Brilliantly written thriller, couldn’t put it down.

Full of twists and turns and it really pulls at your emotions by also bringing in a bit of reality and making you think about what happens when people go missing in real life.

Both of You is a novel that is dark, chilling, claustrophobic and unnerving in equal measures. We join the story as an unknown woman wakes chained to a radiator in an airless, concrete floored room. Her anxiety and confusion set the tone for the subsequent encounters with her, but who is she and why is she there? What an opener, who is she? Within days we find not one but two local women have been reported missing bu their husbands.

The author introduces us to Leigh and her family, the reader very quickly learning that Leigh, second wife of Mark and step-mum to Seb and Oli was having a hard time of it at home, the boys who she had nurtured and loved for the past ten years since marrying their father after a whirlwind romance are growing away from her. Elder son Oli in particular had become withdrawn and quite mean in his comments - she was sad and the aching hole their withdrawal had created was palpable, her sadness peeled off the page. Her sadness was evident especially as she was clearly happy to send them off for a week visiting Mark’s family, happy for the time and space to just be. However, when the trio returned there was no sign of Leigh and my brain instantly went into overdrive, had she left them or was she the woman chained and confused, had she been abducted, if so why and by whom?

Mark was at a loss, his equilibrium clearly shattered without Leigh in the place she should be, dependable by his side when he and the boys returned home. He reported her missing, his pain and helplessness at odds with his mindset that she was just away working - not able to fully accept that she really could be missing. Within days we hear that a second person Kai Jannsen has also gone missing. The two women are polar opposites in character, style and wealth - there doesn’t appear to be anything to link the two other than when they disappeared. Everything feels a bit odd, not helped by the police officers attitude and demeanour - they were detached and remote, distant and didn’t seem to be taking their disappearances overly seriously.

I was hooked, I needed to mentally find them, turning the pages at a rate of knots to try and get some traction on the thoughts swimming through my mind. Clues hung tantalisingly out of reach, moving just that little bit further away as I grabbed for them. For every small clue I thought I’d un-covered I had dozens of questions - it was like trying to do a jigsaw that someone had hidden away half the pieces. I just couldn’t find the link or connection.

The story was expertly layered with multi-faceted characters that all had the potential to be at the heart of the women’s disappearance, I second guessed every word, and played back each scenario in my mind, second guessing and doubting everything both written and imagined. The pacing, measured and steady building until the clues started slotting into place. I found myself muttering and explaining out loud, exclaiming “why did I not see that” when I realised just how many clues were hiding in plain sight. They were so subtle and obvious when I realised but they didn’t even come close to hitting my radar.

This really was a book that was gripping to the very end, Adele Parks turns family life and dynamics on it’s head - I’m so happy and relieved to be living my quiet, suburban life but so was Leigh - wasn’t she? An intricately woven tale that is so far removed from every day life but so very very plausible, yet shocking and beyond belief. A totally compelling and addictive read.

A really good read. I enjoyed the story and was kept intrigued throughout. The characters were well-written and I would definitely recommend.

I always enjoy an Adele Parka book.
This is a great story, an easy read and set in March 2020 just as the pandemic starts.
Great twists and turns as well.

Two women from very different worlds go missing in the same week. Happily married step mum, Leigh Fletcher vanishes on a Monday morning, and then Kai Janssen, married to wealthy Dutch businessman, Daan disappears. DC Clements investigates.

Adele Parks writes so well that it wasn't long before I became completely enveloped in this compelling story. Both of the women's husbands, Mark and Daan were well portrayed as was DC Clements. The author did a brilliant job of forcing me to second guess everything and revise my suspicions and theories as I was frequently guided along alternative paths. Very dark in places and with a smart build-up, I was shocked by the twists and the ending. Very highly recommended and an extremely worthwhile mystery-thriller.

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

Adele Parks writes books that are easy to read and this is an underestimated skill. Both of You is an exciting, twisty thriller.

Leigh is Mark's second wife and stepmum to his two boys. Recently there has been tension between her and Oli, a surly sixteen year old. But their worlds turn upside down when Leigh goes missing.

At the same time, Daan reports his wife Kai missing. A glamorous, wealthy couple who appeared to have it all.

Investigating officer Clements interviews both men. And when they provide her with a photo of the missing women, there is a shock in store.

Meanwhile a woman is being held hostage, chained up in a concrete room with no idea who is holding her prisoner. Notes are passed underneath the door, and it is clear the abductor knows her imtimately.

Whilst an enjoyable read, I found it difficult to like or connect with any of the characters and thought the ending was a little abrupt and unsatisfying.

Although this was a good read it was not nearly as good as it could have been. Daan is a caricature, just how rich and gorgeous can you make someone? The red herrings were plentiful and obvious but they meant you could never be sure who the villain would turn out to be - which I suppose was the object. When the ending came it was very underwhelming, it felt like the last few chapters were missing (and as this was a preview copy I seriously considered this).

I felt all the characters, other than the two boys, were shallow and under explored so the whole impetus of the book was defined by the plot - and when this was resolved it was such a disappointment that it spoiled the whole book for me.

Certainly not my favourite from Adele Parks and I was relieved it was a fairly quick read. I thought too much time was spent on setting the scene so to speak.

Set in March 2020, Mark Fletcher and Daan Janssen both find their wives have become uncharacteristically missing. The story is basically a mystery/ kidnap one with a DC Clements believing the women are one and the same.

It was difficult not to give too much away of the plot as the lives of Leigh Fletcher and Kai Janssen are intertwined., but also vastly different. Ms Parks does a good job with this. I would have liked the husbands characters developed a little more but overall a great read.

I loved the typewriter aspect!

Thanks to Net Galley and HQ for the chance to read and review.

Leigh Fletcher: happily married step mum to two gorgeous boys goes missing on Monday. Her husband Mark says he knows nothing of her whereabouts. She simply went to work and just never came home. Their family is shattered. DC Clements knows that people disappear all the time – far too frequently. Most run away from things, some run towards, others are taken but find their way back. A sad few never return.

Original and absorbing. I was gripped from the outset. Quite dark in places but relevant to the story. Despite guessing the perpetrator, I was still shocked by the twists and the ending. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

A lovely story, and good easy read. Not a face paed book and didnt keep me on edge but i did like the sotry and the characters, loved the way it ended as well

Both of You - Adele Parks

I adore Adele Parks books and was super excited to get the chance to read and review this book. As with her other books once I started it I didn't want to put it down. The book does touch on the current pandemic a few times and I thought this worked really well with the story, which surprised me as I have read a few books recently where the pandemic has been mentioned and I've hated it (as I generally read for the escape). I think I suspected EVERYONE at one point or another, which for me was great because it kept the story so fresh. There were plenty of twists and turns and I would love to see it as a Netflix series! Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the e-arc.

I was uncertain about the book to start with – it took a little while to get the “Big Twist” but once that came, the book really took off!
The storyline is set in March 2020 at the very start of the COVID pandemic and this not only makes it very current but adds a new dimension to the storyline – places are starting to shut down, people are staying home more & interacting less. Working from home is becoming the norm – which could make things *very* tricky for somebody leading a double life …
I’m not sure that some of the characters were developed as much as they could have been, but it did make you question how well you really know your nearest & dearest, who could be capable of what & even who you could trust.
Overall an unusual storyline, with interesting characters and suspense that grows. There are enough clues to satisfy those who consider themselves amateur sleuths, some red herrings, and enough suspense for those who like thrillers. I didn’t like the ending, it felt rushed & unfinished – I prefer a book which has a proper conclusion, but others may feel differently & like the loose ends that you need to sort of figure out yourself or leave a little question mark over ..
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#BothofYou #NetGalley

A story full of twist and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat. None of the characters are particularly likeable - they are all flawed individuals - but each one is interesting. I can’t say a lot about the story as it would give away the plot, but if you like a bit of a mystery to solve, this is a good read.

I have read other books by this author and thought I would enjoy this more than I did.
I found it difficult to get into at first as it felt quite disjointed but about a third of the way in it began to gel and I enjoyed it more. The storyline is cleverly constructed and there are reveals and twists, the author knows their craft but there was just something missing for me, maybe because I didn't really identify with the characters. I did appreciate the references to the world events in March 2020.
Compared with the level of detail in the rest of the book the ending seemed quick and a little rushed and a couple of small things were said as though they had been mentioned earlier but if so I missed them.
Overall an original storyline and cleverly constructed but only an ok read for me, others may feel differently.

This is my unbiased and genuine review of an advanced review copy I received from NetGalley.

This is the first Adele Parks book that I have read, I have heard really good things about other books that she has written so I was excited to get my hands on this book.

I have to say that this is a thriller with an angle that was very unexpected and exceptionally intriguing but it is also the kind of book that you really don’t want to know too much about before you read it so this review is going to be a little short but sweet.

This is the first book I have read that involves the pandemic in the storyline, mostly because I have been avoiding books on the topic but actually I think it was really interesting as a backdrop and really helped to add an extra level of suspense to an already brilliantly tense story. I also really enjoyed that whilst this is a thriller and we are waiting to find out what has happened to Leigh and Kai, it is also an interesting look at family dynamics, we really get to explore what happens to the families in a time of trauma and uncertainty.

I was kept guessing for quite a while in this book, I had an inkling of how it was going to end but then something else would happen that made me question my predictions and that’s something I enjoyed, being thrown off the scent having those doubts. I did at points think that DC Clements could have been utilised more but actually having a few days to sit with the story I quite like that the focus wasn’t entirely on the police investigation and that there is an element of her having to catch up to the events, which also helped with the tension in the story.

The characters all have some secrets which of course always makes things more fascinating and kept me wondering about their motivations, they are the kind of characters that you want to keep reading about even when you feel very far removed from them. I feel like that will make more sense when you read the book.

Both of You is a highly enjoyable and surprising book and I am looking forward to reading some more of Adele Parks books.

This was an enjoyable read. I liked reading about Leigh and Kai’s lives before they were abducted and how they met their husbands. The plot twist about a quarter of the way through really had me gasp out loud and made it quite exciting!
I found this to be an easy quick read and was able to predict who the abductor was due to clues along the way. I liked the writing and the plot was interesting. A gripping thriller! I think fans of Lucy Foley’s The Guest List and The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks would enjoy this!

I have read and enjoyed Adele Parks before and this was no exception. Very clever twisty turning tale which kept me gripped to the end. Many thanks!

I love Adele Parks' wring style so i was looking forward to a weekend with this novel and she didn't disappoint.
Set at the very beginning of the pandemic i don't want to reveal too much of the plot as it's hard to without significant spoilers. You do have to suspend your disbelief at some of the coincidences and plot points but the plot itself is fast paced, engaging and entertaining.

What i appreciated about this was how i actively disliked all of the characters, it's rare to read a book like this, non of them had any real redeeming features, any redeeming feature was also a function of their own ego or self service.

Without wanting to give too much away i was slightly underwhelmed by the detailed motive of the perpetrator and felt the ending was a bit too 'neat' but overall a great read and well worth it. I also thought it would make a great TV series.

One of those books that you want to sit and read in one go ! I was hooked straight away and loved everything about this whodunnit. One criticism, it need to be longer, the whole time I was reading it I didn’t want the story to end and I do think the ending could have been a red herring and another culprit actually be the one to blame.