Hmm..... okay, so I'll be honest. I'm left with mixed feelings about this.

I have read one thriller by the author before, and I really enjoyed it, so I was excited to read this one, despite my self-imposed "ARC request ban". And I will be honest, I was interested throughout. From the very first word, until the last. The plot never felt dull for a single moment, and I liked it. But, there were a few things that didn't sit well with me, and I'm unsure whether they reflect the author's moral biases, or just some quirks to make the character unlikeable. So let's get into the details!

Things you can expect:
🚘 Well-paced + Short chapters. I think most of us readers love that combo!
🚘 Gripping plot. There was a lot going on at every point, which was interesting.
🐇 Pet rabbit Rabbit! It's rare to see bunnies being appreciated, so seeing bun rep in books always makes me happy.
🚘 Mean girls, but make it grown women. Not sure how I felt about that.
🚘Plot twist.

Okay, moving on to my experience with the book. While I did enjoy the plot, I don't like the way women were portrayed here. For example, there were more than one instances of the FMC displayed her contempt at the women who put on 'too much makeup' or had surgeries, and those women were shown as 'the mean girls'. And unfortunately, that wasn't the only instance of that kind of thing, but I can't say too much without revealing spoilers, so I won't.

So, the bottom line is: If you want to read a thriller just for a good time, which can keep you hooked till the last line, and maybe even wanting more? You will enjoy it. But as a reviewer, it's also my duty to warn you that if you are someone who is.... idk the term, but like, someone who feels strongly about feminism, diversity and social issues like that (like me), then you will probably have a few parts which will make you stare at the screen (or book, if you have the paperback) with judgy eyes.

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. I am really grateful for it!

Sarah is just an ordinary single mother. One day, when dropping her son Liam to school, she could take her eyes from the new single dad in the neighbourhood, Charlie, who also dropped his daughters to school. The moment their eyes met, Sarah knew her life would change.

After several encounters, they start a relationship, but she always feels uneasy. Sarah and Liam stayed at Charlie's house and many strange things happened. Sarah found out that Charlie’s ex-wife, Lynn, had met another man and just left him and their daughters. She believes that, of course, but… She found Lynn’s journal hidden away in the house with a sapphire ring and silk scarf. Then she feels a chill in her bones...

I feel this story is more mystery than thriller. The story plot is really nice and not too heavy. Many strange and unexplainable things happen in the story.

The fun thing is that this story had so many possibilities of event. Is it a homicide? Is it a kidnapping? Anything is possible in this story.

The character's action and personality are well shown in the story. Surprisingly for me, this book's story pace is like riding a short light rollercoaster, then suddenly went at super speed. This story starts with dramatic romance vibes, then is super speedy into uncovering the mystery mode. I didn’t expect that! Also, I warn you there is more than one more villain in this story.

Unfortunately for me, this story still lacks the tension and suspense that I usually find in thriller books. Also, the relationship between Sarah and Charlie is too fast for me. But I still like one of the characters in the story. She is the supporting character. I won’t tell you who, or it will not be a mystery anymore. I enjoy this book and am looking for this author’s work!

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Don’t Trust Him is the newest thrilling adventure from popular UK author Karen King.
This was a twisty goodie.
Single mother Sarah and her son Liam, live in fear that her abusive ex with find them.
She has her mind set on not wanting any sort of relationship.
That changes when on a school pick up she meets Charlie, a handsome father with two young daughters, Mia and Daisy.
They begin to see each other with the disapproval of his mother, Alice.
Then a diary is found and Lynn, Charlie’s ex reveals some disturbing information.
What happened….
Does Alice hate Sarah enough to dispose of her….
A very inviting plot with mystery, tension and that unexpected ending.
Karen delivers a clever psychological thriller that will engage you from cover to cover.
I look forward to my next Karen King read.

Don’t Trust Him by Karen King is a fast paced domestic thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Sarah’s life revolves around her young son Liam, with the constant fear that her abusive ex will return and harm her and her son. She doesn’t want a relationship, but finds herself drawn to single father Charlie and his two young daughters. What starts as an idyllic relationship, begins to create questions as things happen that causes fear to cascade throughout their life. Alice, Charlie’s mom hates Sarah. Is she the reason that Charlie’s ex Lynne disappeared? And how is she planning on getting rid of Sarah?

This is a fast paced domestic thriller that will keep you wondering who is quilts until the end. Be prepared for more twists and turns than a roller coaster. This had me holding onto the book until the stunning conclusion. Fans of Frieda McFadden and Spencer Guerrero will definitely enjoy this book, and will quickly add this author to their favorites list.

Sarah is a single mum to Liam. She is isolated following an argument with her mum and the end of an abusive relationship. A friendship and then relationship begins with single dad Charlie who she meets on the school playground. But can she trust him and what really happened to his wife?
Don’t Trust Him is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Sarah has had a tough time, breaking up from her son’s father, meeting someone new who had a cruel streak, and then being criticised by her mum. She fled to her best friend Tasha and now has her own rented home and a secure job. But her violent ex’s parole date is approaching and she fears he will come after her for revenge. Meanwhile she meets single dad Charlie and a friendship quickly develops. A flooded bathroom and a bout of chickenpox throw the pair together and a relationship begins. But Charlie’s wife disappeared and his overbearing mother is getting in the way so Sarah starts to fear for her own safety and that of her son.
The book is mostly written from Sarah’s first person perspective so we see her hopes and fears. There are also some chapters from Alice’s viewpoint which show her obsession with protecting her son Charlie. This ramps up the tension as we worry that Alice and Charlie may be behind his wife’s disappearance. There are a series of incidents which drive Sarah and Charlie apart and build up distrust and animosity in their blended family. A sinister atmosphere is sustained well and I didn't know who to trust.
I enjoyed the way the strands are brought together and isn’t as straightforward as I expected. However, I felt that the ending was a little abrupt as I was unclear if there were repercussions or consequences for any of the characters.
Don’t Trust Him is a tense and enjoyable psychological thriller with a sinister atmosphere.

Great read. Really kept me interested. I guessed part but not all of it and there was a good pace. Not too fast that you got confused but enough to hook you in.

A fast paced and well-written psychological thriller with unlikeable characters which made it all the more dark and twisty.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

I liked this book but I couldn't say I loved it. It just didn't have that wow factor for me. I found it to be unrealistic at times and the ending disappointed me.

Definitely a suspenseful read but at the same time it was a little repetitive. Some places I was really bored and debating continuing. I wasn't really on the edge of my seat or anything but it was still an easy read to breeze through.

I absolutely loved Don't Trust Him by Karen King! This book follows Sarah, a single mom, as she navigates her quickly blossoming relationship with single dad, Charlie. Sarah fled her abusive ex, and Charlie's ex-wife left out of nowhere. Once Charlie and Sarah start forming a connection, Sarah notices things seem off. She can't figure out why or what exactly is causing things to happen, but her trust issues are high throughout the relationship. Honestly, I don't blame her. I had so many suspicions with this book, and I am so proud of myself for calling everything I called. I truly felt like I was in Sarah's shoes, and I loved feeling like that. While I managed to call just about everything, there were a few things I wasn't too certain about that got cleared up nicely. This was a great romantic thriller, and I can't wait for more people to read this book! I look forward to reading more of Karen's books!

If you need a beach/poolside read or a story to keep you engrossed on a long flight, get this book. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
When Sarah, a single mom, becomes friends with Charlie, the new handsome single dad at her son Liam’s school, the mom gang get their claws out. But between the catty comments and the disturbing events starting to happen in her life, Sarah begins to question what really happened to Charlie’s ex wife.
What a fun ride. Full of twists and turns, not one character who can be trusted, and so many possibilities as to how it will end. I couldn’t figure it out, which made it that much better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this. It's one of those books that I got into straight away. The plotline is fantastic and i didnt want the book to end, it kept me up reading into the early hours of the morning. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, A definite 5 star book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If I could give this 6 stars i would!! Such a suspenseful read. I didn't want to put it down! I can't wait dor more fro.m Karen king!!!

This book was a mixed bag for me. There were a few niggles, the main one being that you cannot catch shingles from chicken pox. This information is quite easily found on the internet and really bugged me throughout these scenes. I felt like Sarah's 'secret' and what happened in Arran was a bit blown out of proportion and it was made out like she had done something truly terrible. Sarah is quite an impulsive character which can be annoying at times.

I did read it fairly quickly, It was easy to become engrossed and I quickly went from 20% to 70% in just one evening. The short chapters made it so easy to read one more chapter. Charlie and Sarah's relationship develops quickly but I think this is due to the forced proximity they have. When you are forced to be around people for long periods of time things can develop a lot quicker.

I was suspicious of everyone in this book and there was an undertone of tension from the beginning to the end. It was so hard to know who to trust.

If you are looking for an easy read with suspense and a few twists along the way then this is for you. Perfect for a chilled weekend with a cuppa.

I really liked how suspenseful this was, the author did a great job of making multiple characters seem guilty.

I did enjoy the book but some parts felt like the same, which was boring. I felt like nothing much was happening in between the chapters to grab my attention. There was such a big build up to what had happened to Sarah in Arran but it fell flat and weird.

The ending was revealed way too fast with too much being exposed at once, making it unrealistic. I think narrowing down on one particular moment would have made it have more impact.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

It had me hooked from the prologue alone, so I knew I was going to love what ensued. It didn't disappoint.

King has become one of my must read authors and every time I say this is my favourite of hers to date...need I say anymore?

Don't Trust Him is a fast flowing, suspenseful thriller that took me on a crazy journey of secrets, lies and dishonesty. It's full of twists and turns, has unreliable narrators and a cast of untrustworthy characters.

Another great read from Karen King. Dont Trust him is the title but I felt I couldnt trust anyone with all the twists going on. Gripping from the start and a story I totally recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review. I loved it

His ex is missing...am I next...?

A delightfully quick domestic suspense that had me glued from the very first page. Karen King very rarely disappoints and while this read was mostly predictable, it was thoroughly entertaining and a fun ride from start to finish.

Sarah is a single mum and has been for most of her son Liam's life. Her ex husband worked away on an oil rig in Dubai for the first three years after Liam's birth until he decided he wanted to move out there permanently. Sarah did not. She and Todd had drifted so far apart anyway she was best off as a single mum. Besides, she had her bestie Tasha to help pick up the slack and babysit when the need arose or just to kick back and enjoy some girlie time together.

After the dissolution of her marriage, Sarah took Liam to the Isle of Arran in Scotland to visit her mum and stepfather. There she met Dylan and threw caution to the wind and became involved. Until everything fell apart. She left Arran and began a new life back in the Midlands alongside Tasha. Life was good again.

And then she met Charlie. Stunningly sexy and drop dead gorgeous Charlie. With his two little girls, Mia and Daisy, the entire crowd of single mums at morning drop off were agog at this gorgeous male amidst all the eostrogen-flanked group. But Sarah wasn't interested in another relationship. And she meant it. But there was something about Charlie. They had a connection and they both felt it. When both Liam and Charlie's girls came down with chicken pox, Sarah offered to look after them all to save Charlie taking time off work. The mum gang at the school gates began to glare daggers at Sarah.

When Sarah's bathroom flooded into the downstairs kitchen making her little home unliveable, Charlie offered the most obvious solution. Move in with him and the girls - there was plenty of room with six bedrooms in their sprawling house. Sarah agreed on the proviso that it was only temporary until she could save the deposit for a new place.

And then things began to go horribly wrong. Little things at first. Until even bigger problems arose. Sarah was vaguely aware of his first wife, the girls' mother, having left them some 18 months before which left her questioning what really happened for a mother to readily abandon her children in favour of a man.

Of course the mother-in-law has to be factor, particularly as we are privy to some of her thoughts in the few chapters she has peppered throughout the story. It is clear that Alice is both obsessive and a little unhinged when it comes to her son and grandchildren. But is it enough to drive a mother and a new partner away? Other factors are crystal clear throughout also but remain elusive to Sarah and Charlie. But then, is Charlie to be trusted? I mean, he is a man and Sarah vowed never to entangle herself with a man again after the disaster that was Dylan. And then there is Dylan. Is he a real threat to her again?

The title of this book is "Don't Trust Him" but it's more about who can you trust? Definitely not the mother, Alice. But what about the others circling the tight-knit family? And what about Sarah's mother, whom she left on Arran without a word?

You will be kept guessing throughout though the story is fairly predictable despite second guessing everyone and everything. It is certainly an entertaining and fun-filled read. I was glad that the author didn't choose to pit Charlie against Sarah in a battle over his overbearing mother. Charlie is well aware of his mother's overt obsessiveness but thinks it harmless enough. But is that true? Or is he blind to what she is capable of? Or is there something else or someone else behind the strange happenings?

A definite recommended read. Easy enough to devour in a sitting, I enjoyed this quick read domestic suspense.

I would like to thank #KarenKing, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #DontTrustHim in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This was another gripping read from Karen King that right from the prologue had me completely captivated . I’ve read quite a few of this authors psychological thrillers and they’ve all been superb reads and this one was certainly no exception. Packed full of twists and turns and with a great mix of characters some of which you’re not sure if you can trust . Well I certainly felt that way as one chapter I would think oh **** is a good person and then a few chapters on my mind was changing . There was one big twist that I certainly didn’t see coming and it knocked me for six . The ending was a good one in my opinion and as said at the start this was another unputdownable read for me .