S.M. Govett delivers a dark, multilayered psychological thriller in Believe Me Now—a novel that is as gripping as it is unsettling. From the very beginning, the story plunges into a world of uncertainty and manipulation, where nothing can be taken at face value.

Told through dual narrators, the structure adds depth and intrigue, allowing the truth to unfold in a carefully controlled manner. As the layers of the story are slowly peeled back, tension mounts and the stakes rise, drawing readers deeper into a web of secrets, suspicion, and betrayal.

Twisted in the best sense of the word, Believe Me Now is a page-turner that constantly challenges the reader’s assumptions. Govett keeps you guessing until the very end, crafting a suspenseful narrative that’s both clever and compelling. An unmissable read for fans of psychological suspense.

I can now see why this book has a 4⭐️ rating. We have Natalie who is a perfect is reliable narrator. Her husband is accused of a horrible crime and because of her past she has a hard time believing him.

This book was fast paced and didn’t stop until the very end. It packs a lot into its 300 pages and leaves you with your head spinning head.

I was pulled into the story and didn’t know who I wanted to believe and who has really innocent and spoiler I was wrong…


Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 312
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone

This was such a great, suspenseful thriller! I couldn't put this book down.
Believe Me Now by S. M. Govett was a great story that I enjoyed reading.
I liked the premise of this book I found it interesting from the start.

What a fun twisty turny psychological thriller. A dual point of view with Natalie and DI Stratton. Who fo you believe? The author does an excellent job of misdirection.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fast-paced mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat and questioning everyone. I really liked the authors writing style for this book.

Natalie is still dealing with trauma 10 years later after accused her former boss of S/A and he was found not guilty. She still struggles with PTSD and blackouts.

Now her husband has been accused of S/A she’s sure he couldn't be guilty why would he do that after what happened to her, their is no way a women would lie about that but she isn’t sure.

The next day things get worse for them
DI Stratton a detective on the case of who is haunted by the disappearance of her sister when she was growing up and still looking for her.

Did her husband really do it or was it one of the many other suspects and the suspense is high throughout the fast-paced thriller novel full of tension and twist.

This is told through the eyes of DI Helen Stratton and Natalie, the woman she's investigating. It's a twisty one, chiefly because Natalie has blackouts as a result of PTSD from an assault. How reliable is she as a narrator? And can you believe her-can she believe herself-when it comes to the fact that a woman who accused her husband has been found murdered? She's quite sympathetic but you like Helen, might feel prickles of uncertainty. It's well constructed and well told. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an eARC of Believe Me Now in exchange for my honest review!

This crime thriller rivets me with a whole ton of twists and turns as I get caught up in the main characters' stories and plunge deep into a deeply misogynistic world that leaves us wondering what and who we can turn to in order to give women the safety and respect that they absolutely need. I'll admit that I was actually close to skipping over this book, even though I'd had my eye on it for a while, so thank god I finally dived into it. Yes, the beginning does build up a little more gradually than I'd expected it to, but it's not slow, to be clear. It just makes the choice to take a bit of time to set up the pieces for the rest of the narrative. Then it lets the tension roll forward into a tale that keeps causing me to wonder exactly what's happening. There are so many points where I'm leaning towards this theory, where I'm leaning towards that theory, where I have to adjust my perspective depending on the surprising pieces of information I absorb.

It helps that this does a smooth job of switching us back and forth between the two central POVs of Natalie and Stratton. For Natalie, you can't help but empathize with her so damn fast as she wrestles with her past trauma and her blackouts that skew her sense of reality into an increasingly uncertain level. Her side of the story taps into a visceral territory that can really escalate the suspense and wrap me up in her psychological space. For Stratton, that visceral layer isn't quite as present, but it remains engrossing to follow her side of the book as she investigates these grim crimes from a hardened perspective and uncovers a growing amount of evidence that could lead her closer to the truth. Through her eyes, we process the narrative with more distance, and it effectively contrasts with the palpable emotions of Natalie's POV.

Once we reach the third act, goddamn, this tale unleashes a satisfying payoff and steers us towards a conclusion that I hadn't predicted. It's interesting, because right before the fully revelation of an important aspect, I thought to myself, "Oh shit, is this what's occurring?" And then yep, that's what we've been building up to. Once that transpires, it helps the pieces click together. Everything makes sense at that point. The only element that holds me back from giving this the full five stars is that it comes so close to adopting a strong ACAB position, but then it loses its nerve and takes a couple steps back from that right at the very end. It's frustrating, because the progression of the story made me more and more invested in the apparent stake it was putting down in an ACAB stance. I was warming up to this in spite of the narrative initially giving off a pro-cop air. But oh dear, when the tale heads all the way to the end of the road, it makes the choice to avoid fully committing to being ACAB, which is frustrating. It would have been so damn appropriate to vehemently embrace such an attitude due to how much that would have thematically and politically meshed with the story.

I was seriously considering giving Believe Me Now the full five stars before that choice arrived, but oh well, it's still a worthwhile journey that I'm officially rating 4.5 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 4 stars. I'm definitely looking out for more of S.M. Govett's writing.

BELIEVE ME NOW is a twisty, dual viewpoint thriller. Natalie Campbell is a suburban housewife who suffers from PTSD after an office rape and a trial that found her attacker innocent. Natalie has blackouts in which she loses time and finds herself in different places with no idea how she got there. These blackouts - what she calls "losing time" - seem to be stress-related. They began with the court case almost ten years earlier exacerbated by the arrival of threatening letters sent by her accuser's wife.

Some years have gone by since she has received new letters, but her anxiety hasn't ended. The stress is starting to increase again as some new letters arrive, and her husband is accused of raping his assistant. Natalie's relationship with her husband has changed over the years and now she doesn't know if she can believe him when he says that the accusation is false.

Stress ramps up still more when the young, pretty accuser is found murdered in the woods near their home at a time when her husband was out running.

DI Helen Stratton is the other viewpoint character. She's under stress of her own as it is nearing the anniversary of her older sister's disappearance. She joined the police force to find her sister and over the years of her career she has solved many crimes. However, her sister's disappearance remains a mystery.

Now, she finds herself being partnered with a fast-tracker - a young police officer being pushed up the ladder and with responsibility for this new murder case reluctantly given to her by her superior with whom she once had an affair. Helen is also dealing with a mother with dementia whose care home is hinting that another facility might be better for her.

While Helen zeroes in on Natalie's husband as the murder suspect, Natalie is also trying to unravel the case. And when Natalie's husband apparently commits suicide, the case gets even twistier.

This was a dark story which leaves the reader to put the pieces together even as the two viewpoint characters are trying to do the same. I enjoyed the twists and turns though I felt the ending came too fast and tied up the loose ends a bit too easily.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the gifted digital ARC!

It's pretty rare that I am completely sucked into a book from the jump, but that was 100% the case with this one. I also really enjoyed that we got to have POV chapters from both Natalie and the detective investigating the murder, Helen.

There were lots of red herrings and details that didn't seem very important but looped back around for the big reveal. It had all of my favorite thriller elements: fast-paced plot, several mystery storylines, and characters behaving badly.

I hope this author continues to write thrillers, I am a big fan already!

Believe Me Now pub date is June 10.

Believe Me Now by S. M. Govett is a recommended investigative thriller that unfolds between dual narrators. The title is Believe in the UK.

Natalie Campbell experienced a traumatic event ten years ago and still struggles with PTSD and blackouts. She has coping strategies and routines to help her and she also relies on her husband Ryan. Then her life is shaken up when she begins to receive the same kinds of threatening letters she was sent years ago. Following this her husband is accused of the same crime that ruined her life and the accuser, Alice Lytton, is found dead.

DI Helen Stratton understands past trauma. Stratton joined the force to make a difference for lost or missing women after her sixteen-year-old sister disappeared years ago and the police didn't take it seriously. Now she's been on the force for years and assigned a new partner, DC Bradley. The two are assigned to the murder case of Alice.

Following the two very different points-of-view in alternating chapters works very well in this investigative thriller. Natalie is a very sympathetic character but with her blackouts readers also won't know if she is entirely a trustworthy one. Stratton is a bit of a prickly woman, but an observant and competent detective that you will trust.

There are plenty of suspects and the suspense is high throughout the fast-paced novel. I knew exactly who did it very early in the novel and all the twists and additional information didn't change my opinion, but they did add depth to the plot. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I don’t think I liked this as much as I wanted to. It didn’t keep the fast pace I need in order to dive into a mystery book. It just felt super scattered but not in an “unreliable narrator” way. I really wanted to like it but unfortunately this was a miss for me.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. Believe Me Now by S.M. Govett releases on June 10th.

You should definitely pick up this book if you enjoy thrillers with:
• An unreliable narrator 🧠
• Dual POVs 👥
• Marital tension 💍
• A detective FMC 🔍

This was a very enjoyable read! I love the unreliable narrator trope when it’s done well, and this one really was. One of the main characters experiences blackouts due to PTSD, which I found fascinating. I also appreciated that the other POV came from a detective—it added a fresh layer and perspective to the story. Both characters had tragic backstories, and I really felt for them.

I recommend this book—it’s fast-paced, bingeable, and the final twist caught me off guard. I thought I had everything figured out, but I was definitely wrong!

That said, I did find the detective FMC a bit hard to connect with at times, which made me a little less interested in her chapters.

Thank you for opportunity for an advanced reading of Believe Me Now. I was excited to read this one. However, it fell flat with me. I was disengaged for most of the book. I found it boring and the amount of "eff" 💣 was unnecessary. It was distracting and I felt didn't add to the overall story.

That being said, I did enjoy the last quarter of the book. It is written as a split narrative and found myself looking foward to the chapters of Natalie. I didn't really care who was the murderer because I felt like the author was really trying to be coy and have us believe it was one person then try to 180 it to another.

Still, I gave it a 3 out of 5. It's a good read for the genre but not for me, personally.

Crazy. Insane. Thrilling. Would repeat

Back to my 3 word reviews. This book is insane. Loved it! Need a good thriller? Read it.

This was such an exciting thriller and I’m so glad I read it. This is told from dual points of view and the story was so well written. This kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to find out what would happen next.

Natalie has gone through some traumatic events in the past after her boss sexually assaulted her and got away with it. We fast forward to years later and her husband is being accused of the very same crime. Alice, who worked with her husband, Ryan, accuses Ryan of sexually assaulting her and is later found dead the next morning.

I had two theories on who I thought actually committed the crime, but I was totally wrong. The plot twist at the end of this story is amazing and I did not see it coming at all! Although I do love to try and guess who the bad guy is, I love when I’m wrong because and don’t see the twist coming.

If you need a fast paced and exciting psychological thriller, I highly recommend this one. This book will be out on June 10th!

Thank you NetGalley! I loved this book and a first for me by this author. It was such a twisty novel, I did not know where it was going next. It definitely took me by surprise several times

I always enjoy a plot line based on characters facing their past traumas which influence their current actions and decisions. An unreliable narrator story can also never go wrong in my opinion. This book expertly combines both of these things into one jaw-dropping and twisty psychological thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a gripping psychological thriller that explores trauma, trust and the haunting nature of the past. The story follows Natalie, a woman whose life has been shattered by being assaulted by her boss and the jury's decision to declare him innocent, branding her a liar. Ten years later, the past still looms over her, leaving her in a constant state of fear, uncertainty and fractured memories.

The author expertly delves into the psychological toll of being gaslighted and disbelieved, capturing Natalie’s internal struggle as she tries to piece together the truth from the fog of her mind. The complexity of her character is captivating, as she tries to move forward while the shadows of the past threaten to consume her. The sense of isolation is palpable, and you can feel the weight of her emotional scars as she attempts to block out memories that continue to intrude.

However, just when Natalie seems to be finding some semblance of normalcy with her husband, Ryan, the story takes a chilling turn. Ryan is accused of the same crime, and the discovery of a murdered woman near their home sends Natalie into a spiral of distrust and doubt. The tension builds as she faces the terrifying realization that her own perception of reality may no longer be reliable. The question of who can be trusted—her husband, herself, or even the truth—becomes central to the story’s unnerving atmosphere.

The pacing of the novel is relentless, with each chapter pulling you deeper into the complex mystery. Just when you think you have everything figured out, there is another twist that keeps you on edge until the very last page.

Believe is a compelling exploration of memory, perception, and the painful search for truth. The storytelling is dark and immersive, with vivid characters and a plot that keeps you questioning who the real villain is. It’s a thought-provoking and emotional journey that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

"Believe Me Now" is a fast-paced mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat and questioning everyone. Natalie Campbell loses time and has no idea what she is doing or where she has gone during these episodes. Her blackouts are due to PTSD, which started after she was sexually assaulted by her boss, who was ultimately found not guilty. She manages to cope with the support of her husband Ryan. When suddenly, her husband is accused of committing the very same act that ruined her life. She is desperate to believe him until his accuser, Alice Lytton, is found murdered in the very same woods she and her husband run. As her life begins to unravel, she is left doubting herself and the man she loves.

DI Stratton is still healing from her sister's disappearance when she was 16, vowing to help other lost and vulnerable girls. She joins the force intent on catching the killer and bringing justice for her sister and Alice.

I enjoyed the dual narration in this story that brings both sides to a head. Gripping and intense, you will find yourself questioning everyone. Loved it!
Thank Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.