Loved this book ! Believable characters and a well though out plot . I love how it begins with us knowing who committed the murder and then snakes back through alternate chapters of why ! Cleverly written I look forward to more from this author . My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read

I first discovered Jo Spain’s heartbreaking read “With Our Blessing” about the child orphanages in Ireland and that really stayed in my mind so I was keen to read her first foray into the world of psychological thrillers. It’s set in Ireland although place and setting aren’t the draw - it’s the insides of people’s homes and heads which really drags you in.

Well, blow me down, if she hasn’t gone and totally made that genre her new home. It’s like a high speed, fast energy Columbo case where you know the killer early on before the whole thing unravels before your eyes to reveal the why dunnit and the truth. Smoke and Mirrors comes to mind.

The writing here is what stood out for me - sharp, deadly and takes no punches. It’s self assured and confidant and the characters, although not likeable are in fact hideously fascinating

Reading it is like unravelling a really tightly pulled plait - slowly, with a few tangles to work out and a few shouts as you are pulled one way and then another and yet you’re still trapped in the plot. The final denouement is the raggedy aftermath of secrets and lies.

5/5 - I need to find new words for GRIPPING because I don't think "Gripping" does this book justice - The Confession by Jo Spain was not only gripping it was "riveting, thrilling, unputdownable and overall captivating throughout."  (Thank you Google for your help!).

We start the book with a vicious attack on a man in front of his wife by a complete stranger - or do we?  We then begin the tense journey to find out who is this random attacker, why did he attack Harry and then turn himself in to the police and what does his wife Julia have to do with the attack?  We are taken back to the beginning of each character's life through alternating chapters and just when you think you've worked out why, when, who the author throws in a humdinger of a twist and you are left dumbstruck and bemused.

Julie - the wife tells us her story from the moment she first met and fell in love with the enigmatic and successful Harry to the moment she watched a random attack beat him senseless with a golf club.  JP - the attacker tells us his life story - warts and all, full of heartbreak and determination and how he finds himself confessing to attempted murder, but my favourite character is Alice Moody the policewoman in charge of this investigation - she was absolutely WONDERFUL and deserves her own book.

A thoroughly brilliant, page turning, tense and exceptional psychological thriller that is definitely 100% GRIPPING.