from Rose’s past and live their happy ever after?
Mickey, an old friend of Luke’s, is called in to help, utilising her expertise in helping abused women escape. She’s feisty, genuine and a great character.
To me this is a perfect thriller, with just the right amount of nerve-wracking action. The action moves between London and a Caribbean Island, plus a visit to Ireland. There is plenty of excitement, twists, and surprises, all of which kept me reading and loving every moment. Violence is “off page”, the writing flows, not many characters and those there are come across as real and interesting.
Another 5* read from the wonderful Jo Spain.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Luke and Rose are newly married and enjoying a impromptu Caribbean honeymoon when Rose confesses that she murdered her abusive ex boyfriend in their apartment the day they left and the body is still there. Rose tells Luke she will take responsibility but he loves her and won't allow it so he starts working on a plan.

I was engaged in this book and wanted to know what was really going on. I thought it dragged a bit in the middle and the ending was a little hard to follow but overall it was a good quick read and I look forward to reading more from this author