Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book wasn't my favourite from the author, and read a lot more like a family drama than thriller. I found the pace slow, the story dragged a little and I wasn't given any shocks.

This book wasn’t for me
I felt the plot dragged on too long.
I was so disappointed as I had enjoyed other books by this author

Wow, what a thrilling read. Just as soon as you think you have it figured out, the author knocks you on your head. I love the author's writing style, will read some more of her in future. Recommended.

This was a slow burned and a strange one I thought, goes back and forth from past to present and the characters were good in all...but the ending well that was the best part for me! It’s brilliant and well worth waiting for! Really enjoyed it and the car trip through America, complex family drama but aren’t they all 😂 didn’t know who to trust in this one and it was fab! Great little book i thought

This one wasn't for me, unfortunately. I didn't read enough of it to leave a fair review so I won't be reviewing it on any platform but thank you for approving me nonetheless.

Guys this is a very strange and twisted book, we have a family on a road trip, siblings and partners all bound together by an old man's will and estate. The book splits between the current road trip and one years back when the kids were younger and with their grandpa. A dysfunctional family that gets more bizarre the more the book plays out.

It is a slow burner, the author drip feeds tidbits, shocks, reveals along the way. The grandfather has died and left a substantial inheritance but it comes with strings hence the road trip. Shady, selfish, internal issues, sibling rivalry and that is just the starter!

Everyone has secrets and these characters, guuuuuuuurl! The setting, because it is a road trip you get taken across America, I didn't know the states had mottos - I love learning stuff in books like this. Tres cute and really good considering we are all pretty much stuck on lockdown and no holidays. The ending, I think is a marmite - you either love it or you won't, I still don't know what to think of it, 3/5 for me this time. I think this was my first reading this author, I would read her again.

I am not what I think about the book it was interesting and intriguing as the past bleeds into the present. But I am afraid I am going to be one of those people and say…. that ENDING!!! OMG, the ending alone is 5 stars! It was just so unexpected I loved it and that’s all I will say.

I had issues with my library app when listening as it kept jumping all over the place so I kept missing bits and so I had to keep trying to find it in my ebook to catch up what I had missed that was quite annoying but in a way, it meant I had a different reading experience to some and I think that some bits are missing for me, no amount of flicking in the Kindle helped me. I was listening to things I hadn’t heard or read yet, but the journey was still rather harrowing.

I am not sure how I feel about the book, I am not sure how I felt about the past story, when they were children and how that panned out. Some of it didn’t sit right with me and has left me with some questions. The road trip the Grandad takes them on didn’t make sense to me but that is probably more down to the fact my audiobook skipped. But for them to take the same road trip when they were adults just seem plain crazy, I get why they are doing the road trip but even so it just didn’t sit well with me. However, not only are we on this crazy road trip, it appears that someone is stalking them.

In the future, you can see how the past has affected the siblings on this road trip. They all seem slightly…unhinged in their own way! All with their secrets and their own stories.

I think the story just fell a bit flat for me, too much happens at once and it got a bit jumbled for me. However, I will stand by my comments with the ending. That ending blew it away for me and made the listening all that more worthwhile.

Beth, the narrator of the story says, it’s down to us to decide who is the hero/heroine of the story. They are all diabolical and with no redeemable qualities but you still find yourself rooting for one of them. But even in the end, can you decide who you think is the hero of the story? I know that I still can’t.

So grateful to be part of the #blogtour for such an amazing book. I had high expectations from this book as I LOVED @smariedowning’s debut novel My Lovely Wife and it definitely lived up to it.
He Started It follows three siblings who have to go on the same road trip they went to as kids with their recently deceased grandpa in order to get the inheritance.

Seems chill enough but oh boy the twists and turns in this book 😂
I would recommend this to anyone as it is one of my favourite thrillers of all time! Can’t wait for the next one📖

Having heard great things about Samantha Downing's previous book, I was really excited to read He Started It.
I must first start by saying that this is more of a family centred story than your traditional thriller.
There are, however, lots of great twists and revelations throughout the course of this.
The pacing and writing is well done and I looked forward to picking this book up each evening to see where it would take me (and the characters) next.
I also enjoyed the different timelines, with Beth being the narrator and an unreliable one at that, in both instances.
I'll definitely be reading more from Samantha Downing in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is all about siblings and their strange road trip with their grandfather as children. It wasn’t a good time but they’ve got to recreate it......the plot is twisty and the story is compelling and the writer is brilliant as always. Go and buy this! It’s a VERY strong 5/5. Absolutely loved it.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

He started it by Samantha Downing
I rate this book 3.5 stars
This is a story about three siblings. Like any family, sometimes they don't get along. They just have better reasons than most . . .
Three siblings.
One secret, kept since they were children.
This is a story about lies and murder.
It's a story where only one can win.

A journey from hell for them , Sadly l can't say l enjoyed this book a lot although I did have to keep reading as I needed to know how it finished.An ending I certainly didn't see coming!
Thank you Netgalley and the books publishers for my chance to read this

A road trip with a difference. Three siblings are instructed to recreate a sinister holiday they took with their late grandfather in order to claim his inheritance. Filled with twists and turns, the story and characters were unbelievable and the novel not as good as the author's previous title My Lovely Wife. However, it would make a good screenplay as the filmic quality of the story could translate to the screen.

I greatly enjoyed this book, thank you for giving me a preview copy. The plot was interesting and fast paced and I sympathised with the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but I hope it will not be the last!

Another brilliant book by this talented author, it’s a dark and twisty thriller that had me hooked from the start,

Sometimes the death of a loved one and what they leave behind in their will can bring out the worst in people and this is entirely true for the Morgan family. When Beth, Portia and Eddie embark on one last roadtrip together (alongside Beth's husband and Eddie's new wife) as per their grandfather's last request we realise that this is not a trip done out of love but out of necessity and greed.

Each sibling is carrying their own secrets from the past and present times and the recreation of the roadtrip that they went on with their grandfather is sure to unravel all of these secrets.

Initially Beth and Portia are very likeable and I was rooting for them to complete their journey and almost to outsmart Eddie but true to form the twists and turns of this book will leave you absolutely shellshocked.

The ending absolutely threw me! I was disappointed (not in the ending) but just that the roadtrip ended the way it did. If you're looking for a happy ending I'd look elsewhere but if you want to be completely flabbergasted along the way read 'He Started It'. I would highly recommend.

It was a fun and murderous road trip with mostly interesting and witty characters. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but found the twists a little bit predictable.

I loved the authors first book but DNF this one as could not get into the story or the writing but look forward to the authors next book

This was quite difficult to get into - and very difficult to keep up with! Really bizarre toad trip with some very odd attractions!
I enjoyed my lovely wife more than this, but I will look forward to Her next one.