I have had this book on my TBR pile for a while now and it is a classic right book wrong time as I remember starting it when it first arrived on my kindle and being unable to get into it, however this time I have flown through it and found it gripping, frustrating and unpredictable.

The author has written a very clever storyline in a way that frustrates the life out of you because each time you think you have discovered enough little clues to point to the perpetrator it then proves you wrong and leads you down another path until you accuse everyone other than who is actually at fault and I loved how she managed to do this to me, it kept me clicking through the pages determined to solve the case when in fact it proved that I won’t be moving into an investigator role any time soon!

This is the first storyline that I have read like this and it was thrilling to read, the idea of finding yourself on an advert in a paper and then fearing for your life, never sure who is watching you or what their intentions are sure messes with the mind. It helps that our main character Zoe is a down to earth woman with flaws like the rest of us which only makes her more relatable.

The storyline alternates between Zoe and also Kelly who is investigating this case but who also has a clouded background that provides another web to the story too. We also get snippets from the perpetrator too which are few and far between but really piqued my interest thinking this was my chance to work out who it is and why they are doing this.

If your after an twisty unpredictable read then this will be the perfect book for you.

This book centres around Zoe who does not feel safe when travelling round London. Eventhough this book was released 5 years ago women's fears when out and about have not disipated any and in real life worrying headlines are still as prevalent. This particular story may be fictional but as an ex member of the police Clare Mackintosh is well aware of the harsh realities women face. Stalking and general personal safety is highlighted in I See You and made it an unnerving yet addictive read. As Zoe is going through a hard time Kate and I made everyone a suspect. Again this mimicked real life as someone out to get you could be right under your nose. We did work out a part of the reveal but it was late in the game and it was probably through default rather than any clever skills. I have said it before and I will say it again but it takes a lot to dazzle me when it comes to thrillers. This seriously impressed me because the momentum built quickly and did not stop until the highly satisfying breakneck crescendo. Bravo Clare Mackintosh with I See You you have created a first class tumultuous thrill ride.

Written by Clare Mackintosh — The simple things in life can transform into something terrifying when put in the hands of someone with a warped imagination. Take Alfred Hitchcock and his birds for example, or Stephen King’s car, Christine. Both take the day to day and turn it into your worst nightmare. The same can be said for Clare Mackintosh’s latest, which carries with it great expectation. The author’s debut novel, I Let You Go, was Crime Novel of the Year 2016 at Harrogate and was in my top five books of 2015. Like Christine, I See You has transport at its heart.

The daily commute to and from the workplace is a part of many people’s lives. It can be a nuisance and an absolute pain but it is a necessary evil. Could it be the death of you, though? When Zoe Walker idly scans a free newspaper on her tedious train journey to and from work in London she never expects to see her own face looking back at her from the personal services ads. What the hell is going on?

The website – findtheone.com – and phone number that accompany the photo prove to be dead ends. Unfortunately, as Zoe delves deeper, she discovers that another woman featured in the same ad slot hit a dead end too… literally. Tania Beckett was 25 and a teaching assistant who travelled home regularly from work on the underground and the bus. Now she has been found strangled in a park in Muswell Hill.

Zoe takes her suspicions to the police, but she is initially dismissed as a crank. Luckily, British Transport Police PC Kelly Swift has a much more sympathetic ear and a professional interest because another of the ads featured the photo of Cathy Tanning, who had her house keys stolen from her bag while she dozed on the underground on her way home from a hard day at work.

A simple case of pickpocketing has turned sinister. Cathy now believes someone has been in her property and is watching her. Kelly is back in uniform after her stint in the ‘dip squad’, where she was involved in investigating Cathy’s case. Now she is on other duties and should back off but, as we soon discover, Kelly is a dedicated and talented officer who isn’t a woman to always play by the rules. By hook or by crook, she is determined to be a part of the investigation, Kelly is a great, multi-layered character and I’d love to see more of her!

The faceless figure who is placing the ads appears sporadically, taunting you with sneaky little asides that just ramp up the tension another notch. That sense of disquiet is really unsettling and believe me, this book will have you looking over your shoulder as you read it. I feel sorry for anyone who actually tries to read a few chapters on a bus or train – I’m not sure I could concentrate on the story while I’m assessing the threat level posed by every other passenger! Best to get home, lock the doors, draw the curtains, make a brew and settle down to enjoy.

This psychological thriller is as claustrophobic as an underground tunnel and as unpredictable as a Transport for London timetable, with enough twists to give a corkscrew a run for its money. Mackintosh showed her sneaky side with I Let You Go and it’s in full view again here. Don’t take your eyes off this road or you may well miss a vital turning. And that final destination? You might be surprised. For as any seasoned commuter knows, the journey isn’t over until someone releases the door locks and you can step onto the platform.

Sphere
Print/Kindle/iBook
£6.99

CFL Rating: 5 Stars

Believe it or not this is my first book that I have read by Clare Mackintosh so you could say I am a little late to the party.

Imagine seeing a photo of yourself in the classifieds ....well this is what happens to Zoe Walker, When she see's her photo in the Classifieds section of a London newspaper, with just a website address and a phone number. This quite disturbing if I do say so myself.

The author weaves a story that will grab you from the start and keeping you guessing until the end. With a story that is told from three points of view. This story is full of mystery and suspense and it will really getting you thinking and questioning things while the story unfolds.
It is a addictive page turner that you will not be able to put down.

I Let You Go will definitely be bumped up my pile and reading this

Thank you to Sphere and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

This is a gripping phsycological thriller with some great twists and turns.

A fabulous thriller - great, creepy premise and central character. Page turner all the way.

Second books are notoriously tricky but Clare has written another tense, gripping page turner. Highly recommend.