It is an intriguing read of obsessive friendship set against the backdrop of crime & corruption, sex and sleaze, money and murder, with an extra edge of realism included thanks to the author's real-life experiences.

I wanted to like this book, but the writing style didn't have me gripped, it was a slow burn, and the plot just seemed too similar to things I've read before.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

I think I need a break from these types of books because they are all starting to look the same, I really wanted to like this but I struggled.

I wasn't as gripped as I thought I'd be and I'm not sure if that was because of the characters or the plot. I didn't feel a strong connection with any of the characters and struggled to invest in the plot. The twists at the end did surprise me and I didn't expect it but overall, I found the plot a bit disjointed.

This is the first that I have come across Ms Magnanti and I really enjoyed it. I loved that it was set in Scotland not that it was an area that I know but now that I've read about it I would like to visit (might need to take an overnight bag though).
It's a wee cracker of a book, one written for a time when you can read it in peace. I will definitely recommend it to my fellow bookworms


Read for an honest review. Thank you Ms Magnanti, Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group. Orion Fiction

I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while so I finally decided to get around to reading it and... it’s really not for me. Only made it 4% in and I’m bored stiff - the writing style just really doesn’t work for me and I just couldn’t get any interest up for this book.

Had to DNF as I’ve got so many books on my shelf and I just wasn’t interested in reading anymore

A high class call girl is found mummified in an alley and she is mummified.

the police are quick to make connections and make an arrest

the book is told from two viewpoints

There are many topics covered in this book such as sexual abuse, murder, amongst others

I enjoyed this book. It did not grip me as much as others have but overall this was a good book and I would read more by the same author

Excellent book with a clear cut depiction of characters. The storyline is fluid and constant, and my concentration never waived. Highly recommended.

An absolutely thrilling rollercoaster of a story. I loved it. It was dark and creepy. The Perfect thriller. Amazing. Highly recommended xx

My first read by this author. It is not the most comfortable reading with some of the main characters being quite unsavoury and Denise happy to be abused within her relationship. Having said that the plot was quite involved and I did want to keep reading despite it being out of my comfort zone.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Brooke Magnanti/Orion Publishing Group for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed parts of this book and not others - I think a fair rating would be 3.5. It was an easy read mostly but it felt a bit disjointed to me. I really didn’t enjoy the politics side of the story either. Thanks to Orion, Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A body is found and questions must be answered - the conspiracy runs right to the top . . .

Miri Goldstein was a call girl with connections to powerful men. Now that she's dead, some can breathe more easily. But the grave is not always good at keeping secrets. As the media dig into Miri's past, her old friend Denise worries that her own will rise to the surface.

Meanwhile in Scotland, controversial forensic pathologist Harriet Hitchin is put in a bind when the body turns up on her patch. Police think they have their killer but Harriet is certain they made a mistake. If she's wrong, it will end her career. If she's right it could cost her life.

The case will play games with all who come near and force them to ask - how many of us are living a lie?

With taut pace and a twisted sense of humour, You Don't Know Me is a sexy thriller from someone who knows exactly what it means to live a double life.

Didn't enjoy this at all - felt far too superficial and vacuous. I prefer something a bit more gripping, believable and with a little more depth. Sorry.

When a body is found in Cameron Bridge, Scotland it is revealed to be Miriam “Miri” Goldstein a high class call girl with connections to some very high powered men.

Slowly it is revealed that Denise who lives with her abusive partner Archie had been befriended by Miri whose larger than life character, swept her along into her decadent lifestyle, involving parties, Drugs and lots of men!!

At one of these legendary parties she met Archie. Miri tries to warn Denise that Archie is only with her for her money, but as the saying goes “love can make us blind” Denise doesn’t listen. Big mistake!!

This book was a slow burner to begin with , but I was hooked when reading about the friendship between Miri and Denise and the story soon heats up.

Thank you to netgalley for my book in exchange for a review.

⭐️⭐️ 2 ok stars

Ok I was disappointed in this book having LOVED the Belle books.

Such simple writing style, lack of depth in characters and even the humour where attempted felt like it tried too hard.

Over all it felt like an ITV screenplay or aimed at Love island viewers

When two strangers, Miri and Denise meet, they are totally different in every way, an obsessive friendship is born.
When a mummified body is found hidden amongst rubbish, an autopsy reveals it belongs to Miri.
Denise wants answers after her abusive boyfriend is arrested and charged with Miri's death.
Will Denise get those answers or will it just get herself into a whole load of trouble?

Thanks to netgalley for the chance of reading this great new novel. I read on goodreads that the author worked as a call girl while studying, and that was evident in the writing. Her personal experiences without a doubt gives the reader some personal insights in a shady world. Well done, recommended.

Very cleverly written with a plot that kept me guessing to the end. This is a thriller with a lot packed into it. Who do you trust? Who is lying to you? The deception and lies in this book really add to the plot and the suspense.

A body is found and questions must be answered – the conspiracy runs right to the top . . .
CONSPIRACIES, MURDER, SECRETS AND LIES.
The body of Miri Goldstein, a high-class call girl is found mummified in an alleyway admits all the rubbish but it doesn’t take police long to make an arrest.
Miri had connections to some very powerful men and with her death she takes her secrets to the grave with her. Or has she?
In Scotland a body is discovered wrapped in a bag, decomposing in a loch.
Harriet Hitchin the pathologist is called in to examine the body or what is left of it.
The police believe they already have the killer but Harriet believes they have got it all wrong. If she is wrong it will mean the end of her career but if she is correct she might have just put herself in danger. Is the fact that she is fighting alcohol addiction impairing her judgment?
The book is from 2 points of view, Harriet Hitchin the pathologist and Denise Ang, Miri’s friend.
The descriptions of the morgue scenes are very detailed and gruesome and it is that that make’s it a bit different from other books in this stacked genre and in my opinion the best bits of the book!
There is a hell of a lot going on in this book covering a multitude of topics such as Call girls, Hitmen, Gun running, Sex, Abuse, Murder, Crooked politicians and sleazy journalists as well as the lives of the 2 main characters. As the book comes to a close the 2 storylines come together in a rather unexpected way!
The author Brooke Magnanti is a forensic scientist in real life which explains the detail she puts into those parts of the book and whilst she was working on her doctoral thesis she worked as a call girl, which again gives this book a slight edge over other similar books.
It was her diaries and published blogs about working as a call girl that were adapted for the hit tv show “Secret Diary of a Call Girl”