Joanna is out with her friend in London, she is having a great time until a man starts flirting a little too aggressively with her. They decide to leave to leave the bar and separate to go home. As Joanna walks to the tube station she hears someone following her and as they catch up with her she makes a decision - she thinks it is the man from the bar so she pushes him down a flight of steps. It's not the man from the bar, just someone wearing similar clothes and he is not moving. At that point Joanne has two choices, to leave him or to get help.

I quite liked the idea behind this novel, the way that a simple decision can have ramifications and lead to two different stories. I also liked the fact that both stories had the same final ending. The bit in between wasn't quite so good!

Joanna is thirty and married to Reuben. They are happy, living in London in a small flat. Reuben is a 'good man'; he's a social worker, a defender of social justice. Joanna is a dreamer; constantly wondering just what her 'thing' will be whilst continuing to work in the mobile library.
Joanna and her friend Laura are in a bar, having a drink. There's a guy, he's interested in Joanna. She laughs, takes a selfie, but when he gets too close she pushes him off and she and Laura leave.

As Joanna makes her way home, late at night, in the dark, alongside the canal. She feels someone following her. Is it the bloke from the bar? She thinks it it. When he gets closer and closer, she lashes out, pushes him. He falls down a flight of concrete steps, and lays there motionless at the bottom.

Joanna is stunned. What should she do? Run away and try to forget it happened, or call 999 and get help?


Gillian McAllister doesn't chose one way for Joanna. She chooses both ways and the remainder of the story is told in alternate sections, headed 'Conceal' and 'Reveal'.
Conceal is Joanna's story of running, keeping everything to herself. Reveal is what happens if she calls the police.

This is a brave, adventurous and extremely clever way of telling a story. It's two stories in one, yet the characters are the same. The reader becomes an integral part of this book, making judgements and urging Joanna on. What I found really strange about myself whilst reading was that in 'Conceal', I wanted Joanna to be found out, whilst in 'Reveal' I wanted her to escape a trail and imprisonment - it's an interesting thing to think about; Joanna is the same character in both versions, yet I wanted different things for her, depending on her actions.

Gillian McAllister has drawn upon her own experience of the legal system which adds such an air of authenticity to the story. Her character development is astonishing and whilst I admit that I didn't really like either Joanna or Reuben, I did feel as though I understood them.

Anything You Do Say is bold and original, the writing is razor sharp and the plotting is tight. Incredibly clever, I loved it.

Joanna 's life was one of indecision. If she could put of something, avoid it altogether she was happy. In spite of seeming to be heading for a glittering career she was happy to settle for a job as a travelling librarian where she could people watch and imagine others lives. Her husband was decisive for both of them with his beliefs in honesty, fairness and the rights of the underdog. Although they were very different they were happy.

On a night out with her friend Joanna is shocked by an encounter with a man in a nightclub. On her way home she is sure he is following her. When someone come up behind her suddenly she pushes them with catastrophic results. Here the book slits into two paths. In one Joanna hides what has happened and in the other she reveals it.

This book was very cleverly written. It makes the reader think- what should you do? What would I do? In this story neither path seems to be good news for Joanna. It was a terrific book. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read it.

This was a hard book to rate because on the one hand I loved the clever story but then on the other I got really fed up of the story and couldn’t wait for it to end!
Overall though I do think it warrants a high 4 stars. The plot is very well drawn and the ending(s) interesting. The constant swapping from conceal to reveal did get a little confusing at times and close to 5e end I believe there was actually a mistake where something that happened in conceal was talked about in reveal... but I won’t say more because I don’t want to give any plot clues.
I didn’t like any of the characters but that wasn’t important as it was more about the story for me. I do very much recommend this as an original and thought provoking read.

Anything you do say is the second book I've read by Gillian McAlister and I have to say I think this is another great read.
Joanna is out with her best friend, Laura, they are at a local bar having some drinks, a guy comes up and introduces himself as Sadiq he's a little too over familiar with Joanna and they both tell him they aren't interested, he kind of listens but thats after he gets far too close to Joanna for her liking. The evening ends the two friends part and Joanna begins her walk home, she thinks someone is following her, she is frightened like any of us would be, she phones her husband, Reuben and the signal dies, she can make out this person is advancing on her no matter which way she turns, she sees he has the same shoes as Sadiq. Crossing the canal bridge Joanna's life changes forever as she does something that turns her life upside down.
I loved from this moment on in the story the chapters were split into reveal and conceal, each choosing a storyline based on Joanna's reactions to her incident and how each path moves very differently from the other. I have read a few reviews that said Joanna wasn't real enough but I would disagree with that as who actually knows what will happen when you decide to conceal or reveal the truth. I did think her husband was a bit weird though and needed a kick up the backside!!!
There was not one bit of this book I didn't love, it was quite fast paced and this was helped by the different storylines running through it.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Michael Joseph Penguin UK for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Different. I like the two different perspectives and I thought the book was very cleverly written. However, I found it monotonous in places. The characters were boring and not interesting enough. The plot was Ok but a little far-fetched

'Anything you do say' by Gillian McAllister is a psychological thriller like no other I have come across.

Joanna is on a night out when she is sexually assaulted by a man who won't take no for an answer, on her walk home she hears someone following her. She slows down, the man slows down. She increases her speed, the man increases his speed. It doesn't take long for the man to be right behind her. What should she do? Fight or flight? Joanna builds up all her courage and pushes the man before he can harm her. She doesn't see the steps, she doesn't see the puddle at the bottom of them but it doesn't take long for her to see his motionless body at the bottom. Now she has 2 choices. Stay and call for help or run!

The whole novel is focussed around this moment and it steers off in 2 totally different directions. It tells the story of what would happen if Joanna were to stay and what would happen is she were to flee. It reminds me of when I was a child and read 'Goosebumps' and you were able to make your own decisions and turn to different pages to see how the story played out. The writing was so incredibly clever and like no other psychological thriller I have read before.

So why 3 stars? Firstly - I did not like any of the characters. I just could not take to Joanna and her pity party. It was always all about her and I couldn't bare it. I didn't like her husband, her friends or her family. This made it difficult for me to fully invest in the novel and to feel any sympathy. Secondly - I think it was over dramatic at parts. The most exciting part of the story happens at the very begging and the rest is how that action impacts Joanna and others lives. I personally felt like all the excitement and drama was over within the first 10 minutes and then it was relatively boring.

I did enjoy 'anything you do say' and I will speak to people about it as the way it is written is so unique and special but I won't be shouting about the plot from the rooftops. Many of my friends on social media platforms have rated it 5 stars so I would still encourage others to read it if it sounds to your taste.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a real struggle.
The main character was totally unbelievable and just ruined the whole story.
Not for me.

I really enjoyed this book.

I suppose it could happen to anyone. Well maybe not anyone but it happened to Joanna.

It all started on a night out with her friend Laura; a few drinks; a random guy trying to be friendly and taking a selfie with them on his phone. He stands a bit too close, buys them drinks. The girls move away, he follows. He persists, tries to introduce himself. Laura ignores him, Joanna takes the business card he presses into her hand not wanting to offend him. Laura tells him straight they don't want his company. He's not put off. They move away to continue their conversation. Sadiq however just won't take a hint and when they move again he follows, grabbing Joanna as she moves away then grabbing her hand as she turns to leave with Laura. Then he lets go.

The girls part company agreeing to text when they get home. Joanna sets off towards the canal and as she crosses the bridge she hears footsteps behind her. She varies her route and the footsteps follow. She calls Reuben, her husband, and tells him she's being followed but then the signal disappears. She's sure it's the guy from the bar but is too scared to turn round. She tries to call her husband again but the calls fails. Joanna's imagination is running riot, and as he comes up on her right she pushes him hard and he falls down the stairs and lies motionless on the towpath.

What should she do? Help him? Call for an ambulance? He's not moving. Or should she run home and pretend nothing has happened? It's all very tense.

Joanna is good at not facing up to things. She's an avoider. She's bright but has no idea what she wants to do. Her head is in the sand and she never finishes anything. She also has a fertile imagination, pondering the what-ifs, making up lives/background for random people she meets.

What would Reuben do? He's loving and supportive but would always do the right thing even if that was the harder thing to do. She ponders what will happen if she calls 999.

This is where the story gets quite clever. It splits into two with chapters headed Reveal and Conceal. Reveal is the story of what happens when she calls for help and the ambulance and police arrive. Conceal is what happens when she panics, doesn't help him, doesn't call for help. She turns and walks away assuming someone will find him.

Each action has consequences and there are no easy answers. Doing the right thing means she ends up having to face the British justice system with potentially devastating consequences. Walking away means she has to live with the guilt and the lies. She can't tell the truth, she is increasingly anxious, relationships start to unravel, there is increasing paranoia. Is doing the right thing always the best decision?

I really enjoyed the book. I liked the characters and the storytelling. I found both strands of the story gripping and had to stay up till the early hours to finish it.

What would I do? Like Joanna I hate making decisions so I really don't know.

You’ve made a devastating split-second decision in a moment of panic. Do you face up to the consequences? Or do you flee to save yourself?
As a reader, you’d like to think your own morals will make you do the right thing. But would you really?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing...

Thanks to Penguin UK for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Joanna is walking home alone when she hears footsteps; is it the man who from the bar who wouldn't leave her alone? As he approaches, she panics and pushes him and he falls badly. What should she do? Call 999, or run?
Another cracking psychological thriller that leaves you questioning your own moral standpoint and wondering 'what if that happened to me?' The author has a knack for getting into the psyche of her characters; they are vivid and flawed. The unpicking of Joanna's motivations in the dual narrative kept me turning the pages, and the physical and mental repercussions of her actions had a ring of truth that I found slightly unsettling. It's a credit to the author that you have no problem believing how easily this mistake can be made, and that either the Reveal of Conceal sections of the book would be your choice.
This would make a great reading group book, and I'll be recommending it to others. A gripping read.

Anything you do say by Gillian McAllister is a huge 5 star read.
This book had me from the very first page, I couldn’t Put it down and ended up staying up until 3am so I could finish it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

Sorry just could not get into this book at all. It started off really well with the build up in the pub and the fear she felt while thinking she was being followed. When she pushed him down the stairs I could feel her fear but after that I found it slowed down and I just could not get into it.

Gone Girl meets Sliding Doors in Gillian McAllister’s second novel, Anything You Do Say – an intriguing story that will make you question what you would do in the same situation. It’s a well-crafted, clever edge-of-your-seat thriller that’s genuinely impossible to put down.

I’m actually struggling with how to describe my thoughts about this book as it is so good on so many different levels, yet I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it yet.
The blurb says:
“One night Joanna hears footsteps on the way home. Is she being followed? She is sure it's him; the man from the bar who wouldn't leave her alone. Hearing the steps speed up Joanna turns and pushes with all of her might, sending her pursuer tumbling down the steps and lying motionless on the floor.
Now Joanna has to do the thing she hates most - make a decision. Fight or flight? Truth or lie? Right or wrong?”
The story is told in two ways - one, as if she’d called the Police and two, as if she ran away and did nothing.
The two storylines are both equally gripping and I was desperate to know the outcome of both scenarios!
This book took me through a range of emotions but ultimately I really felt for Joanna
I keep asking myself what I would have done.... and I really don’t know.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A thriller that keeps you hooked from the first page. Perfect for those who are fans of Girl on The Train. It really makes you think what choices you would make when your morals are questioned and the life you've always thought you wanted is risked by a one second error that could change not only your own life.

Joanna is an a avoider. She has spent her audult life hiding bank statements and changing career aspirations weekly. One night Joanna hears footsteps on the way home. Is she being followed? Is it the man from the bar who would not leave her alone? Hearing the footsteps sped up Joanna turns and pushes with all her might, sending her persurer down the steps and lying motionless on the floor.

This book is quite cleverly written. The main character, Joanna Oliva, on the one hand is vunerable and scared and on the other she is calculating and manipulative. You can't help but have a little sympathy for her, but at the same time feel a little bit repulsed. The story is told in alternating chapters and two variations on what might have happened. This is an edge of your seat read and I could not wait to see where this ingenious storyline was taking me.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the Gillian McAllister for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anything You Do Say is very clever and genuinely thought provoking. It's morally complex and Gillian McAllister's skill at drawing together two diametrically opposed storylines at the same time is outstanding.

It's basically a 'what if' scenario. After a happy night out with the girls, Joanna is followed in the dark. She feels threatened and the tension is almost palpable. The opening pages create a drama that most of us are able to relate to. Life is a tightrope which can flip in an instant; Joanna pushes the man and he falls...

What follows tells two stories simultaneously and the switches are seamless. The plotting is ingenious and intricate as the outcome from each is followed through to an amazing and very satisfying conclusion. I thought this was a clever and innovative premise, executed with skill. It's a book which explores numerous themes with conviction, including personal responsibility for our actions, flaws in the criminal justice system and relationships. It's tense throughout and it's a book which has stayed with me after I finished it. Gillian McAllister is a gifted storyteller and an author I shall follow with interest.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I have to be honest I had this on my reading list for a while and didnt read the blurb again before I started reading. So for the first couple of chapters I was a little confused HA HA!

However Im glad I stuck with it as this is a great book! This is a clever take on the 'sliding doors' concept.

Joanna is harrassed on a night out and on the way home, fearing for her safety, pushes someone with terrible consequences. At the split second in time Joanna has a decision to make.... does she run or does she stay?

The book alternates chapters between each of the two decisions and the ripples they have not just on Joannas life but also everyone around her. This is a really inteligent, compassionate look at how our decisions impact us... and sometimes there isnt a 'right path'.

A truly great read. Two separate storylines - what really happened and a what if! This book had me gripped from the first to the very last page. I can totally see this on the big screen! I would highly recommend. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.