With many apologies. I have realised I have read books and not uploaded my review!

I loved this book. But then again, I love all Gillian's books I have read. Always a good quality story of depth without the usual formulaic layout.

As recommended as always!

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

*The Evidence Against You* by Gillian McAllister is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. From the very first page, McAllister masterfully builds suspense, keeping you hooked with her unreliable characters, intricate lies, and shocking betrayals. The story is full of twists and turns, each one designed to make you question everything you think you know.

What stands out most is the way the author develops the characters. They are flawed, unpredictable, and at times, downright untrustworthy, making it impossible to decide who to believe. The plot is tense and fast-paced, with revelations that hit you hard.

The ending, while devastating, is also perfectly fitting. It’s the kind of conclusion that leaves you reflecting long after the final page, wishing for an alternative outcome but realizing that it makes sense within the narrative. Overall, *The Evidence Against You* is an intense, thought-provoking read that fans of thrillers will not want to miss.

Gillian McAllister returns with another brilliant, complex, and intense character-driven psychological thriller set in the Isle of Wight, a small community where everyone knows everyone. Gabriel has spent 17 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Alexandra, and is now being released on parole. The trial and case were considered closed, with a solid police conviction based on the evidence presented. Isabelle, Gabriel's daughter, is married to police analyst Nick and has taken over her mother's restaurant, Alexandra, having limited options. Once a talented ballet dancer, Izzy had to give up her passion and has not found happiness running the restaurant. She has buried her past trauma but can no longer escape it as Gabriel reaches out, claiming his innocence and asserting he can explain the evidence against him. Izzy faces a dilemma: should she give her father a chance and listen to him, or is he deceiving her? Emotionally torn, Izzy feels an inner compulsion to uncover the truth in a narrative that shifts back and forth in time.

McAllister's focus is on the people rather than the crime itself, exploring lives shattered, trauma, marriage, family, trust, relationships, and secrets. She delves into the very human feelings of doubt, pain, distraught emotions, conflict, mistrust, and the differing memories of the same events. Unsurprisingly, Gabriel is not the same man he was before prison; he is bitter and resentful, broken by the loss of his wife and daughter. Izzy has also struggled with life's challenges over the years. This is a gripping read with an understated narrative that seamlessly delves into the lives of the characters, where careers, futures, and lives have been derailed. With twists and plenty of suspense, the truth is slowly revealed.

You never quite know what you're getting with Gillian McAllister, but you do know it'll be worth the read, and you will want to take your time over it. This is no exception. Get yourself comfy, you won't be moving for a while.

I really enjoy Gillian McAllister’s books, and this was no exception. Such a good storyline, and I wavered between thinking that Gabe was guilty of killing Alex, to him being innocent, exactly as the author intended.
I didn’t expect the ending however.
Fabulous book

Alright, let's talk about this book! Izzy's father is out of prison, claiming he's innocent of his wife's murder. Drama, right? Izzy's not sure how to react when he comes calling, and who can blame her? It's a tough spot to be in!

Now, I've been a fan of the author's previous three novels, so when I got my hands on this one, I was stoked! I mean, I dropped everything to dive into it like a kid diving into a pile of candy. I wanted action, suspense, and a good ol' plot twist that leaves me saying, "Whoa, didn't see that coming!" And you know what? It almost happened here, but just a smidge too late for my liking.

Here's the thing - the action got slowed down by the characters agonizing over their life events. And while that can add layers to the story, in this case, it was a bit distracting. Izzy felt a bit too passive, like she was just going along with whatever came her way. And her dad? Well, let's just say he's a touch too unusual for my taste.

The ending? Eh, not exactly my cup of tea. I didn't walk away with a great deal of satisfaction, but you know what? I'll still keep my eyes peeled for the next book. Because despite my three-star rating, I'm still curious to see what the author cooks up next. Call me a hopeful bookworm, always looking for the next thrilling adventure!

So there you have it, folks. A decent read, but it didn't quite blow my socks off. But hey, that's just me! If you're a fan of the author's previous works, you might still find something to enjoy in this one. Just don't expect me to do cartwheels of excitement over it!

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

A tremendous trauma devastated Izzy's life: when she was barely a teenager, her mother died, brutally murdered, and her father was convicted of the murder. Brought up by her paternal grandparents, she lost everything: reference figures, esteem for her father, whom she loved dearly, and dance, of which she was a promise. As an adult, she manages the restaurant that was her mother's - a job she dislikes - and is married to a policeman, a quiet marriage but without offspring, because she fears falling prey to the anger that, so she is told, drove her father to kill her mother. One day, however, her father is released from prison on parole and gets in touch with her....
Between lies, half-truths and false memories, doubtful but somehow happy to have at least part of her family back, Izzy allows herself to be persuaded to give her father a chance to prove his innocence.
A very well constructed psychological thriller, never predictable and with a truly unforeseeable ending.

Read this book a while ago, but forgot to post a review. Enjoyed it enormously. A real page-turner, as all the books I've read by Gillian McAllister. Kept me reading to the final page.

Will Izzy believe her father is innocent of the murder of her mother or not?

This was a gripping story which kept me going. I felt sorry for Izzy as this is a unique and difficult situation. Losing both her parents in one event. And then believing that her father is guilty until he tells his side once he's released. Who to believe?

I loved it as I love all of this author's books. A fantastic story-line which kept me gripped from the beginning. Could not put it down.

Wow! Where to start with this book... just from reading the synopsis of this book it had me engaged, I read this in a couple of days I think, longer than usual but you know, life😅 it was so interesting to see the dynamic between the father and daughter and the events surrounding them.

This book reminded me a lot of a series I’ve recently just finished watching called Truth Be Told where the guy is convinced but there’s a possibility he could be innocent and the path to finding out what really happened.

I love @gillianmauthor novels they’re so jam packed and full of suspense and mystery! Great book to add to your tbr if you haven’t read it😊

Izzy English has received a letter from her father and is deeply torn. Here is the man that filled her childhood with happy memories, but he is also the man who murdered her mother and was only given seven years. Now Gabe is keen to make amends and prove he is innocent of the murder. Not completely convinced of what Gabe has to say Izzy feels she needs to look into things and see for herself. Is he telling the truth or is he guilty just as he has been charged. Nothing is ever quire so black and white and this is what Izzy discovers.
A great read form this wonderful author

I was intrigued to begin with! Izzy’s father has just been released from prison for murdering her mother though professing his innocence! Izzy cannot make up her mind whether he is or he isn’t! The story quickly becomes a tangled web that took forever to unravel - Izzy and Gabe, her father like balls bouncing against each other too many times. Unfortunately by the end I had lost interest.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in a few days, I’m just annoyed it took me this long to get to it on my reading list! The story was cleverly told and genuinely kept me guessing right to the end. The chapters showing different perspectives on the same situations were great and helped a lot with the “Did he? Didn’t he?” aspect.

It’s hard to give a detailed review on a book like this as I don’t want to give spoilers, but I definitely recommend and look forward to reading more of Gillian McAllister’s work.

Strong start to this story and held my interest well..great ending as hoped for..look forward to reading another from this author.

**This is a very late review (for technical reasons which I won't bore you with!) - for which apologies to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher.

As usual in my reviews, I won't rehash the plot (plenty of other reviews like that out there already!).

Most of the characters are not immediately likeable, which allows one to have more suspects! The plot threads weave back and forth between past and present, allowing us to build up a picture of before and after the murder. It's clear that most of the characters are hiding something, or redrawing aspects of the past in their own minds...

This is one of the best novels I've ever read in this genre. The plot is very well conceived, and has so many twists and turns that you end up not knowing who or what to believe - until the very end!

I was drawn into this story immediately, and could not put it down - staying up very late to finish it. This one will be hard to beat.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Quite a good read and a very interesting plot, I could not put this book down. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I would recommend this book.

The task of repopulating the senior library has been an exciting and daunting task aS in a boarding school our aim is to encourage all members of the community to read. Because of this, I have been searching down a wide and diverse range of books to read that will entice a wide cross-section of the school to come in, browse and find books that they love.
Books like this will ensure that the senior students in the school see the library as a diverse, modern and exciting place with books that speak to them and they want to recommend to their friends, classmates, teachers and tutors.
It is an engrossing and exciting read with fully-formed characters and a plot that ensures that it's hard to look away. It is as far from formulaic as it is possible to be and kept me up far too late in order to finish it. I immediately wanted to read all of this writer's other books as I loved their voice and found that it really drew me into the story and made me think about it even when I'd stepped away from this tale.
This is a thought-provoking read which I'm sure will be a popular and well-read addition to our new library; I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read it and I know that the students are going to absolutely love it too!

This wasn’t the book for me unfortunately. I couldn’t give it a chance as a result. And no full review...