Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

HER MANY FACES ticked all the boxes for me. I devoured this book in a single sitting (shout out to the super short chapters!) and felt an unnerving sense of unease throughout as this slow burn mystery unraveled.

The mystery is told in reverse from the scene of the crime and what led to it, through multiple POV’s of men who have very different relationships to the woman on trial. The clever writing kept me guessing, and I loved how each POV painted varying pictures of who the MC really is. The ending reaches a crescendo with several twists I didn’t see coming. This is such an entertaining thriller— you’ll want to add it to your summer TBR!

Thanks to William Morrow Books for the gifted copy!

Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

"Her Many Faces" by Nicci Cloke is a psychological thriller centering on Katie Cole, a young waitress accused of poisoning four influential men at an exclusive London club. The novel's unique structure unfolds Katie's story through the alternating perspectives of five men who knew her: her father, her childhood friend, her former lover, her lawyer, and a journalist covering her trial.

The narrative structure and blend of literary fiction and suspense are reminiscent of Notes on an Execution (though inverse, as we have all male POVs). This book would be great for fans of that novel, or generally for those who enjoy crime thrillers and suspenseful literary fiction.

We hear from many narrators, but none of them are reliable. Each man has a vastly different perception of Katie, shaped by their relationships and understandings of her. As Katie's trial progresses, these conflicting, bias-filled narratives force the reader to piece together the truth. The book delves into themes of perception and identity, powerfully illustrating how easily a person's story can be deconstructed and redefined by others, especially under public scrutiny.

It was sometimes challenging to keep up with the rapidly changing POVs. It took a while for each voice to be established in my mind, given the very short chapters and quick shifts. It was also at times uncomfortable to read about how heavily the "male gaze" impacts the perception of a woman. This novel importantly illustrates how the male narrative can so easily dominate public perception, especially in today's climate.

I enjoyed the unique narrative style and particularly loved the clear closure readers received at the end of the book. I'm excited to see what this author puts out next!

Thank you to William Morrow Group and Harper Collins for the early copy of this read! All opinions are my own.

this was thrilling and showed all the perspectives we wanted to know. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to future work

The world knows Katie Cole as a 22 year-old waitress on trial for the murder of four wealthy men in an exclusive London club. Her father John knows her as Kit Kat, the youngest of his three children and the only girl, who never seemed to really get over the death of her beloved eldest brother in a warzone. Her childhood best friend Gabriel knows her as KC, who took him under her wing as a fellow outcast when he transferred into her high school as a sickly, nerdy stranger in a small town. Her off-and-on fling and business bro Conrad knows her as Wildcat, the alluring and much younger woman he toys with as he works to ascend the corporate ladder. Her lawyer Tarun knows her as Katherine, the young woman whose reputation he needs to burnish in front of a jury as he tries to recapture his professional confidence after a nervous breakdown. And tabloid reporter Max thinks of her as Killer Kate, whose story he's hoping could be the source of a true crime bestseller. What actually happened the night those men died from cyanide-poisoned wine, when she fled her job and was caught trying to leave the city? If she killed them, why? If she didn't, who did? Every summer I get in the mood for a fast-paced twisty thriller, and I'm usually disappointed. This one isn't mind-blowing (I don't think anything will ever recapture the high of reading Gone Girl for the first time), but it is quite good and I very much enjoyed reading it! The viewpoint chapters are short and keep the pages turning quickly, making it easy to go for just one more. It's an interesting narrative choice, to only really see the central character through the eyes of others (though Katie does get very brief introduction and conclusion chapters of her own) and I found that it did not hinder her development. By getting all of these perspectives, with their variation between love and hostility and curiosity and wariness, the reader can synthesize them into a relatively realistic portrait of a young woman trying to figure out how to be a person in the world. We get little details about the lives these men lead outside of their interactions with Katie so they don't feel wildly underdeveloped themselves, but Cloke keeps it pretty tightly focused so they don't feel like distractions either. Easy enough to be a beach/plane read, but with enough there there to not feel too slight for full attention. I admit I am terrible at guessing twists, but I didn't feel like this one was telegraphed or too easy. The end was satisfying. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a propulsive little thriller with actual meat on its bones!

I am a sucker for stories that play with perspective, so this one grabbed my attention the second I read the synopsis, and boy did it deliver!

After a group of wealthy men are poisoned at a private members club, the only waitress serving them that night, Kate Cole, is on trial for the murders. Told between five men's perspectives, her lawyer, a reporter, her father, a lover and a childhood friend, we get to know Kate's story through their experiences and biases. The chapters are short and snappy, and each one leaves the reader wondering who Kate really is.

I thoroughly enjoyed this plot structure, the way my own perspective of Kate shifted around the men's thoughts and feelings about her, and the very reasonable but revelatory ending. Fans of Showtime's The Affair and Mindy Mejia's Everything You Want Me to Be will devour this one!

This book started off with a lot of promise sharing multiple perspectives of different men in the life of Katherine. Katherine, aka Kit Kat, Wild Cat, is on trial for the murder of a group of men at her work place. The short chapters give us a birds eye view of how each man sees and interacts with Katherine in the past and present. Is she guilty of murder? Who's to know...

This book was so slow! Very little appeared to happen. It definitely leaned heavy on the character study of Katherine and I got to the point where I really needed more plot, some actual movement in the story. That said, I am a plot based girl. I do enjoy a character study, but I also need some intrigue. Unfortunately this was a struggle for me to get through.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the gifted e-arc of this book.

WOW!!!
Omg this was such a fun, unique read! I absolutely loved it.
I really enjoyed the way that this book was written, from the different povs, to the way that it was written as like a letter to Katie, it was so refreshing and I was hooked. I loved seeing the different sides of Katie that were seen by the different povs. You see her innocent side as told from her dad, the messy side of her growing up told by her childhood friend, the not so innocent side told by her scorned lover, the already presumed guilty side told by the reporter, and the lost side told by her lawyer. SO GOOD! I kept going back and forth with every pov on if I thought she was guilty or guessing who the real killer could be.
This was such a fun read and it actually saved me from a reading slump… so that really means it’s good.

Just finished this story by Nicci Cloke and my mind is officially 🤯! This book isn't just a thriller, it's a deep dive into how we create identities online vs. real life, and how everyone has an opinion on who you are.

Imagine this: a woman is accused of murder, but you hear her story through the eyes of FIVE different men who knew her. Each version is wilder than the last! It's like watching a train wreck of male opinions trying to define one woman, and it's equal parts infuriating and fascinating. You're left asking: who is the real Katherine Cole? And more importantly, does anyone truly know anyone? 🤔

For readers who crave a deep dive into shattered identities, the allure of conspiracy, and the unsettling power of public perception.

Cloke's innovative storytelling technique challenges the reader to navigate a labyrinth of conflicting narratives, highlighting how a woman's identity can be distorted through the lenses of those around her. The novel's structure not only serves as a gripping mystery but also as a commentary on societal tendencies to define women through others' perceptions.
With its intricate plot and compelling character studies, Her Many Faces is a must read for fans of psychological thrillers that explore the nuances of human relationships and the complexities of identity.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC! I’ve been hearing amazing things about this book and I was so excited to get an early look at it. It definitely lived up to the hype!

As Her Many Faces opens, we learn that Katie Cole has been arrested for the murder of 4 prominent men. The men were poisoned while dining in an exclusive club and Katie was their waitress.

What I loved about this book is that it's not a murder mystery or a courtroom drama or like anything I've read before. Told through voices of 5 men who has known her throughout her life, it is the story of Katie herself. At many times, I felt like I was reading about a victim, but Katie is very much alive.

There are storylines we've seen before — such as the defense lawyer and the trusting father -- but when you put them all together it's truly something unique. One of the thrills of reading this was having way more of the information than any of the invidual narrators, that sense of dramatic irony, but not knowing where the story was going to go.

Overall, I thought this was a very well-rounded character piece with a satisfying conclusion.

So many men knew her, but did they really? Was she Kit, Katherine, Katie or was she someone they never really knew at all? Accused of murdering 4 very prominent business men, Katie Stone stands trial for their murder. Told from the perspective of men who had relationships with her you’re never really sure if she could be capable of such a heinous crime and the ending might surprise you.

Sometimes it only takes a tiny shift of perspective to create a whole different mindset.

The real truth is that we look at life through our own personal lens. And that lens may be tainted and biased by our own particular experiences.....good, bad or indifferent.

Nicci Cloke creates a mindboggling trek through Her Many Faces. It's totally creative and extremely clever. Did it have some flaws? Indeed. But I kicked it up from 4.5 Stars to a brilliant 5 Stars because the engine was running full throttle from the very first page.

Cloke sits five male characters in a circle of chairs around our female main character. We're given privy into their thoughts and into their daily previous encounters with a woman accused of murdering four men. It's a rare opportunity to meander through the corridors of their minds. We readers must determine what is truth and what is bogus.......and Nicci Cloke ain't makin' it easy.

Katherine Cole is a twenty-two year old woman living in London and trying to strike out on her own. We'll see life through her eyes as she attempts to break away from the family life of her youth. She's still reeling from the loss of her older brother, Stephen. And life has not quite been fair. Or has this life been layered in bricks created by Katherine herself?

As Kate sits in a jail cell, we'll peruse through the perspectives of these men: her father, her best friend, a journalist, her attorney, and her former lover. Cloke peels back the layers. Some loosening in their grip and some tightening to near suffocation. You'll be the judge or the facts will judge you. Her Many Faces is geared toward readers who enjoy tightly knotted drama that brings the reader into its midst. Clever and cunning. It's one not to be missed.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to William Morrow and to the talented Nicci Cloke for the opportunity.

Suspenseful reads that I rate a full five stars are few and far between. Many fall short from tossing feasibility out in favor of wild card moves that leave me rolling my eyes. Oh, but when one works from beginning to end it's a thing of beauty to behold and <i>Her Many Faces</i> is one such novel. This was my first read by Nicci Cloke, but it won't be my last because, WOW!

The story is told from five different perspectives all are men who see Katherine Cole through the differing lens that are limited by their own ideas and perceptions. It is a brilliant layout because we are hearing about Katherine but not from Katherine. (initially)

Is Katherine Cole a murderess?
Or
Is she a victim of circumstance?

Is she.... Katherine? In Tarun her barrister's POV we see him representing her in court as she sits trial for murder. He wavers in whether or not to believe in her innocence. Is her version of events true? If so, why did she say <b> THEY DESERVED IT</b> during her arrest?

Maybe she's...KitKat? Her dad John has a soft spot for his youngest child and can't cast her in anything other than a loving light. BUT...her mother and brother have other ideas. Which family member(s) know her best?

Perhaps she's even...Killer Kate? Max the reporter who views covering her court case as the catapult his career needs. He has visions of huge articles with this murderess at their center. He digs and digs into her life. Relentless. Will he find more than he bargained for?

Or is she...K.C.? Gabriel is a lovesick puppy that she put firmly in the friendzone. A true friend to her but easily manipulated. What secrets does he hold?

Could she be...WildCat? Her former lover Conrad wanted their relationship to be kept secret. He should've realized a WildCat hunts what it wants. As ill-matched pairs go these two are a classic. He should've known better. What will this dalliance cost him?

The short punchy chapters kept the pace rolling at a clip with enough suspense and clues sprinkled about to keep me flipping pages long into the night. This is a standout with how well-written and realistic the story is. The intelligent tight plotting was incredible!

This one delivered across the board!

All the Stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to William Morrow for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.25 Stars

Kate is accused of murdering four very wealthy men that were found dead in one of London's exclusive private clubs. The story is told from the viewpoints of various people in her life, but as if they are telling it to Kate herself. Each person has a different name for Kate, and sees a different side of her. The multiple POV's are very well done and the voice of each remains consistent throughout, even though they are in alternating chapters. We learn about Kate as a daughter, a friend, a sister, a news story, and a possible murderer through the impact she has had on the lives of others. This was a compelling, well-written book, and I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't finish this one, I abandoned around 15%. I couldn't get a sense of the characters and it felt like any plot was taking too long to get going.

Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke isn’t just a breath of fresh air in the thriller space, it’s a gasp. 🤯

Katherine Cole is accused of poisoning four powerful men at an exclusive London club, and as her trial unfolds, we see her through the eyes of the five men in her life: her father, a journalist, her ex-lover, her childhood friend, and her defense attorney. Now I know the last thing we want to hear right now is a man's opinion, but here's the thing... each man sees a completely different version of Katherine. So which one is real? The devoted daughter? The obsessive girlfriend? The conspiracy theory-consumed young woman? The calculated killer? ☠️

This story's pacing is non-stop, in the best way possible. Cloke drops breadcrumbs and revelations at exactly the right moments to keep you spiraling with theories. The courtroom drama hits hard (enter Law & Order DUN DUN here), and the exploration of how women are constantly defined through the male gaze feels contemporary and illuminating, yet maddening. ⚖️

What really hooked me is with how seamlessly the multiple timelines (and POVs) weave together to paint such a dynamic picture of a woman navigating the world and the place she’s been allowed to occupy within it. You're getting Katherine's backstory while simultaneously following her trial, and every new piece of information shifts your entire perspective. It's like looking through a kaleidoscope where you twist it slightly and everything changes. Or like living in a never-ending dutch angle.

Her Many Faces is one of those books you think about long after you’ve finished reading it because there are so many things that tickle your brain. I could spend another week with Katherine’s friend Gabriel, and her attorney Tarun; both characters that offered and shouldered so much by being in her corner. And I have to acknowledge the deeply unsettling conspiracy theory elements that snake throughout this story, adding an eerie, modern relevance that will make your skin crawl thanks to the current state of the world. 🔥

Still got to trope:

🔍 Unreliable narrators/multiple POVs
⚖️ Courtroom drama
💀 Murder mystery
🔗 Conspiracy theories/ psychological manipulation
👨‍⚖️ Male gaze deconstruction
🔥 Good for her
🏛️ Class commentary

Seriously, Nicci Cloke has created something special here. This isn't just another thriller - it's a masterclass in storytelling that will have you questioning everything you think you know about truth and perception.

You can get your hands on this one, July 15, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and reel from this incredible ARC.

I normally love a book with a lot of characters, and each chapter being a different point of view. However for this one there was just too much, and too many characters to keep track of.

This was so fun to read! The writing style was unique but it allowed the story to unfold in such an interesting way. The twist made so much sense but I didn’t see it coming. Definitely don’t miss out on this one!

Thank you to Nico Cloke, NetGalley, and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book will make my FAVORITES shelf for 2025!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GUILTY OR INNOCENT?
Will the real Katherine Cole please stand up!

After four wealthy and powerful men are poisoned at London’s most exclusive private club, “The March House” a young waitress named Katie Cole is arrested.

As they try to make sense of her arrest, we hear about her from the alternating first person POV’s of five men in her life-

AND we learn about her online obsession with “The Rabbit Hole” -where conspiracy theories are exposed. 🐰

Her barrister, TARUN knows her as “Katherine” a challenging new client-and he isn’t sure what he believes about her story.

Her father, JOHN calls her Kit-Kat, and she is a “Daddy’s Girl” who can do no wrong.

MAX is a reporter hoping to make a name for himself off of the “Killer Kate” story.

GABRIEL thinks K.C., his childhood friend walks on water.

And, a former lover, CONRAD calls her “Wildcat”.

To each of them, she is someone entirely different. But which version of Katherine Cole is most accurate?

IS SHE GUILTY OF MURDER?
WHAT WILL YOU BELIEVE?

This is a PERFECTLY PLOTTED, FAST PACED story which kept me guessing from the first page to the last! I couldn’t read fast enough to find out the truth! The mystery of the murder is exposed in the second half COURTROOM drama. The ending was PLAUSIBLE, SATISFYING and SURPRISING!

I LOVED IT! ❤️

Author Nicci Cloke is a writer of contemporary and YA fiction based in London. I wasn’t familiar with her before but I am thrilled she is on my radar now!

Expected Publication Date: July 15, 2025

Thank You to William Morrow Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

Clever & Compelling! Her Many Faces was a fresh and unique narrative by Nicci Cloke. I devoured this slow burn mystery & found it hard to put down. The story was about Katherine (Katie) Cox a waitress at an elite club. She was on trial for poisoning four influential and powerful patrons before fleeing the scene. From there, the real intrigue lied in how the story unfolded.

Nicci Cloke cleverly crafted an abundance of well developed multi-layered characters. The multiple perspectives were primarily told from the men in Katie’s life including her father, her defense barrister, journalist covering her trial, childhood friend, and her former lover. Unfortunately the multiple perspectives made this a challenge to read. Fortunately, Cloke separated each character with their own chapter and a distinct voice that reflected their own personality and relationship with Katie. This approach made it easier to follow the dialogue. Despite the fragmented narrative, the shifting perspectives created a sense of suspense and mystery and kept me guessing throughout.

On top of the multi layered characters, Cloke explored a variety of intriguing themes. Power, perception, and the way memory served the storyteller were most prominent. I was most impressed by how Cloke examined the powerful dynamics between men and women in the context of wealth, influence, and societal expectations. She further critiqued the way men control and manipulate women's narratives as was evident in the accusations and trial of Katie.

Altogether, Nicci Cloke delivered a sharp and suspenseful story of a woman on trial for murder, as told through the eyes of the most important men in her own life. I recommend this psychological thriller for those that love courtroom dramas, multi-layered characters, and stories with unconventional narratives. This one will be utterly satisfying.

Thanks to Net Galley and William Morrow for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.