Here are all the elements of a stock psychological thriller: an eerie rural setting, a shady past, an unreliable narrator. And the premise is intriguing: a jilted woman, weeks before her wedding day – her fiancé missing, her a prime suspect.

There is a clever push-pull as we switch to different points of view, teasing out the answer to just how much can we trust our protagonist? Amy has suffered with depression before, after her first marriage fell apart. Her therapist vouches for her unstable state of mind. We see her smashing plates in the kitchen.

Matt, her fiancé, was unable cope with her mood swings, the gaps in her memory, her refusal to sell her beloved cottage.

But Amy maintains theirs is the perfect relationship, and that he’s the man of her dreams.

What is a clue and what is a red herring? Our interest is sustained as Debbie Howells shifts perspectives and makes us question what we can believe. Like Amy, we start looking at everyone as a potential suspect. Howells also writes a dual-time narrative, with flashbacks to 1996 and a tragic incident that occurred in childhood. It doesn’t take long to connect this event to present-day circumstances.

The main reason that this thriller fails to really capture the imagination is that the twist fell somewhat flat, although there was some satisfaction in things being neatly tied up with a bow. The second was the lack of a sustained atmosphere, although all the elements were there to create one; particularly the cottage in the countryside with the herbalist’s garden, the implicit power of nature to heal and to destroy.

This was a fast-paced read, and a strength of the novel was its ability to keep the reader in the dark and its exploration of gaslighting, raising awareness of insidious forms of emotional abuse and manipulation.

‘Nothing too aggressive to start with, just a subtle undermining, chipping away at your reality, until before long, you’re so under their spell, you believe everything they tell you, to the point you question your own sanity…’

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy from the publisher. The Vow will be published by Avon UK in October 2020.

Masterfully written story about how your past and your future can be derailed in your present. When your fiancé doesn’t return home after a business meeting less than 2 weeks before your wedding everything is turned upside down. Any reported him missing only to discover another woman reported a man matching his discerption missing as well. Can they be the same person? What does that mean? Was her fiancé cheating on her this close to the wedding? What really happened to him?
It was interesting and easy to read. Thank you to Netgalley for complimentary copy. Thoughts and opinions my own.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was a bit predictable and formulaic but it’s very engaging and the characters are like able and fun enough that it keeps you sucked in and turning pages through the plot. Solid 3.

This is not the type of book I would usually read. I did enjoy the storyline but it was not gripping and I felt like I just ploughed my way through to the end. I hate to be harsh but for me it was a three star.

Everyone dreams of their wedding day, your dress, cake, flowers, decorations, every detail planned and catered for. Of course not forgetting the groom the man you are deeply in love with, share all of your hopes and dreams with, the man you plan to spend a lifetime with.

Imagine that man not turning up on your long awaited wedding day.

Amy is due to marry Matt in two weeks, everything is going smoothly and they have even created their own vows. One evening Matt says he will be home late as he is having dinner with a client.

Matt doesn't return home, Amy is beside herself with worry- has he been hurt, lost, or even worse killed? It doesn't cross Amy's mind for a second that Matt could be seeing someone else, why would it? They're deeply in love. That is until another woman comes forward and claims her boyfriend also called Matt is missing.

Amy spends day and night frantically and desperately trying to find out what has happened to Matt, it might just occur that he has been keeping secrets and is living a double life.

I really enjoyed this book, it was gripping, addictive and extremely hard to put down.

A big thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t have a lot of expectation about this book but OMG! It really is a great book! I love it a lot!

I keep guessing what is happening but I can’t! Everything is so unexpected. The plot twist is definitely commendable. I love how modern kind of mystery and thriller this is. It’s easily relatable! It had multiple POV which gives you a wide range of what is really happening. About 20% till the book is finish it pulls me in to keep reading more. I love it!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon Publishing for approving me of this book! I’ll write a review in my website sooooon...

The Vow by Debbie Howells is a great psychological thriller. It is a convoluted, compelling tale that kept my attention. A bit slow in parts, but still a worthwhile read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for and advanced copy.

Two weeks until she gets married, Amy makes their final plans and looks forward to the special day. But things start to go wrong when a stranger warns her she is in danger. Then her husband-to-be Matt doesn't come home that night, and it soon becomes clear that he is missing and that she will be forced to cancel the wedding. Amy is in contact with the police and is keen to find out what happened to Matt. Then things get even worse when the police advise her that another woman has also reported Matt missing, and claims that they are in a relationship and that he was going to leave Amy and move in with her. Amy doesn't believe it until she sees evidence and realises he has been living a double life. But it seems that this might not be the only secret, and the police and even Amy's daughter Jess do their best to get to the bottom of the story... Who is telling the truth?

This was the first book by Debbie Howells I've read and I absolutely loved it. The style of writing, exciting and intriguing plot, and the interesting characters all had me hooked. The story was full of twists and turns and I liked how it all came together. I really recommend this book and can't wait to read other books by Debbie.

Thanks so much to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for my honest feedback.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
I have to say the author did a great job for her first novel. The characters were engaging, and I found myself liking the two main characters, then hating them. I liked how the police unraveled things as well. There was probably only one thing that bothered me a little, which was the young daughter helping the police. One of the police officers seemed to be on Amy's side, and then not. Yet she listened and seemed to value what Jess, Amy's young daughter would say into the investigation. It just seemed a bit far fetched to me at times.
Other then that the conclusion of the book was good, the ending could've been held out a bit longer for a better surprise, but other then that a great mystery!

Matt and Amy are two weeks away from their wedding when Matt completely vanishes. Amy reports his disappearance to the police, only to find out he has also been reported missing by another woman...his girlfriend, Fiona.

This story was just okay for me. The premise sounded amazing and really intriguing. It kept my attention and the writing style made for a really quick read. However, I found the storyline pretty predictable. From about 25% in, I had a pretty good idea on how everything was all connected. I found it hard to sympathize with the main character because she honestly seemed pretty clueless about everything. Her daughter had more intuition than she did on what was going on and pretty much had to connect the dots for the police (who seemed unconcerned about finding out what was really going on).

Overall, I’d definitely give this author a try again because I really liked the idea behind this book and the writing style.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Just finished The Vow. It kept me interested though I felt the author made the police a little too interested in the meaning of herbs and plants during their interrogation of Amy.
I had a difficult time keeping up with who was saying what because the format of the book either wasn’t done correctly or the book downloaded incorrectly. I will assume it was the latter.
It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.

Two weeks before their wedding Amy comes home from work and her fiancé Matt, never comes home. Stricken with emotion Amy calls the police. It seems like their idyllic relationship is not as it seems when another woman comes forward to say her partner, Matt, is also missing.
This was a twisty tale that had me thinking who could be involved from Amy’s social circle.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this. It got deep into your psyche and you wondered if justice would prevail. Strong characters with twists and turns kept you intrigued throughout.

This book was a fun read! I figured out the twist about half way but I still enjoyed reading the twists and turns and watching the characters figure it out themselves. Overall, a light, fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the preview of this book. It was a really great read . Amy is due to get married but two weeks before their big day her fiancee goes AWOL. From then Amy's life takes a dramatic turn; & the book will take you on many twists & turns. It was really good & was hard to work out who to trust. I look forward to more from this author

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

When Amy's fiance goes missing two weeks before their wedding, her life is thrown into chaos. Little does she know that Matt's disappearance would upend her life.

A story of betrayals, lies, and a haunted past make up this novel. It has shades of Gone Girl in it, but it's very much its own story. It's hard to know who to trust in this novel, but the characters are well written and the narrative moves smoothly through all the twists and turns without ever becoming so wild that it's unbelievable.

Enjoyed this one. Started off with everything being perfect 2 weeks before a wedding and before you know it, there’s a missing partner and it all starts to go horribly wrong! Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. And enough in the story to make you suspect anyone. Really good read. Worth adding to the to read pile. Thank you for letting me review this book.

I’d seen so much talk about The Vow on Twitter, so I decided I definitely needed to check it out for myself – as soon as I hear that there’s a new thriller, I’m all over it. And this did not disappoint. The novel jumps between different perspectives – Amy, Fiona (who both claim they are in a serious relationship with Matt, who is missing), Jess (Amy’s daughter), and a mystery narration. Each perspective offers a unique insight into the plot. The best way I can describe it is as different puzzle pieces which eventually all slot together.

The most gripping, and at times frustrating, part of the book, is how there are no hints given as to who is innocent and who is guilty. I kept changing my mind, and it wasn’t until the last few chapters that everything is revealed. I really enjoyed that element of being kept in the dark, it made me feel a lot more involved with the story and characters.

Speaking of characters, they were really well presented and described. Especially Matt – he was really easy to hate, especially when we learn more about his gaslighting and almost psychotic tendencies.

At times, the tense used/the flashbacks included in chapters were slightly confusing, so I think my only criticism is that it could have been made a bit clearer as to when characters were reflecting on the past or speaking about the present.

Overall, I think this is a really strong thriller novel and it had me gripped throughout, I think I read it in about 2 days! Although I wouldn’t say that it’s the best advocate for marriage…

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me with an early copy in exchange for a review!

Debbie Howells certainly knows how to create a suspenseful tale. Amy finds herself at the centre of a missing-person’s case when her fiancée disappears. Is she responsible? Or is the “other woman” in Matt’s life to blame? An enjoyable thriller with many twists and turns!

Tense chilling from opening scenes.The best type of thriller it kept me guessing from beginning to end.An author to follow a book I highly recommend.#thevow#netgalkey