I was so disappointed when I finished this book. Not because it was bad but because I could have read on and on forever. I was completely enthralled by 'He Said, She Said' and the characters that made up the story. Ultimately this is not just a story about rape and I need to emphasise this because it touches on so many different issues that you cannot help but empathise with various characters as the book progresses.

One thing I will say is that the moon phase animation (if that's the right word) that appeared at the start of the chapter did completely confuse me initially - I did think I was seeing things but I also found it very clever at the same time.

The introduction of the main storytellers Laura and Kit introduces us to a world of eclipse chasing that seems to be laced in a world of drugs and alcohol initially. Their hedonistic lifestyle seems to be all-encompassed as they chase the ellipse to Cornwall during their more formative years and it is at this point that the story takes a turn for the dark. After experiencing the 'heavenly' and surreal eclipse Laura happens to stumble upon a young woman, Beth, being raped. Laura is quick to act and quickly involves Kit who chases the perpetrator off while Laura deals with the aftermath of the rape.

The book quickly flashes between two different timelines. Present day and the past. It is only in the present day narration we see that this intervention has obviously has had serious consequences for Laura, Kit and Beth who seems to be presented as neurotic.

Flashing back Beth's rape case does make it to court but then we are presented with a moral dilemma. How far would you go to ensure that your word is taken for truth? Laura faces this very dilemma when cross examined in the witness box.. How will she cope with her little white lie? Will she be found out? What would Kit think of her indiscretion? These very questions shape the quality of Laura's life in the present day narration of the book and I personally found that I could sympathise with her.

As we read on it is clear that Beth, the 'victim' has obviously had her life impacted negatively by the rape and the trial she faced afterwards. In fact as the book progresses you can't help but wonder was she truly raped or is she just a crazy person seeking out attention? At this stage I could identify with Kit who also seemed to be questioning Laura about this very matter.

The book is fast paced and gradually comes to an exciting climax. Without giving too much away my jaw nearly dropped when I realised that characters who I had completely discounted were actually more involved in this story than initially anticipated. There is a complete twist midway which will leave you breathless and actually in my case quite devastated. But at the same time I recognise this to be very clever writing that will keep the reader hooked until the very end.

It definitely demonstrates that the moon can completely manipulate and influence someone's behaviour.

Overall, this is an amazing read by Erin Kelly. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers it is a must read. I've enjoyed this so much I'm sure that I will be looking out more Erin Kelly books in the future.

It's 1999 and Laura and Kit are at a festival at the LIzard in Cornwall to see the total eclipse of the sun. The weather spoils the spectacle and on the way back to their tent Laura stumbles across a man assaulting a woman. Now over fifteen years later their lives are still somewhat controlled by the events at the festival and the court case which followed. Laura is pregnant with twins and Kit is off to the Faroe Isalnds to view another total eclipse but their lives are going to turned upside down again and secrets they have kept from each other since 1999 will come to light. I don't often enjoy books that switch back and forth in time and from one character to another but I was soon gripped by the story and eager to find out what would happen. Really enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is unlike any other psychological thriller I’ve read and I’ve read a lot of psychological thrillers. The book is about a couple, Laura and Kit, who are eclipse chasers and who during one of their trips to watch an eclipse in Cornwall in 1999 chance upon the aftermath of a rape. Being the only witnesses, they have to call the police and so begins the long and protracted case of whether Jamie raped Beth.

The book alternates between Laura and Kit’s viewpoints and a series of flashbacks. These are very well done and rather than leaving the reader confused, as with some books I’ve read that follow this format, they show us a complex picture of flawed characters, all fighting for their own survival.

This is not a thriller that hurtles along at breakneck speed, twisting and turning every which way, but instead the tension is built slowly and ingeniously and the twists are clever and unexpected. One particular twist caught me so off guard that I gasped out loud with surprise,

Over all, this is a thought-provoking book that slowly peels back its many layers and will make you ask yourself whose version of the truth you believe.

I definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Erin Kelly’s books soon.

Absolutely loved this books.

Gritty psychological thriller. Not the typical who done it mystery.

Kit and Laura witness a violent attack. What follows are a whole load of twists and turns that no one could predict.

Totally didn't see where this was going, and the ending floored me. Amazing. Will be looking for more by this author.

My kind of book. A real page turner. I was sorry when I read the last page. Will definitely lookout for this author in future.

This is a gripping story with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you hooked until the very end. It is well written and researched and the characters are believable, if not completely likeable.
If you like thrillers you won't be disappointed - highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley. This has to be the best book that I have read this year. I have always liked this authors books but this time she has excelled herself. This was a real page turner and could not put it down, was reading everywhere in the house, at work and have recommended this to other readers.

Brilliant. This book is full of surprises right up to the end. The ending totally blindsided and shocked me. The whole book is very cleverly written. All the characters are believable and well developed. I was totally caught up in this book from start to finish. I definitely recommend this book.

Wow, this book is like a slippery snake, full of twists and turns , which will keep you on your toes right to the end, this is the story of four main characters Kit and Laura, Beth and Jamie and has been set over a time period of 15 years, and what happens when you try to do the right thing by telling a lie and how the whole thing just keeps snowballing, secrets and lies always have a way of coming out and the impact on everyone's lives will leave a massive impact.
The story started of a little slowly but it steadily picks up pace, so persevere and it does jump around a bit which can be a little of putting but for the sake of the story it does work in the end.
Definitely worth reading.

He Said She Said Erin Kelly

Another book which uses flash backs to a previous crime. Is it me or are these becoming more and more common.

The story centres around Laura and Kit, and their family and “friends”.

Kit is a bit of a strange character, introverted when younger, and not much of a change when he is older. But he has one unique quality, he is an Eclipse chaser. Wherever a total eclipse of the sun occurs, wherever it happens in the world, Kit must be there.

In the present-day Laura is his wife, and she’s pregnant. This wouldn’t normally be a problem but there is an eclipse due and it means Kit is going to travel to the Faroe Isles, not a trip suitable for his wife.

This will be their first time apart for some time, but worst of all, it will mean that both are isolated from each other since the incident they refer to as The Lizard.

The Lizard was an incident that happened during the total eclipse of the sun in 1999. An eclipse that Kit and Laura witnessed in Cornwall at the Lizard.

The flashback crime happens during the festival which marked the 1999 eclipse. Laura witness a vicious attack and becomes a key witness.

Ramifications ripple out to start to affect the couple in 2015.

The isolation of the Faroe Islands would be an ideal place to get to Kit on his own. Laura is more isolated than she thinks at home.

This story is very original, at times for me it’s a bit rambling, but it is worth persevering with for the twists and turns in the plot.

It will keep you guessing till the end, and may even have you a little bit frustrated that you didn’t see the outcome earlier, but that’s never a bad thing.

This is the type of book I like to read on holiday when I have time to luxuriate in deep descriptions and dead-end sub-plots.

However, right now, I found myself skimming through chunks of it that were all a bit unnecessary.

This was a book which held such mystery until at least half way through but.....It wasn't over. As the plot begins to unfold and the time lines merge, you think you are understanding what, why and who but don't be fooled into a self satisfied sense of knowledge. All is not as it first seems. A clever and captivating read.

This is a dark, murky and atmospheric psychological thriller, it is a tale of Laura and her boyfriend, Kit, chasing an eclipse in Cornwall where Laura happens to see a violent attack being carrried out on Beth by Jamie. Laura insists on calling the police. A traumatic and brutal court case ensues with Jamie on trial for rape. Laura is the only eye witness. Jamie's family are there to support him and the defence run Beth ragged, it becoming a case of he said, she said. Jamie finally ends up being convicted, in a crime where there is such a low percentage of convictions.

After the trial, Beth comes to visit and she and Laura begin to build a friendship, only for things to go awry and ends up with Laura and Kit's home burning down. Laura and Kit change their names, go on the run and get married with the hope that they are untraceable. Years later in the present, Laura is pregnant and Kit is off to chase another eclipse as the past comes back to threaten their lives once more. This is a story where nothing is as it appears, there are secrets, lies. issues of trust and multiple twists. It is an intricately plotted story revolving around the four characters, their relationships and interactions with each other and the issue of perception. On occasion the story feels a little over egged for the sheer sake of it. However, overall I found it an entertaining and absorbing story steeped with an air of menace and fear. Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.

A really good read. Harrowing and so completely believable. The author takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and makes you look to yourself and question what would you have done or do.

I was hooked by this book, with all its twists and turns. Never before have I encountered a book with a twist that big in the final paragraph! I literally gasped aloud in the middle of my commute much to the alarm of my fellow passengers!

This is very,very good. The story starts with one woman's ordeal and then, as it unfolds, there are many unexpected surprises. The characters are well drawn and credible. Towards the end, it is unlikely that any reader will have guessed the final twist. That is what makes this a compelling read.

An excellent, tightly-plotted story which ramps up the tension.
The sections set in the past were particularly well-written and as a reader I felt as though I was there with the main characters. I will be recommending this book to my friends and colleagues.

I could not get into this book it seemed to jump around and I could not see the relevance and gave up.

This book about Laura and Kit had my head and heart guessing constantly.
The twists and turns within the story. Showing, how everything, is not as it seems.
It really made me think.
What would I do?

He said she said by Erin Kelly

Sometimes five stars are just not enough. I thought that this book was brilliant.

The very opening describes the different phases of an eclipse and at each new chapter an image seems to appear to emphasise the current stage. I do not know how they did that, and I don’t think I have seen it before, but it was very clever and served to remind the reader (as if that was required) of the recurrent theme.

The title also emphasises the metaphor of the eclipse – a simple matter of what he said opposed to what she said, but is it that clear, or are there shades that would distort perspective?

We are introduced to Kit and Laura and Mac and Ling at a festival in Cornwall to witness a total eclipse. Kit and Mac are twins - Kit is the more introverted whilst his brother is very much the extrovert prone to excess. Kit is fascinated by the science and spirituality of the eclipse whilst Laura is overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of the phenomena. From that point, Kit and Laura determine to witness every eclipse together. Still entranced they stumble upon Beth and Jamie and from that point everything changes leaving Kit and Laura bound together through fear, uncertainty and obsession.

This is a psychological drama yes, but it is so complex, so clever, that it seduces the reader who is certain they know the outcome, but then another twist in revealed. At the heart of many novels is a secret, if only it had been revealed sooner.

I loved the structure of the novel which rebounds through Kit’s narration and Laura’s, as well as changing time lines – the festival in Cornwall to present day (2015). Kelly’s characters are also brilliant especially the way they develop over the time frame. The dynamic between Kit, Laura and Beth was complicated and very intriguing to watch as it unfolds. I didn’t guess, I don’t think I ever would have guessed at the outcome. Brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book via Kindle in return for an honest review.

I loved this. Too often in recent years, I've been enticed by the 'If you liked Gone Girl...twisty, turny, you'll never guess the end' straplines that come with many new thrillers; but in this case the hype was justified. I found myself brushing my teeth while reading and paused over the kettle, reading, increasingly tense when each chapter ended at a moment of crisis and went to another character or to a flashback!
Genuinely intriguing, some nice original settings around eclipses, good solid well-paced narrative and characters I liked and disliked at the author's whim. Definitely worth seeking out other books by Erin Kelley.