4.5 ⭐️ Received this book from NetGalley Audio and it was so good. Did NOT expect that ending. I thought I had it figured it out… yeah no. Liked the different POV! I recommend it it was really easy to listen. Great narrator

'Believe Me Now' by S.M. Govett is a compelling, thought-provoking psychological thriller that kept me fully engaged from the very first pages. While the pacing begins at a slower, more deliberate tempo, the story quickly accelerates—around the 25% mark—and maintains a gripping intensity until the very end. As a reader, I found myself unable to step away but yet wanting to slow the audio down to keep this one going.

Natalie, still haunted by the trauma of a past assault and struggling with blackouts caused by PTSD, finds her world shaken when her husband is accused of a nearly identical crime. This setup immediately draws you in and what follows is a story rich in nuance and suspense.

Govett’s decision to tell the story through dual first-person points of view—Natalie’s and DI Helen Stratton’s—is particularly effective. Their voices are distinct and authentic, adding depth and emotional complexity to the narrative. Natalie’s vulnerability and desperate need for clarity and trust contrast powerfully with Stratton’s no-nonsense determination and personal biases, which are slowly and skillfully revealed.

What truly elevates 'Believe Me Now' above many thrillers in its genre is the strength of its character development. Both Natalie and Stratton are multi-dimensional, flawed, and deeply human. Natalie’s inner conflict and emotional turmoil are handled with care and realism. Stratton, meanwhile, emerges as a fascinating figure—both a liability and a key asset in the investigation. At times, her judgments make her difficult to like, but the author provides enough insight into her background that we come to understand her, even when we disagree with her.

Structurally, the novel is full of suspenseful chapter endings and strategic diversions which kept me second-guessing my own assumptions throughout. I experienced several genuine “aha!” moments—and one particularly brilliant “I did not see that coming” twist that left me stunned.

Additionally, the police procedural elements were well-crafted, and the dynamic within the investigative team felt realistic and added further texture to the plot. By the conclusion, it became clear this could very well be the beginning of a new series, and I would certainly welcome future installments featuring DI Stratton.

In sum, this is a smart, emotionally complex thriller with well-drawn characters, a high-stakes plot, and deeply satisfying twists. I am grateful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I’ll be enthusiastically recommending Believe Me Now to others—and eagerly watching for what S.M. Govett writes next.

4.5 stars – rounded up.

Perfect for fans of the untrustworthy narrator trope, a la Gone Girl.

Premise - Natalie loses time, waking up in different places with no memory of how she got there. It's an annoyance at the best of times, but when her husband is accused of murdering a young woman it becomes a real liability. The young woman had accused him of rape, making the whole thing even worse, as Natalie was raped herself years ago and is still traumatized. Who's telling the truth and what's going on?

This is told in a dual perspective, split between Natalie and the detective investigating the case. I tend not to enjoy detective stories as much (procedurals aren't my jam) but in this case it really worked! The DI was just as fascinating a character as Natalie and her voice was *so* funny. She served to both move the plot forward and provide some levity to a story that could otherwise be pretty dark.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Helen Colby and Amy Noble. They did a brilliant job! They delivered really different reads, but equally strong, and I was always both thrilled to hop over to the next perspective and sad to leave the former one behind. A real treat!

Thanks, NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5
British crime thriller.
Solid thriller, didn’t see the twist coming, enjoyed the ending. The narration and production was good.

This was a slow starter for me, I felt it was very "tell not show" for a lot of the book. I had the twists sussed out pretty early and was sad to see I was right, but I like the premise and the experimentation of losing track of time. Not sure I was really into the dual POV, but it was an okay listen. Narrator wasn't my favorite.