Okay. So anyone who’s read this blog for a while knows of my love for all books by Kathryn Croft. (The Girl You Lost’s review is here while The Girl With No Past’s review is here

This was another book designed to keep you guessing as to who (if not Tara herself) was involved in the murder, this read featuring the demise of her neighbour Lee. From the off I was pulled straight in, as always the characters are everyday people next door types, with varying personality traits that have you wondering what they themselves know, and as a result I was basically suspecting everyone. Throw into the mix her issues with her husband Noah, a very difficult daughter, Rosie, who was the one person I hoped hadn’t been involved in the crime, and the addition of characters as you went on and you were pretty sure it could have been anyone! Central to the story was that Tara couldn’t remember what had happened and had no idea how she woke up next to a dead body and so you didn’t know if she was involved or not.

While You Were Sleeping kept me gripped, and waiting for the ending, but I think a problem was that there were a few too many unlikable characters. Saying that, I kept reading on, being thrown from one conclusion to the next with my head all jumbled, waiting to see what happened. A really enjoyable read, although I have to admit it didn’t quite grab me in the same way as the two books I’ve named above.

Rating: 4/5

A good psychological thriller with an interesting story line, worth a read
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Another cracking book from Kathryn Croft. I've just finished another book that sounded similar but was nowhere near as well crafted or as well developed as this. Well worth a read 4*

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

A fast paced thriller that dives straight into the action. Tara has spent the evening with her neighbour Lee Jacobs, after she pops over to see his wife and her friend Serena. She is out on a hen-do, so Tara has a drink with Lee. The next morning Tara wakes up in Lee's bed, unable to remember anything at all. Lee has also been stabbed and is lying in the bed beside her. Tara has no blood on her at all. She panics, grabs her clothes and flees home. Tara's daughter Rosie has many issues and the family is used to treading on eggshells around her. Rosie becomes a suspect in the murder investigation and has both Tara and her husband Noah wondering if their daughter could be capable of murdering someone in cold blood.

There are many twists and turns in the book a few too many where Rosie is concerned if I'm honest - but the book is well crafted.
The only criticism I have is of DCI Huny's character. I felt that he doesn't really bring much to the story and although a police involvement is needed, I am not sure if it needs his character.

All in all this was a very good thriller and the added bonus was I didn't guess the ending!

I love mysteries and thrillers, especially when lack of memory is involved, so I was really excited about the synopsis of this book. But seriously. When a book actually tells you on the back cover that it is a gripping, shocking story with a twist that will take you by surprise... and then compares itself to some of the most well-known and well-loved thrillers (Gone Girl and Girl On the Train), then it better be ready to deliver something phenomenal. I went into this holding this book to the standards that it told me to, and I was severely disappointed in what I read. 

I absolutely hate this author's writing style. It doesn't flow at all. The storytelling felt very choppy and followed the formula of: this happened, then this happened, then this character thought this thing, then here's a whammy (I hope you're shocked and surprised). It was just bad. There was no atmosphere of suspense or wondering. I felt like I was reading a list instead of a book, and I had a very hard time forcing myself to read a book that claims it is unputdownable. 

So many things happened that were just too convenient and too outlandish. The author wanted x, y, and z to happen and as long as they happened she didn't care how she got it done. I could not believe some of the things Tara did, I could not believe the multiple stalkings and crimes that happened to multiple members of the family, and I could not believe the interactions between some of the characters. The police officer/detective guy was an absolute idiot, and is not at all what law enforcement officials should be like. Actually, I hated all the characters. The insane daughter was super annoying, Tara was a poor excuse for a mother, and the husband was absolutely worthless and made some horrible decisions (everyone did, really). I did like Tara's son who should move away from that dysfunctional family as soon as possible. 

These so-called "twists" were just irritating. I was never surprised or impressed or flipping the pages as fast as I could to see how they turned out. I rolled my eyes every time. Apparently a twist can only happen if the main character has an ominous feeling first, which is just not how life works and took away whatever suspense might have been left in this drab and empty plot.

All in all, this book is an extreme waste of time and the more I reflect on my reading experience the madder I get about it. It's not gripping, it's not suspenseful, it's not mind-blowing, and it does not keep you guessing. If you're looking for a good psychological thriller I can recommend others that you would enjoy much more.

I didn’t request this book, it just appeared in the download list, I am unsure of how it got there.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for honest review.

This book grabbed me from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end.
Tara Logan wakes up in a strange bed naked and her problems don’t stop there.  Its not her husband next to her, and her neighbour.  And he just happens to be dead......
This book is full twists and turns and worth your effort.
Highly recommended!

Gripping read from the start. Real page turner! Highly recommended

While You Were Sleeping is a fab psychological thriller by Kathryn Croft that I could not put it down,I was hooked from the first few pages.
Tara wakes up next to a man who is not her husband and he has also been murdered. Tara does not know how she can to be in bed with him let alone how he was murdered.
A great book with lots of twists and turns.

I received a free copy of this book, from the publisher and author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, the author, Kathryn Croft, and NetGalley.

With plot holes, finger pointing and unrealistic relationships, this novel fell flat for me. The concept of the novel seemed amazing, but somewhere it fell short.

It did have me turning the pages, and not wanting to put it down. The author did do a great job of making each suspect seem completely capable of committing the murder. Though some actions of the characters and procedural make it hard to believe.

With gripping secrets and lies tangled throughout this novel, it is a must read for anyone looking for a good thriller

I love how this novel is a bit complex. I found myself constantly guessing about what really happened. and questioning the various suspects. It was a definite page turner and had me on the edge of my chair wanting to know what happens next. The only thing I would say though, is don't overthink it. There wrere multiple times where things just seemed a bit unrealistic.

Excellent book. Kathryn Croft is definitely on my "must read" list. Couldn't put it down!

Tara Logan wakes up in a bed that is not hers. Next to a husband that is not hers. With no recollection of how she ended up in her neighbor's bed, she flees from the scene when she realizes he has been stabbed to death. As she tries to find out the truth, she uncovers secrets and lies from everyone around her.

While You Were Sleeping is a good suspenseful thriller. It keeps you guessing with a long list of suspects to choose from. Lots of twists and turns and the ending is a total surprise. My only complaint is that there were no likable characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of Kathryn Croft's "While You Were Sleeping" in exchange for a honest review.

Book Review:
While You Were Sleeping

by Kathryn Croft  
Pub Date 16 Nov 2016

This was a good mystery! I didn't figure out the "whodunit" until it was revealed. It had some interesting insight into living in a community.. the noisy neighbors, the neighbors who gossip, the neighbors having a affair, the neighbors who want nothing to do with the group. It was quite entertaining to see how Croft created this community. The community plays well into the events of the book. A neighbor is killed under questionable circumstances and everyone is suspect.
The only question mark I had about the relationships in the book are the main character Tara and her husband Noah. Before the events of the book - Noah cheated, moved out to live with his mistress, then realized what a mistake he'd made and came back to his family. Tara has forgiven, but their relationship is strained.. then there are rumors of Tara cheating and Noah takes the hypocrisy to the next level.. moving out and contacting his mistress. 4 stars

This is one of the best thrillers that I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. Its terrific. Tara remembers going over to her friend Serena's house. Serena wasn't there and Lee, Serena's husband, invites Tara in for a glass of wine. Next thing Tara remembers is waking up in Lee's bed, naked. with his dead body beside her. He has been stabbed many times. Tara makes the mistake of going home instead of to the police. The book continues brilliantly with many suspects for the murder. Definitely worth reading.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
Just when I thought I had figured it out and that the book was an easy murder mystery to solve, the story took a turn!

Excellent book, kept me guessing throughout! I couldnt put this down, off to find more of the authors books now!

"...the truth is, how well do we ever know anyone?" This is the question that Tara Logan asks herself in Kathryn Croft's "While You Were Sleeping." This book is a fast paced psychological thriller that hooks you at the beginning and doesn't let go. Tara wakes up naked in her neighbor's bed, with no memory of how she got there. Her neighbor, Lee, has been viciously stabbed to death, and is covered in a "river of blood." Tara stumbles from the house and chooses to remain silent about her ordeal, because she is afraid of the repercussions.

As the story unfolds, Croft introduces Tara's family, who all appear to harbor secrets. Her husband, Noah, has had an affair with a coworker. This has put a terrible strain on their marriage and his whereabouts on the night of the murder are in question. They also have a tempestuous relationship with their teenage daughter, Rosie. Tara finds evidence that potentially could implicate Rosie in Lee's murder. Her son, Spencer, also seems to know some secrets about Rosie he is yet to divulge.

Tara starts to question her own sanity. If she didn't kill Lee, then who did? As new evidence surfaces, Tara doesn't know who she can trust. She is determined to find the murderer, even though it takes a toll on her personal life. This is a gripping story that takes you on a rollercoaster ride and the shocking ending will leave you speechless; you will never see it coming.

Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley and Kathryn Croft for an advance copy of this book in return for an unbiased review. (less)

This book started out pretty exciting and pulled me in. But for some reason, I just couldn't love it. I found it somewhat unbelievable that every single man the protagonist came into contact with, was madly in love with her. It wasn't one of my favorites. Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind while I was reading this one.

This was such an atmospheric mystery. It was quite creepy at times, and sometimes a little slow, but ultimately an engaging novel. I have read other books by Kroft, and will always be interested to read what she publishes next!