Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I wanted to read this having read a couple of other of Lewis' books, but have mixed feelings about this. It was well written and Joely was a very likeable protagonist, but felt the first half moved too slowly and found it jumped around a bit. Despite centring on family, this novel felt different to Lewis' other books.

Such a good read. The story centres around an elderly lady who’s beloved brother was imprisoned in their youth and she wants to make the person who put him there, pay for it.
Like all of this authors books, it is beautifully written and each character appears to have threads of their own story running through it.
You will find love, tenderness, revenge, jealousy and every other emotion in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t want to put it down. I certainly want to know more of what happened to them all after a moving conclusion.
I particularly liked the old lady in the story. She loved her brother so much and is a strong and feisty character but with a softness at her centre.

Absolutely amazing I had no idea what was comping next each page really kept you on ur toes. Devoured far to quickly.

I enjoy Susan Lewis books, and this one was no different. Joely is a ghost writer and accepts a job to write the memoirs of a recluse author.
The job comes for Joely at a pivotal point in her life when her marriage has just ended, and taking time away seems like the perfect answer. Not being able to tell anyone where she really is, Joely is a little cut off from the world whilst working for her client.
There are some great twists and turns in the book as we dive back in time to when the heroine of the novel is just 15 and embarking on a relationship with her older teacher. As the memoir is put together, secrets begin to be told.
I thought this was a well put together book with lots of good twists and answers. I think the ending could have been a little shorter.

Absolutely brilliant. A serious page turner that I could not put down. Now it is finished I want to read it all again. I confess I shed a few tears too.

At stages in this book, I couldn't put it down, a fan of Susan Lewis, I was looking forward to reading this book and it didn't disappoint.

WOW!!!!!!!! Susan Leiwis’ books really never disappoint and this one was just fab. This is the story of Joely who has got a job as a ghostwriter for someone who wants to write a memoir. She goes to live with her and the story begins to unravel as told by the reclusive and eccentric Freda. As the plot thickens it becomes apparent their lives are linked. i really did not see any of the twists and turns in this book coming, butmit was absolutely riveting, and I would absolutely highly recommend. .

I really enjoyed it the plot was amazing no way would I have ever guessed what was going to happen, the second half of the book was especially exciting not knowing how it would turn out I never knew what an actual ghost writer was, but I do now. I felt so sorry for the people involved it brought tears to my eyes such love and devotion which could never be, so so sad. Just want to say thank you to Harper Collins Publishers for the opportunity to read such a brilliant book.

I always look forward to a Susan Lewis book, knowing full well to clear my diary as once you start, you won’t be able to put it down.

When Joely’s husband Callum leaves her for her best friend Martha, she is glad to be given a writing assignment in Devon, so she get away from London. She has been asked to be a ghost writer for established author F.M Donahue who wants to tell her story to Joely who can try and rewrite it in a style Mrs Donahue fans will be expecting.

Mrs Freda Donahue is a strange character. Preferring her own company, why does she need a ghost writer and why did she pick Joely? The story she is telling is of a school girl who is in love with her teacher. Freda seems keen to put the blame on the schoolgirl but was she the innocent party taken advantage of?

The story is told over 2 timelines. In 1968 we meet a schoolgirl who falls for her music teacher, she persuades her mother to let her have piano lessons so that she can be alone with him. They begin a passionate affair that must be kept secret but has disastrous consequences when he tries to end things.

As the story progresses, Joely discovers the subject is very close to home and there is a reason why she was chosen to write this.

This had me captivated from the beginning and kept me in its grasp long after finishing this amazing book. Even when I reluctantly put this down I was still thinking about the characters!!

Beautifully written, I love the way Susan Lewis explores her characters emotions, bringing them to life.

I would definitely recommend this. I would go as far as to say this is the best book I’ve read this year and I did not want it to end, oh my what an ending. Will we be reading about Joely again?

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Joelys husband, Callum, has just left her for her best friend, taking their daughter with them. She is offered a job with an eccentric reclusive author, to ghost write her memoirs. Grateful to have some time away from her own troubles, she takes the job, which is well off the beaten track in Devon. Freda, her client, seems to have revenge in mind, wanting to right wrongs from the past. Joely gets sucked into the story, trying to second guess where it’s going, but then things become very personal.
There are some very clever plot twists in this book, which is very well written, and descriptive. I’m not sure that I would be quite as forgiving as Joely and her family, and I can’t feel much sympathy for Freda. However, a good read.

This was a fascinating read, with some very disturbing scenes of grooming and child abuse, told from the point of view of Freda, a very strange and affected reclusive writer who employs the services of Joely, a ghost writer, to pen her graphically recalled memoirs.
Joely is having problems of her own with her husband first cheating on her and then decamping to live with her best friend- taking their daughter along for the ride. Having jumped at the chance of a commission involving a bit of distance from her own dramas Joely is sucked into Freda's world and the longer she stays the more bizarre and dangerous it becomes.
With some shock revelations involving Joely and her family there are some clever plot twists that led to outcomes that were in places difficult to reconcile- perhaps I am just a less forgiving person than the characters in the novel but I would not have forgiven Freda her actions as easily as they seemed to!
Overall an intense read with lots of vague hints at the truth as well as some part truths and loose threads before the truth is finally revealed.

Utterly amazing!! I was captured within the story and I never knew what twist was next. I cannot wait for the next book by this amazing author. Brilliantly written!

Whose lies are the worst?

The story starts with Joely and her husband Callum parting sadly after 20 years. Callum is having an affair and Joely is understandably upset that their teenage daughter, Holly, has chosen to live with her father rather than her. Joely, a ghostwriter, is about to start work for a famously reclusive author, who has invited her to stay in her huge, rambling house in Devon. But why has she chosen Joely? Does she have a hidden agenda?

A well-plotted novel. I like the way the links between Freda's and Joely's families are gradually revealed, how their characters develop through the book and how both move forward with their lives. The subsidiary characters are also interesting and well-rounded. A great read you won't want to put down.

Wow this is a powerful book on your emotions, i guess a book of two halves even though the first is longer than the second. There is one big twist that will rock you completely because it's not what you expect but it will then turn you upside down.
Well that was the brief summary that tells you nothing apart from a clue that if you choose to get this book and i really highly recommend you do, then you are in for a rollercoaster of a ride. The two main characters are Joely and Freda. Joely is Mum to Holly and has very recently separated from her husband Callum who had moved in with Joely's now ex best friend (ouch)., She is a ghost writer and is assigned a job with the strange old lady called Freda. Freda wants a ghost writer to help with putting right what she believes needs correcting before she gets any older as seems fair. But Freda isn't the easiest of people to work with and when Joely turns up to start her assignment away from others in a remote venue that host no signal for her phone it isn't the best start to her assignment or introduction to Freda especially when.she then discovers her host is away for the night. She is then not expected back till late the following day she has a empty house to her self which is just weird i feel it's safe to say.
The following morning she get up to find her host Freda chatting to Brenda her home help and great cook they are enjoying breakfast. They soon get started on Freda's story and well you can see what happens for yourself because it would be wrong or sad for you not to read it for yourself.
As i said earlier at the beginning of my review there is one major twist along with several smaller ones but this takes our story to a whole new level and one powerful thriller that is clever and well written but just one sentence lead you to a whole new level and that's how i feel best to describe it. I say this because it affected my whole experience and has left me with so much to mule over and takes the book from a memorable one to one that has had a judge impact leaving me unable to get it out of my head. I guess it has given me a challenger that i could tell you about but then it won't have the same impact and it would ruin the book for you. I love this book and really think you will enjoy it and won't forget it once you've read it, you may very well want to read it again however it hits you I'm sure Susan Lewis is an author you will be looking out for in the future.like I am doing.

This was definitely a book of 3 parts....
The first 3rd I felt was ok, just plodded on a bit.
The second 3rd was the wow, OMG bit when the truth plus lots of secrets came out.
The final third, whilst good, I just didn’t feel fitted in with the rest of the story. I just don’t think, that with everything that happened earlier, that this ending was realistic so although I enjoyed the book I felt a bit flat at the end.

Wow, wow, wow! I've been struggling lately to find a book that grabs my attention and keeps it throughout the whole book... Susan Lewis has done just that with this story full of intriguing characters and unpredicted plot twists.

Whilst the style of writing is unusual, it is descriptive and captivating and I couldn't put this book down.

Highly recommended read!

Another fantastic read by Susan lewis! A book full of intrigue, deception, betrayal and surprises!
Brilliant characters particularly Freda an eccentric rather odd author, familiar faces such as andee, her mother and husband and joely the main character!A really unusual storyline that reads so well, you really don’t want to put it down or for it to end! Based in deepest darkest Devon you can really feel as if you are there with the descriptions of Freda’s house its location and the surrounding area!
Ultimately it demonstrates the power of love and family ties that bind us! A fantastic read that will stay with me!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

This was a beautifully written family drama by the incredibly talented Susan Lewis. The book was extremely emotional and beautifully depicted. Kudos!