Joanna is out for a night with Laura when she’s harassed in the bar so they call it a night. Joanna goes to catch the tube and hears someone running up behind her, she panics, and thinking it’s the man in the bar she pushes him down the stairs. Here is where the story splits and you get two tales. In one Joanne ‘reveals’ what’s she’s done and calls 999. In the other she ‘conceals’ it and goes home.
I really enjoyed the shades of grey the author used. There was no right answer and in both parallel stories there are consequences. Highly recommended!
It gripped me from page one! Thanks to #NetGalley, Gillian McAllister and Penguin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review is written with thanks to Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin UK, and Netgalley for my copy of Anything You Do Say.
Joanna is walking home after a night out with her best friend, Laura. She hears someone behind her, and believes they are following her. Acting in self defence, she pushes him, and he falls down some steps. She sees that he is not moving. Should she conceal and walk away or call an ambulance and reveal?
In Anything You Do Say, McAllister shows the reader the consequences of both "concealing" and "revealing" in alternate chapters. I was slightly apprehensive when I realised this, as I have read other books with the same style and found the narrative difficult to follow. However, this is not the case with this novel and it works brilliantly. The shorter chapters and the breaks in the plot as it switches between "conceal" and "reveal" build the tension, and I really wanted to know what happened, in both scenarios.
The strength of Anything You Do Say lies in the fact that Joanna's situation, although not an enviable one, is something that could happen to anyone. As I was reading, I was constantly thinking about how I would have responded, and this gave the novel an extra thrilling edge for me.
McAllister has constructed the characters in Anything You Do Say, especially Joanna and Reuben, incredibly well, and I found them very easy to relate to. I found it fascinating that the personalities of each character differed between the "conceal" and "reveal" chapters (I liked "reveal" Joanna more) and I began to really care about what happened to them and how their relationship was affected by the incident.
Anything You Do Say is a novel that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Entertaining and chilling read!

I really enjoyed this book, with its two stories which worked well together and so didn't cause any confusion. At it's heart, this is a chilling read as it's so normal: what happens to Joanna could happen to many people, and it's a thought-provoking assessment of how you would or could react. The book then progresses on to examine how the choices we make impact on us, but also on our family, friends, colleagues and husband/wife.

Recommended read!

Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this great book! Yes - it does put me in mind of Sliding Doors which is a great thing as I loved that film too!

The story switches between 2 possible scenarios in which the main character Joanna, finds herself facing a life changing decision when, walking home after a few drinks at the pub with a raised level of paranoia, she pushes a man down a concrete flight of stairs .

This is where the book splits in two - should she do the right thing - call for an ambulance and explain what has happened or should she run and avoid the consequences of her actions. From here on in, the book alternates between her coming clean or keeping quiet and we follow each scenario and how it shapes the future course of Joanna's life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would not hesitate to recommend it to others - you won't be disappointed!

Anything You Do Say had me gripped from the beginning. The intrigue as to what was going to happen next had me holding my breath. I then became so confused with the alternating chapters..

Another fantastic read from Gillian McAllister! It's full of every emotion you can think of, all written spectacularly well. I couldn't put it down!

I don't want to give anything away so I'm going to keep this fairly succinct. What I will  say is: don't read Anything You Do Say if you have immediate plans - all you'll want to do is stay in and race through this novel... which is exactly what I did!

The plot itself is just excellent, and presents a worryingly realistic situation. It's every woman's worst nightmare and whilst reading it I could imagine only too well how I might feel in Joanna's place. Though I may not agree with everything she did, and at times her indecision was frustrating, but I really felt for her throughout the novel.

 I absolutely loved the split storylines, titled 'conceal' and 'reveal', each showing what would happen if Jo had reacted in a different way, and how her life would have changed accordingly (and in some ways, dramatically!). It feels very realistic, and Gillian McAllister resists the urge to make everything tied up with a neat bow. It also made me really think about how unfair some aspects of just being a woman are! It provoked some strong emotions in me, which is always the sign of a great writer.

This is just a brilliantly constructed, convincing novel which I highly recommend. No doubt this will be on my best books of 2018 even though we're only in January!

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Absolutely brilliant. This is a fast paced book where the pages turn thenselves.
It all starts so simply, with a selfie in the pub, Joanna, her friend Laura and Sadiq whom they have just met and the girls are trying to move away from him, Joanna feels he is behaving inappropriately, though she says nothing. The girls leave the pub and start off on their separate journeys home. Joanna can hear footsteps behind her, if she quickens the footsteps quicken, when she turns down a side alley the footsteps follow, she sneaks a quick look behind and recognises the trainers to be Sadiq’s, she feels frightened, rings her husband Reuben who is waiting at home for her, the reception is poor and the call ends.
Just as she is going down a short flight of steps he catches up with her, Joanna doesn’t hesitate, she is frightened and protecting herself, she pushes him hard, really hard and he tumbles to the bottom, he lands face down and remains still, now Joanna is more frightened and in a dither, dithers for some minutes, she looks around her, no one has seen what has happened, will she leave,head for her train, say nothing, but what would Reuben think, he always does the right thing,,,, more dithering, will she ring an ambulance. A decision is finally reached, she rings 999 , follows the advise given, turns his face up only to discover it’s not him, it’s not Sadiq from the pub, what has she done, she can hear sirens, ambulance and police, there is still time for her to flee the scene, only she has given her real name.
The story moves between Reveal and Conceal very cleverly, a brilliant read, didn’t want to put it down

I did find this a little confusing at the start, swapping between two scenarios but once I got used to it I found it excellent.

Joanna hears footsteps on her way home and panics, pushing him down some concrete steps. What follows is two different choices, does she leave the the man motionless at the bottom of the steps or phone for an ambulance and stay and deal with the consequences.

Great book and 4 worthy stars.

A different approach to telling a tale. Two scenarios are put forward after th3 main character a Joanna pushes a young man she thinks is following her. It demonstrates the dilemma an accidental perpetrator might face and the d3cisions to take. Flee or stay and accept the legal consequences. Does fleeing however bring its own set of consequences that equally upsets life in the future. It took me a few chapters to realise 5hat the story was unfolding with the two possible scenarios but the I found the story gripping.

What a unique take on a genre which seems to saturate the market. I throughly enjoyed the 2-prong effect this book took on whereby your decisions can impact the course your life takes, but ultimately - your final destiny is written and the route you take to it can be determined in a split second. Well written and engaging, I very much enjoyed the book. I was expecting a twist somewhere which didn’t come - but also didn’t leave me disappointed. I really look forward to reading another from Gillian.

Joanna thinks someone is following her after a night out having a drink with her friend in a bar. When the person gets nearer to her, in a moment of panic, she pushes her follower down a flight of concrete stairs that lead down towards a canal towpath. Now as the man lies still ,silent and unmoving, she faces a dilemma , does she call 999 and help him or does she walk away and pretend that nothing has happened?
Written in the style of the film Sliding Doors, this asks difficult and awkward questions. You know what is right,but should the consequences overrule your actions?
Each chapter is written from a different perspective and headed either Reveal or Conceal. It makes for uncomfortable reading at times, and can reinforce hidden prejudicial viewpoints. If the Police become involved,will you be treated fairly, court cases and solicitors, that's not a good scenario . After all, they twist your words and make out that you are guilty! It was a genuine mistake, I was scared and I didn't have time to check who was following me, and I am sorry.
If I keep quiet and walk away, will anybody know? The streets look empty, damm, CCTV is everywhere, but if I keep calm, nobody will ever know, but the shame and the GUILT will follow you and eventually ruin your life. You start off telling lies, that get bigger and more involved and complicated, it becomes harder to remember what you said and to whom, it wears you down.
What about the person you pushed? Is he badly injured? Does he have a family? Have I ruined his life, is he dead? Welcome to Paranoia!!
I read this with especial attention upon the medical details, after nursing for 40 years, this is a familiar event that can have long lasting effects for all concerned. My husband discussed this with me from a Police background of 40 years, so the arguments and alternative viewpoint was welcomed.
I know what action I would have taken, but the nightmare of questioning and a Court case very nearly caused me to change my mind , nothing is simple if you do the ' right thing'.
Such a well written book, it really questions what you believe in and what is right. It is like a moral maze, not an easy read, but such a good one!! Highly recommend ! .
I have posted this review to Goodreads, a 5 star read.

I really enjoyed this book; every time I picked it up, I struggled to put it down.

On her way home from a night out, Joanna hears quickening footsteps behind her. Her quick decision then has consequences that will last forever, for both her and the victim. But what is great about this book is that the rest of the book's chapters alternate between Reveal and Conceal: what happens in Joanna's life if she reveals what happens on that fateful night, and what happens if she conceals what happens. I think this is a great way to show the story; we all wonder "What if I had done that instead?" at some point in our lives!

I like the lead character Joanna, but I'm still undecided about her husband Rueben, which I just can't put my finger on!

This book would make a great TV drama!

I haven't read McAllister's debut novel 'Everything But The Truth' but feel I now need to!

One of my favourite films is Sliding Doors, and this book is written with very much the same idea in mind but instead of the discovery of infidelity being the issue it is the life of a young man which hangs in the balance depending on the main character's decision.
Joanna is on a night out with her best friend when the night is spoiled by the unwanted attention from a man in a bar, The girls decide it is time to call it a night and leave the bar to make their separate ways home. Joanna is walking home alone alongside the canal when she hear footsteps behind her. Without checking who is behind her, Joanna lashes out in self defence and this is where the story splits in to two possible scenarios depending on what action she takes.
Joanna knows her husband Reuben would have no trouble choosing what to do next, and in the one scenario we follow events if Joanna reports the incident and gets help to the young man.
Joanna however is the world's biggest procrastinator and the alternative scenario leads us down the road of what happens if she panics, fails report things and goes home to her comfortable life where she need not take responsibility for any involvement.
The after effects of Joanna's decisions are played out in alternating chapters clearly entitled Conceal and Reveal, with the author exploring how events would affect different characters and their families. There has clearly been lots of research by the author into the psychology of crime as well as the mechanics of how the system works.
I love this book especially how it manages to not be judgmental towards any character, merely shows how we are all fallible as humans and how even those who we think would never do any wrong still wrestle with their conscience sometimes. That doing the right thing often doesn't feel right. I found this a thought provoking, enjoyable read.
This review will appear on my blog page www.sandiesbookshelves.blogspot.co.uk

Anything You Do Say follows the story of Joanna. After a night out with her friend Laura whilst on her way home, Joanna thinks she’s being followed. She ends up pushing her pursuer and he falls down a flight of stairs, leaving Joanna to make the biggest decision of her life.

This book is well written and I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK Michael Joseph and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a truly exceptional book and not quite sure how to word it strong enough that people would read it.

I am absolutely ashamed to admit that I haven’t (as yet!) managed to read McAllister’s debut, Everything But The Truth. It’s another of my TBR that’s been giving me that come-hither look for a while now but thanks to my need to overindulge in blog tours it’s been left, literally ‘stood up’ on my bookshelf! I promise, after having read the wonderful Anything You Do Say, to make it a top priority!

Anything You Do Say is quite possibly the cleverest suspense thriller I have read. The author has managed to write two different stories (albeit with the same characters) in the one book! Two for the price of one; what a bargain us readers are getting. Following a night out and a frightening confrontation in a bar, Joanna heads home to husband Reuben. Traipsing the streets of London she is suddenly aware that someone is following her. A quick glance tells her it’s the man from the bar, the one that…. Joanna starts to panic, she knows he’s followed her so he can finish what he started. Utterly consumed by fear and panic she lashes out at her attacker and watches as he falls, head first into a shallow puddle at the foot of the steps. In a moment of misguided self-defence, Joanna has changed her life forever. Now, the decision she makes will dictate the direction which her life takes. Call the police and report the incident or run home to Reuben and pretend it never happened. Which decision will it be…?

The reader is given a fascinating ‘Sliding Doors-esque‘ look into what happens to gentle, indecisive Joanna as she changes her life forever. The chapters are headed either ‘cover‘, where Joanna decides to run away from what she’s done and hide her crime from everyone, even her husband Reuben or ‘reveal‘, where Joanna dials 999 and has to live with the consequences of that decision. I found it riveting reading, the differences created; the repercussions of her situation and how it affects absolutely everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) else in her life. Throughout the reveal chapters, I could feel Joanna’s despair emanating from the pages in front of me. During the cover chapters, I watched as the decision totally devastated a nice, normal middle-class woman bit by agonising bit.

I’m not sure I liked Joanna. I wanted to, and I really felt for her but I don’t think we got anywhere near the ‘liking’ stage. I found her a little too dreamy at times and wanted to give her a good shake so she’d wake up and actually face what was happening to her. Joanna’s husband, Reuben is also quite a frustrating character. He’s very closed off to everyone around him, apart from his wife who he adores in his own, special way. I desperately wanted him to notice that Joanna was gradually falling apart during the cover but he was oblivious. Despite not really liking either of the main characters I was, however, totally invested in their lives and where, whether it be cover or reveal, they were headed.

Beautifully written and heartbreaking in places; my congratulations to McAllister for the amount of intricate research she has put into this novel. As a reader, it was incredibly obvious to me how much time and effort had gone in to making Joanna and Reuben come alive.

Would I recommend this book? I would. I don’t think I’ve read a suspense novel quite like this before. It takes a little while to get your head around the fact that you are, essentially, reading two different stories about the same characters but it’s well worth it. In a perfect world, I would have liked a more surprising conclusion but that’s just me and my personal taste! Nothing more. A great read with a very interesting plot which pulls you in and keeps you hooked till the end.

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Anything You Do Say. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

This novel is brilliant! The premise had me so keen to read it as soon as I possibly could – the idea of a sliding doors type story always appeals to me and this one is the best I have read! The idea of walking home from a club on a dark night and becoming aware that someone is following you, becoming increasingly fearful that the man is going to attack you and you lash out in sheer terror. Then you have to make the decision to either dial 999 and get help, or to run away and say nothing. This is such a clever novel, it really explores the realities of what might happen in each of the two scenarios in such a believable way. It also looks at the impact of guilt and how punishment can come in many forms, and that maybe there is no getting away with it. I loved this book – I finished reading it weeks ago and I still find myself thinking about it. I’ve even bought a couple of copies as Christmas presents as I know people who will enjoy this book every bit as much as I did. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

Interesting book that made me keep reading to find out what happened. That said, *possible spoiler* I was disappointed to find out you don't actually find out which path she took and it's simply a "what if" situation.
I found it a little hard to keep up with some of the differing story lines, I'd find myself slipping into the opposite storyline and getting momentarily confused.

Overall, a very clever book. Would recommend to friends.

A really cleverly written book. Joanna makes a bad error of judgement one night and whichever way she reacts will change her life forever. A really unique story following Joanna's story following both choices - Reveal and Conceal. Each chapter alternates between the two. It really makes you think and its hard to judge as who knows what you would do. A story of how love and friendships are affected with these choices and the guilt that ensues. I really enjoyed this and recommend highly.