This is the first Lesley Kara book that I have read but it certainly won't be the last.
I've already got my eye on a few of her previous books to read next.
I really liked the dual timelines and everything was so well written.
There were some great twists and I loved how real the characters felt. There were layers to each of them, which can't always be said for books in this kind of genre.
Because of how intrigued and entertained I was, I felt the urge to keep reading, which is always a sign of a great book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lizzie has no memory of the accident in which her best friend Alice died as a teenager. And it was an accident. Wasn't it Alice's friends and relatives suspect Lizzie was to blame, but Lizzie knows that can't be true. She would never have hurt Alice. Twelve years on, unpacking boxes in the new home she shares with her fiancé, Lizzie is finally beginning to feel like she can move on with her life. But someone has other ideas . . .

Having read some of this authors previous book, I knew I was set for a good read. But I did not expect it to be that good of a read! I started reading this Sunday morning and picked it up straight after lunch and read in one sitting. I was immersed into the story and was eagerly reading to find out what had happened! I even messaged the author at one point!

The author threw a few twists and turns in, one was completely unexpected and one, I guessed.

I loved the way the book came together. I felt so sympathetic towards Lizzie with her illness and the way she just wanted to make a life for herself.

One of the worst things about being a reader, is ending the book and being dissatisfied. Unless I am 100% aware there is to be a sequel, I hate feeling dissatisfied at the end of the book. This book left a little bit of mystery at the end, but enough to be satisfied.

What a great book... and I’m now in a book hangover!

Having previously read Lesley Kara's other two books ( ‘The Rumour’ and the follow up of ‘who did you tell?’) I was super excited to be granted an ARC of The Dare by /Netgalley (Thank you!) in exchange for my honest review. I loved Karas previous works and (spoiler alert) this one didn't disappoint!

It is twisty dark and totally addictive fitting nicely into the modern psychological thriller genre with the story unfolding between "past" (12 years ago) and "present" (Premise - 12 years ago Alice’s best friend Lizzie was killed while they were out in a walk. Alice remembers nothing and is blamed by her school friends and Lizzie’s family. 12 years later and she is finally happy and moving on with her life. But the past is never far away.)

I thought the characters were good, well thought out and relatable and the book itself unfolds with a decent amount of shock and surprise to keep you turning the pages and I was very satisfied with the ending.

A very good read in what is a saturated genre and one I would definitely recommend,

Alice and Lizzie are childhood friends. In an unfortunate accident, Alice dies, and Lizzie was with her during the accident. However, she cannot remember anything because of her epilepsy seizure.

Twelve years later, Lizzie is engaged to Dr Ross Murray, and they have recently bought a house together. But due to her epilepsy, she could not pursue higher education or a career. With the move and the engagement, she feels she more control over her seizure and decides to study.

Her parents drop off her things at her new house, and she goes through them, which brings her a lot of childhood memories and Alice. The moment she remembers Alice, she goes numb. Did she have a blackout, or there is something sinister about the whole accident?

Lizzie Molyneux has to fight every day with herself. Ross takes care of her, and she tries every day so that seizures don’t take control over her life. Ross is loving and dedicated to Lizzie. They have love and mutual respect.

The story is in the past and present format. In the past, the narration is before and after the accident. It is heartbreaking to read the narrative with all the accusations that flew around Lizzie. From the first page, there is a mystery and a sense of impending trepidation. The pace of the story is good and keeps the reader engaged from the beginning.

Every page brings out a new twist and turn. The book creates an atmosphere and tension that urges the reader to keep flipping the pages to know what happened. The pace of the book is apt, and it does not slow down even for a moment.

The author also handled the topic of epilepsy with such sensitivity and grace.

The Dare is a thriller revolving around retribution, guilt, and friendship.

Lesley Kara’s stories will intrigue you, and you cannot help but keep reading. If you haven’t read her book yet, you should go ahead order her books right away.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I really enjoy Kara's books and the two I have read prior to this I awarded 5 stars each. With this one I can't make up my mind between 4 and 5, so maybe the genuine star rating from me should be 4.5?
It is thrilling enough and so very (deliciously) readable that I actually didn't want to interrupt the flow and so I read it quickly in a matter of hours.
As usual the characters are superbly drawn. In this offering we have Ross, a GP, his fiancè Lizzie and nurse practitioner Catherine Dawson, the elder sister of Alice, Lizzie's best friend. Except at just 13 Alice died in a tragic accident, an accident that has followed Lizzie around forevermore, haunting her and taunting her and halting her life in its tracks.
The novel is tense and I couldn't quite guess who the unknown narrator was in the interludes in italics, and the penny didn't drop until at least three quarters of the way in when it is made blatantly obvious. There is the usual now and then alternating narrative which fills the gaps between the past and present to add a more sinister note to characters' motivations.
The novel did not end how I thought it would but it was in keeping with the psychological drama of developing friendships, two romantic relationships and a whole heap of secrets and deception, not to mention grief and revenge. I liked the way the reality of one fateful day was eventually revealed to provide the all consuming elusive answer and I definitely think The Dare will be well received by Lesley Kara fans. The pace is its crowning glory because if you don't want to break away from reading, not even to drink a cup of tea, then it has to be good, right?!
Thank you to Lesley Kara, her publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review her latest book. Not hard work for one moment!
P.S. Any book which refers to Sittingbourne, Kent, where I grew up has to be rated highly as it isn't often such a place crops up in fiction! Thank you for the memories that one place name evoked!

The Dare by Lesley Kara
This book is told over two time periods 2007 and 2019. What happens in 2007 devastates Lizzie Molyneux and has a shattering effect upon the rest of her life. Lizzie suffers from epilepsy and the periods where she is unable to remember what has happened blight her life. When she is 13 she is with Alice, her best friend, when a terrible accident occurs – Alice is hit by a train. Lizzie is unable to remember exactly what happened but is troubled by terrible nightmares.
Twelve years later everything seems to be going well for Lizzie. She is in a loving relationship with Ross, a GP, but memories from her past keep bubbling to the surface. This is a gripping story you read on to discover what actually happened on that fateful day and also what will happen to Lizzie now. There are some interesting twists and turns although I must admit to anticipating one twist early on. There is a tense and exciting ending to this gripping psychological thriller. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the genre.
Many thanks to the author, the publishers, Penguin Random House/Transworld , and Net Galley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

Read in one sitting. The dual timeline was well written, and sounded like a child and an adult, rather than childhood told in an adult voice. The twist had me gasping! I felt the end was a little rushed, but otherwise a great story!

A very readable, twisty tale, where nothing is as it first seems.
A brilliantly written storyline. Well thought out, with many unexpected moments and secrets slowly revealed, leading to a dramatic conclusion.
The characters are built with many layers, which slowly unfold throughout. They are all cleverly linked, in varying ways, adding depth to the plot.
Overall, an easy, enjoyable read that was difficult to put down.

Another great read from Lesley Kara. I enjoyed the rumour but this was even better. I literally could not put it down.

It is quite a slow burn...and alot of scene setting but it works really well and the twists and turn were surprising and intriguing.

There is not much I can say as the way the story unravels is a huge part of the experience and I wouldn't want to risk spoiling it for anyone...but it is a brilliant, heart stopping read, with interesting characters and high emotions.

Definitely highly recommended.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lesley Kara is back with her new psychological thriller, The Dare. Having read and loved her previous books, The Rumour and Who Did You Tell? the author had set the bar high and had a lot to live up to... succeeding in style with this fabulous tale of secrets, lies, betrayal and manipulation.

Lizzie and Alice head off for a walk in the countryside, a route they often take, complete with a field containing a scarecrow, a kissing gate, a little stream with the footbridge, the six stiles and the railway track. But on this particular day, only Lizzie makes it back home as Alice dies in a tragic accident. Moving on 12 years and Lizzie is happy with her life now, in a relationship with Ross, a GP, and considering going to University. She and Ross are engaged and have moved into a house together, but an unwelcome face turns up at their housewarming party...

In this suspenseful mystery novel, Lesley Kara keeps her cards close to her chest. Wonderfully intense and fascinating from the start, I continue to be delighted by the author’s writing, and just like her other novels, The Dare is a page-turner, as it highlights the psychological aspects of a terrible occurrence that the lead character is desperately trying to move on from.

Told using varying timescales and from different perspectives, but largely Lizzie's, I was able to glean enlightenment into this character’s life, including her anxiety, fears, difficulties in her past, uphill battles, and her epilepsy-related problems. Lesley Kara’s plotting was astute - she keeps the reader locked into the story right the way through this novel made easier by the short and succinct chapter format. The characterisation was very assured, especially in Lizzie's case but also in the supporting cast. I found this a nervous read, the tension at times palpable, but always with a strong undercurrent of anticipation, along with the unexpected. Although I had some ideas about how it might end I still found the finale shocking and fabulous!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bantam Press via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I loved this book it’s dark and twisted and a really creepy tale of a poor woman who during an epileptic fit looses her best friend. She has punished herself over the years and when she has a chance meeting with the friends sister years later she struggles to trust that the girl who tormented her childhood now wants to be her friend. As she discovers she is pregnant her fears and concerns about her illness start to intensify and she questions everything. Who can she trust.

Wow. What a book. I’ve previously read The Rumour which is written by Lesley, and I loved that, so as soon as I saw this on netgalley I requested it and I was not disappointed!!

I was completely hooked throughout. I loved Lizzie, from the beginning I just felt for her and as the story unravels I do even more. She’s such a strong woman, and there’s so many issues covered but so brilliantly written. Her friendship with Alice, is so special.

I did have a few suspicions and thoughts throughout but NOTHING would’ve made me guess the twists that were coming. And if anyone guesses them all, you deserve a medal!! They threw me. I was in shock, and overwhelmed. I don’t want to talk too much about what happens as I feel like I can’t without giving things away, BUT nothing is ever as it seems...

The ending was perfect, it was literally just how the book needed to end. It didn’t leave any remaining questions and for me, it ended how it should. I’m definitely having a book hangover after reading this!

Having previously enjoyed Who Did You Tell? I couldn't wait to get stuck into Lesley Kara's latest novel The Dare as the blurb alone sounded intriguing. Alice and Lizzie were best friends until the day of the tragic accident that saw Alice killed and left Lizzie traumatised especially when her innocence is questioned.

The Dare is told through a dual timeline, alternating between Then and Now. The past sections are set in 2007 when Lizzie and Alice were 13 and gives us an insight into their friendship and how everything that happened on that fateful day and the days and months afterwards have deeply affected Lizzie. Fast forward 12 years and Lizzie is now in her mid-twenties and appears to have got her life back on track as she's now engaged and living with her fiance Ross in London. Although scratch beneath the surface and you'll see that things are not quite as they seem as she is in fact living a very solitary and isolated lifestyle despite living in the bustling city of London. She doesn't appear to have any real friends in her life and the only other people initially in her life seem to be her parents who moved to the seaside town of Dovercourt which is a place I am very familiar with as used to spend my childhood summer holidays there staying with my great aunt in her seafront B&B.

I really didn't know what to make of Lizzie at first, I could totally emphasise with the emotional trauma that she would have had to come to terms with although I was also frustrated with her at the same time as it seemed like that despite seeing a therapist, she never really dealt with her feelings and emotions. Instead everything was shut away and hidden but as we all know, secrets can only stay hidden for so long before they come to the surface and you have to deal with everything out in the open again.

It's only when Lizzie makes a few discoveries and someone from her past makes an unexpected reappearance that you realise that she is a lot stronger than you think. She finally starts to question everything she thought she knew even when you think she's welcomed them into her life with open arms. At the same time I was also intrigued as to why that certain person was looking for revenge now, have they really been holding on to the grudge that long especially as they were all children at the time of the accident.

Although I initially found the first two-thirds of the book a little slow going, the pace certainly ramped up towards the end and I found myself constantly wondering just what was going to be revealed next! The Dare is ultimately a tale of secrets, lies and betrayal and well worth a read. Now I just need to find a few spare hours to go back and read her debut novel The Rumour that I bought when it was first published but I still haven't read.

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed The Rumour, I was very interested to read this title. The plot unfolds slowly, told from Lizzie's point of view - the present and the past with small sections from another point of view drip fed into the story.
Lizzie has met the love of her life and is happy, putting behind her an unhappy childhood and the death of her best friend - was it her fault? She doesn't know for sure, but others think so.
As things move on Lizzie realises her parents have kept secrets from her all her life and continue to do so. This is what puts Lizzie at risk.
I worked out one of the lesser reveals but there were still plenty of surprises and the pace picked up quite suddenly.
Three and a half stars for me!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Lesley Kara/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book started off slowly but once the story got going................WOW! It definitely fits the psychological thriller description. Highly recommended

Full of suspense twisted and gripping from the start it’s a corker! I gobbled this one up in a few hours and don’t out it down until I’d finished, thought it was fantastic? Love Lesley’s work anyway and so couldn’t wait to get into this one, gutted when it was over and hoping she’s got another one coming soon!!!!

When teenage friends Lizzie and Alice decide to head off for a walk in the countryside, they are blissfully unaware that this will be their final day together – and that only Lizzie will come back alive.

Lizzie has no memory of what happened in the moments before Alice died, she only knows that it must have been a tragic accident. But as she tries to cope with her grief, she is shocked to find herself alienated from Alice’s friends and relatives. They are convinced she somehow had a part to play in her friend’s death.

Twelve years later, unpacking boxes in the new home she shares with her fiancé, Lizzie is horrified to find traumatic memories and paranoia suddenly surfacing. Is the trauma of the accident finally catching up with her, or could someone be trying to threaten her new-found happiness?

This was such a twisted psychological thriller! The premise is intriguing but the book itself is even better.

Right from the first page I was hooked till the end. The plot is very well written and narrated in such a way that it alternates very smoothly between the past and the present, slowly creating a suspenseful environment.
There are so many secrets, lies and betrayals involved that it’s difficult to trust anyone. It makes you wonder which version is the truth and increases your interest in the plot.

The end was another shocking twist but it was also the most satisfying conclusion that I could ask for.

Overall, an excellent read!

Thank You NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

The Dare by Lesley Kara is the third book I have read from this author and I’ve reached the conclusion that her writing just isn’t for me. The story was solidly written, but I felt bored for about three quarters of the book and struggled to remain focused.

Lizzie is an epileptic. Her best friend Alice died while they were together when she was thirteen. 12 years later revenge for her unknown part in the death has come calling. Who can she trust? Who will believe her? Told then and now the story weaves together in a tale of tragedy, guilt and misunderstanding.

This was an average three star read for me.

The Dare by Lesley Kara is filled with revenge, betrayal, heartbreak and an abundance of secrets that will keep you hooked right until the very end. I found this book to be a slow burn but during the last half of the book the pace picked up as all of the twists, turns and secrets started to reveal themselves.

I found the storyline to be interesting and I liked most of the characters (I never trusted you know who from when they first appeared). I felt like the dare element was embedded deep within the story and was revealed when it was necessary to explain parts of the storyline.

I thought that the author did a great job when writing about Lizzie’s epilepsy. She managed to keep it respectful and interesting. I cannot get over how the story ended especially in regards to what really happened to Alice. I thought that it was a great way to end the book.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

A tense. gripping thriller from an author I've not read before. At first, I wasn’t sure how this story was going to pan out but in the second part of the book it suddenly became clear and how well written it was too. Recommended