Louise Jensen is one of my favourite thriller writers, and I usually devour her books. Reading All For You, I found it a little slower to really grab me than her other books, in part one at least, although I confess I am not quite able to put my finger on why this was.

Told from the perspectives of Lucy, Aiden and Connor, All For You gives you the opportunity to really get under the skin of each character, to the extent that Lucy’s emotions and thought processes felt so real that at times I had to stop and remind myself that I was reading fiction and this wasn’t about the author’s own family.

Although part one is something of a slow burn, it is full of tension and the sense that something big is coming. That said, nothing prepared me for the start of part two which was so shocking that I was glad to be reading in daylight and not at night – it was most definitely the stuff of nightmares. The pace definitely picks up in the second half of the book, and the revelations start coming thick and fast.

As always with Louise’s books, I jumped from one theory to another to another. Some were right. Others couldn’t have been more wrong. I will leave you to see which conclusions you leap to and how accurate they are.

Imagine serving up a plate of spaghetti pasta. As you go to eat it, you twist the pasta around your fork, creating a larger and larger bundle. What started as a mass of individual strands becomes a cohesive bundle that you can eat. Well, bear this metaphor in mind as I think this describes the narrative of this amazing book perfectly!

The story began with what I thought was a rather thrilling yet straight-forward narrative. Counting down the days to Connor’s disappearance, readers meet the Walsh family, who are under considerable strain. With Connor suffering from guilt about an accident that happened a few months ago at the school residential, Lucy trying to hold the family together, it’s a recipe for secrets and suspicions. Lucy is stretched to the wire, caring for her youngest son, Kieron, who has a life-threatening illness. At the same time, she is incredibly conscious of Connor as he struggles to return to school after the accident. Add in the belief that they, or at least, Lucy, is being stalked by someone in a white car, Lucy does not feel she nor her family are safe. And if that wasn’t enough, it appears that husband, Aiden, is also harbouring a few secrets himself.

So, I return to the spaghetti metaphor once more: each strand of narrative develops, growing longer, simultaneously revealing that there is more to each part than initially seen. However, as the story progresses, I could not help but be surprised by further revelations. Jensen keeps the reader guessing throughout, as the plot snowballs into ‘forkfuls’ of connections and truths. I was awestruck as I went further into the book and found I could not put it down, anticipating the next set of revelations would remain unpredictable and thrilling.

There are a lot of chapters in this book and I like how it reflects the intensity of the drama taking place. Switching between different character perspectives was interesting, particularly when Jensen immediately carries on the action in the following chapter. It made the plot flow and it felt pacey, adding to the fact that I was intrigued by how the story would develop.

As well as being a thrilling, surprising read, there was a lot of emotion too. The illness that Kieron suffers with has been narrated in a sensitive way and I think the writer perfectly presents the anguish felt by helpless parents that can do little to ease a child’s pain. In addition, the emotions that Connor experiences were akin to PTSD and I felt so sorry by how lonely and isolated he feels from the accident. As more information is revealed about that fateful night, and Connor and his friends’ involvement, it is evident that Connor needs more than just supportive parents to overcome his feelings. Indeed, the closing truths revealed about Connor made me want to give him a big hug to console him, because he has so much weight on his shoulders.

I was really surprised by this book in the end. Not just by the unexpected plot twists, but the fact that key information was revealed ahead of the closing chapters. Anticipating that the ending would be prolonged, Jensen instead maintains the adrenaline rush that was established by the entire story. It’s my first read by this author and an unforgettable one at that. A great way to start the new year!

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I initially found All For You difficult to get in to, went away and read a few other books and tried again. I soon found myself completely engrossed! A thriller filled with twists and turns, All For You is very cleverly written. I thought the character of Connor was written so well and the relationships amongst the characters were detailed perfectly. Highly recommend this book!

The Walsh family are a family with secrets. Aidan, the father, is seeing a woman on the sly, Lucy has resigned from a job that she loved, Keiron aged 13 is suffering from chronic liver disease and Connor aged 17 is scared and feels guilty. They all suffer inwardly while living under the same roof.
Lucy misses her job as an orthopaedic surgeon but knows that she had no other choice but to resign after what happened. She can now devote herself to Keiron and trying to get him the best treatment. Aidan is being pushed into doing a dangerous activity and Connor is conflicted as, although he loves Keiron, he does feel left out by his parent’s focus on his younger brother.
He is also terrified that he may become one of ‘The Taken’ as the local press have called them. Both Ryan and Tyler, his best mates from school have just vanished with no clue as to what may have happened to them. Nothing has been the same since the school’s residential outward bound course and Connor is scared, constantly looking over his shoulder and jumping at shadows.
We meet Lucy as she narrates in the first person at the start of the book. Connor isn’t picking up his phone and she races back home. Roadworks, traffic lights, traffic all conspire to try and delay her. But as she reaches home at last, she sees an open front door, a broken vase and blood on the walls and no sign of Connor. Where is he and who has him? But for weeks she has had the uncomfortable sense of being watched. She’s found footprints in the back garden, clothing has gone missing from the clothesline and a bunch of lilies have been sent to the house by an anonymous person. And then there’s the white car patiently waiting wherever she goes….
Connor, Ryan and Taylor know only too well what happened to Hailey, Connor’s girlfriend at the time, on the outward bound course and their part in it as well as Lucy’s. And so does someone else…
Meanwhile Ryan is being held prisoner by someone who wants something from him. Someone so desperate, so determined and driven by one of the strongest and most powerful - -the love for a child….will Aidan and Connor be in time to stop them or will they want to stop them?
This was a real rollercoaster of a book and there were enough red herrings to keep the entire British fishing fleet in business for years. To call the plot ‘twisty’ doesn’t really do it justice as the author led me down one alley and the turned it on its head. There is nothing more satisfying when reading a psychological thriller to have that ‘Aha!’ movement when a plot element falls into place and another part of the jigsaw is completed and ‘All For You’ had these moments in plenty!
The story is partly told in flashback as we learn the main characters backstory but, then like a rabbit out of a hat, the author suddenly turned the tables on me. Nothing was what it seemed. It had seemed a little slow but, as the plot became more gripping, the secrets and lies kept tumbling out of the closet and it became a very twisty psychological thriller. A good example of domestic noir as the book hurtles towards a tense and scary climax in which the family will implode. I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough as I wondered what would happen next and how I had missed clues.
This is the author’s 7th book and I have read one of her previous thrillers, ‘The Stolen Sisters’ and there were echoes of it in this one. It also had the same unpredictability which I enjoy in a thriller.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

All For You is my first Louise Jensen book and what a cracker it proved to be, a dark and compelling page turner that kept me guessing throughout.

Told through the eyes of three members of the Walsh family - Mum Lucy, Dad Aidan and elder son Connor - the book throws you straight in in the prologue as Lucy is rushing home from a hospital appointment with chronically ill younger son Kieron. When she can’t get hold of Connor, she is understandably concerned give the fact his two closest friends have gone missing in the last few days and her worst fears are confirmed. The book then goes back two weeks as we find out about the events leading up to Connor’s disappearance and realise this is a family under enormous strain, all harbouring secrets which could have devastating impacts on the whole family.

The book starts off relatively slowly as we get to know the characters and get hints about what those secrets might be. But it is in the second part of the book that things really take off - the twists start to come, and keep coming, and every time I thought I knew what was going on, I was proved wrong. There are some genuinely jaw-dropping moments in the book, and Jensen is to be applauded for creating a plot that so effectively keeps the reader on their toes as it heads to its dramatic conclusion.

What a truly intense read!
So many secrets,so many twists I was enthralled by this book.
All great characters I could feel for each and every one.
A gripping read!

With the notable exception of Formula 1, I'm not really into watching sport. (There are just too many books to read, for a start.) And I can't think of a way to use a grand prix as an analogy for my latest book. So I'm going to try and put myself in the place of an imaginary football fan. One who has a ticket to watch the team he supports play at their home ground in their final match of the season. As the referee's whistle blows for kick-off, our fictional fan realises for the first time that he's been holding his breath in anticipation.

Things get off to the best possible start, as his team score an opening goal in the first minute of the game. But thereafter, things seem to fade. The game becomes scrappy and whilst both teams show flashes of how well they can play, neither seem able to keep it together for long enough to create a chance to score another goal. Come the interval, our fan reminds himself to be happy with the scoreline but this almost threatens to be overshadowed by his feeling underwhelmed at his team's performance.

No-one knows who said what to whom during the interval. But in the second half, both teams play out of their skins as a flurry of more goals are scored. The next forty minutes pass by in a blur, and our fan feels like he's woken from a sort of trance when he realises that the score is three-all and that there are less than five minutes to go until the final whistle.

Suddenly, a player for the home side finds himself in possession of the ball. He is nowhere near the goal, yet somehow out of the corner of his eye sees a path through to it. Without stopping to think for even a second, he kicks the ball towards the goal as hard as he possibly can.

It's crazy that he could have scored from there. He could try another hundred times and not manage it. Either he'd shoot too high, or too wide, or another player would notice the gap instantly and rush to defend it. But somehow, none of these things happen. The stadium erupts as the ball lands in the back of the net, winning the match for the home team. Our fan feels a sense of privilege at having been there to see that match being played, and knows that he'll keep thinking about it for most of the summer.

That's a bit like how it felt to have read 'All For You' by Louise Jensen.

The prologue is a belter. Lucy Walsh has been at the hospital with her younger son Kieron, who has a chronic illness. Her elder son Connor is 17, and should have been fine at home on his own ... shouldn't he? But Lucy just knows something is wrong. The reader is with her for every single bit of the car journey, through the rain, the roadworks, as her need to get home as soon as possible becomes more urgent with each passing minute. And when she arrives ...

No spoilers here. But from there, we're transported back 13 days and learn that Connor, Lucy and her husband Aiden are each blaming themselves for something that happened in their recent pasts, and which they are trying to keep secret from their family. However, the real trouble here is that whilst the characters develop superbly, the plot does not. We are only really given repeated instances of the same foreshadowing and the result was that my patience, which admittedly is not my strongest virtue at the best of times, started to wear thin. It took me several days to read the first half of the book and whilst I never seriously contemplated giving up on it, there were times when I found myself thinking more about other books on my 'to read' pile than about the one I was actually reading.

But then. At about half distance comes a key event and from that point on ... bang. Bang. Bang. A whole host of twists and revelations come thick and fast, often to the extent that the reader has no time to get over one shock before another is delivered. The truth proves to be darker than I had ever imagined, almost to the point of horror. And yet the book also manages to be a family thriller, which means that it's impossible not to admire each character for doing what they did. It's insane, and yet somehow relatable.

I binge-read the rest of the book in a single evening and it was only an hour or so after finishing it that I realised there was one event which really didn't fit with the earlier chapters. I can't give any details without revealing spoilers. But it's this, together with the slow start, which leaves me in something of a dilemma when it comes to rating this book. Think of it not as a football match after all, but as a home-made pie with one of the most delicious fillings you have ever tasted. But there just isn't quite enough of it, and there is just that bit too much puff pastry to have to wade through before you really get a taste. Plus the chef has made the very strange decision to serve it with Brussels sprouts on the side.

None of this is anything like enough to spoil it. But the overall result is something that's so close to perfection and yet so far away.

My thanks to Louise Jensen, Netgalley and HQ for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 20th January. I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

WOW WOW WOW!!!

When I started this book, I had no idea that I was stepping onboard one of the best rollercoaster rides ever! Part one of the book takes you gradually up the track, the suspense begins to build as you know things are about to happen, but you don’t quite know what or when. Then you hit part two and whoosh! Off you go! With twists and turns galore, I even swore out loud at one point! Finally, part three brings you back down again, but your heart is still pounding, and you still feel a bit breathless from everything you’ve just read!

Lucy just wants the best for her children, Kieron is extremely poorly, and she will do whatever it takes to make him better. Connor is traumatised from something that happened a few months back, Lucy knows he isn’t telling the truth, but she will keep quiet to protect him. Lucy’s husband Aidan is a hardworking vet, but he too is harbouring a big secret.

Secrets and Lies always have a way of surfacing, which is exactly what happens in this book, but they surface so spectacularly and explosively!

I am a huge fan of Louise Jensen and I think this book is my new current favourite of hers. I love the way she teases her readers with information early on in the story, so we know something is going to happen, but we are left waiting in suspense for when it does, and it is never what you expect! I was genuinely shocked at the twists in this book, the story has been expertly plotted and extremely well written for it to all come together as it does. Louise is the queen of cliff-hanger chapters, which makes the book virtually impossible to put down!

The characters are all interesting people, which is incredibly important in a book. I felt suspicious of most of them, but one truly shocked me to the core!

Knowing Louise is such a kind, lovely lady, I honestly have no idea how she writes these dark twisty thrillers, but I am so glad that she does! This is an absolute must-read for 2022!

Thank you so much to Louise Jensen and HQ for my copy of this book and my place on the blog tour.

A wonderfully twisty tale! I always enjoy Louise Jensen's writing and this one is no exception. Will keep you engaged throughout until all the secrets are spilled!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

An incredibly gripping novel. I was hooked right from the start. The ending blew my mind, I did not see it coming. Highly recommend.

Everyone has something to hide in this family but the question is why? As the plot unfolds everyone's guilt surfaces. The plot thickens with every chapter building in tension. Thoroughly gripping.

All for you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you're suffering from a reading slump, pick yourself up a copy! It will without a doubt pull you out of it. A mother beyond
desperation, a father keeping a secret, a son living in guilt, another son who's very unwell.
This was book was beyond amazing. You will be guessing until the very end, I was blown away so many times by the twists. Was genius. Not to mention it was incredibly chilling!

Louise Jenson is one of my favourite authors and this book just showcases why. The writing style is engaging and grippiung, the characters are always well developed and jysterious and the storyline is gripping and unpredictable. I couldnt put it down, my heart was in my throat I loved it

Louise Jensen is one of my go to authors for psychological thrillers and with ‘All for You’ she has certainly not disappointed me. A solid 5 star read which kept me page turning and guessing all the way through.

The book is split into parts with short chapters. Each chapter is mainly from the point of view of Lucy (mum), Aidan (Dad) and Connor (Son). The way the chapters are written just reveals enough each time to make the reader want more, gradually starting to piece the plot together.

The story pulls you in immediately when Lucy returns home to find Connor missing and blood on the wall. Two of his best friends have already been taken so is this linked or just a coincidence? The race is on to find the boys. Could it be linked to a tragedy from the past?

There is a good back story which ties in well with the current dramas. Everything unfolds at a fast pace in the second half of the book until it reaches a dramatic and shocking conclusion. The secrets, lies and twists just keep on coming. Just how far will one person go when pushed?

O.M.G!!!

What an utterly brilliant read! Was completely hooked with this one, and you could have knocked me down with a feather with the ending, did not see that coming at all ....

Such a clever, inspired thriller, touching on moral etiquette with child illnesses and the sadness that runs along side.

Louise Jensen is a fantastic author, and I simply cannot wait for her next book, hopefully I won´t have to wait too long....

My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This was a sad, dark psychological thriller. All the characters seemed so real and their decisions heartbreaking at times. The eldest son in the end, was the one to convince them all to do the right thing. I was in bits by the finish but at least there was some light at the end of the tunnel.

This book is about the Walsh family, Lucy, Aiden, Connor and Kieron. I have read and loved all of Louise's books but found this one a little disappointing and depressing. Its still worth reading and looking forward to her next book.

This is the first thriller I’ve picked up since the beginning of December and oh was it a goodie! A cleverly written, gripping and page turning read. I found the pace really picked up in the second half of the book, and I’m talking constant twists and my face like 😲 at some points!

I enjoy thrillers that throw me off the scent, and I love wrongly guessing the culprit so I was thrilled to be misled. All of the characters are authentic and believable, and everyone is a suspect which makes the reading experience all the more tense.

The main focal point of this story is how far would you go to save your child? I assume for a lot of people, it would be pretty far. As the book progresses, Louise’s writing shows how an ordinary person put in an unordinary situation can change in to someone completely unrecognisable. I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for something you can’t put down!

With an OMG prologue Louise grabs the reader and holds them there from start to finish. When we meet the Walsh family who all have a something to hide.

I was hooked from start to finish, this book is full of suspense and will keep you guessing until the end that’s for sure. I love all of the authors books. She always make you feel like your part of the story with realistic characters. Taking you on a roller coaster journey with some emotional story telling. Louise is brilliant for making you feel the pain and frustration that the characters go through.

This is just one of the many things I love about her writing. And this story is full of them with subject matters that talk about child illnesses. Sensitivity is shown throughout. My heart went out to Lucy, being a mom myself this is simply heartbreaking. All of this is woven into a story full of suspense. Making me want to know more.

All For You is full of twists and turns and an utterly gripping unputdownable read. Another brilliant read by Louise…Which I highly recommend.

Thank you to HQ for a copy and for inviting me to take part on the blog tour

All for you by Louise Jenson.
MEET THE WALSH FAMILY
Lucy: Loving mother. Devoted wife. And falling to pieces.
Aidan: Dedicated father. Faithful husband. And in too deep.
Connor:Hardworking son. Loyal friend. But can never tell the truth.
Everyone in this family is hiding something, but one secret will turn out to be the deadliest of all.
This was a great read with some good characters. Lots of twists. Had me hooked. Did not see that coming. 5*.