Book Description
My Word Against His: A totally unputdownable psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists
My future hangs in the balance. They’re questioning both of us and every word I say matters. I need to be careful – it’s my word against his, and I can’t afford to lose…
Thirteen years ago. Teenager Lucie babysits our little son Henry. She’s like the daughter I never had. And she believes we’re the perfect family – just me, my husband and Henry.
But Lucie doesn’t really know what’s happening behind closed doors. Until one night, she sees something so awful she leaves. And my family is never the same again…
Now, Lucie has reached out, desperate for my help. It’s been thirteen years of silence, but I would recognise her voice anywhere. She’s back: and so are the secrets she took with her.
What did she see that night? And does she know my side of the story, or only his?
I hope she knows what she’s doing. Because there is no line I won’t cross to protect the ones I love – or the secrets I’ve worked so hard to hide…
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller where no one is who they seem, that will make your heart pound and your jaw drop! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'My Word Against His' by Lauren North.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Lauren North, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 26th May 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its colourful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'An absolutely gripping psychological thriller where no one is who they seem, that will make your heart pound and your jaw drop! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.' I am a huge fan of all of these amazing books so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 54 chapters and 11 flashbacks over 3 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is set in England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited England lately so am definitely excited to see if I recognise any placed mentioned in the book.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Celia and Lucie. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
This storyline was absolutely ram packed with hair raising action which kept me turning the pages while on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next. The book was filled secrets, shock, suspense, drama, tension and twists to keep you on your toes. I love the fact that not only were there were multiple protagonists telling us their stories from both first and third person perspectives but the book is also set over multiple timelines which gives the reader a massive insight into everything that was going on but without giving away too much. This book takes the reader straight into the action leaving them constantly wanting to know what happens next from the start!! There are five main characters and each seem to be hiding something meaning you just don't know who to believe. The last time Celia had seen Lucy is when Lucy was just a child thirteen years ago when she invited Lucy into her life after she realised things weren't good for her at home and that Lucy needed love and a family and Celia thought she could give her that with herself and her son Henry. However, she didn't want Lucy around when her husband Martin got home from work. Martin has also been gone thirteen years now when Celia receives a phone call from Lucy saying she needs help. Celia jumps straight in the car to help her when she is carjacked at knife point by Sam on the way. Sam demands Celia takes him to Leeds which is three hours and nineteen minutes away. The reader is taken on a ride with Celia and Sam where they start talking to each other and then we are taken back in time to when Lucy and Henry are children. This continues back and forth building a picture up of what is going on and why. Will everyone make it to the end of the book? Has Lucy sent Sam? Why does Celia want to keep Lucy away from Martin? Who can you believe? Can you trust any of the characters? Well, grab your copy today to find out!!!! I never would have guessed who was behind everything and what was really going on I thought I had it worked out and then BOOM came the huge twist!!! Nothing worse than guessing who did what when your not even half way through a book but there's no worry of that here. What an absolute shocker!!! An absolutely unputdownable addictive page turner!!. Needless to say this would make an absolutely epic movie!!!
Clear your schedules before you even turn a single page on this epic psychological thriller as you will not be able to put it down!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture
This is one of those books where it is extremely difficult to say much about the characters without giving any of the storyline.
I will say that I did struggle with Celia's character as I found her to be too smothering as a parent and definitely OCD when it came to Henry!! The fact that I wasn't a fan of one of the main protagonists yet loved the book is very surprising for me as if I don't connect with a main character it normally puts me off but I was so addictive to the storyline I just could not detach myself from it!! What did help was that I really liked the other main protagonist who was Lucy. My heart went out to her for how she was treated by her school peers and even her own mother as a child and I just wanted to wrap her up and protect her from everything! I am not going to risk saying anything about the other main characters as I don't want to give anything away but I did surprise myself, again, with how I felt about one of them when I thought I would fee completely different. However, regardless of how you feel about any of the characters they each play their part perfectly bringing out each and every one of your emotions throughout this action packed, addictive page turner!!
This may be the first book I have read by this incredible author but it definitely won't be my last and I'm looking forward to seeing what she has up her sleeves next as well as reading her previous books!!
Overall a fantastic, action packed, page turning, twisty must read!!
Genres covered in this novel include Crime, Thriller And Mystery Adventures, Women's Psychological Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Women's Popular Fiction, Murder Thrillers, Psychological Thriller, Literary Fiction, Suspense Thriller, Psychological Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Family Life Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Noir Fiction, Womens Psychological, Domestic Thriller, Thriller, Mystery ,Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction, Psychological Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Domestic Thriller and Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Rachel Abbott, K.L Slater, T.M Logan,The Housemaid, The Family Across The Street, The Family Upstairs, The Widow, The Housewarming. and anyone after an addictive psychological thriller.
329 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £8.31 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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About the author:
Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North, Instagram @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
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