I never repeat the blurb, but I cannot say enough how brilliant this was. Intriguing and compelling story of how one event can have repercussions for all concerned, even years later. Loved the story and will definitely be reading more from this author. Superb.

Your Word of Mine is the first book I've read by Lia Middleton. Other than a good synopsis I went in with no real expectations, more a hopefulness it would be a good thriller. My expectations were met and exceeded.

Initially I didn't know what to make of Ava/Belle other than feeling she had totally lost the plot and must be crazy. I never give spoilers with my reviews but will say this character must be a whole lot stronger than I ever could be! I found here quite likeable even though her actions (Especially earlier tin the book) seemed 'out there'. Other characters I had mixed feelings on, some good, some bad. But as with all books they are there to draw your own conclusions. I felt Lia (Author) made them feel very three-dimensional even if (Again) some of their actions were a little unbelievable.

The story is told from both past and present tenses, at times this could be a little confusing. Some chapters were short where many were a lot longer. As the book progressed (Especially after around the second half) the story came together more. With so many twists and turns, I liked trying to draw my own early conclusions and sometimes being right, but often wrong. Well written and one of those books like a car crash when you cannot look away. I breezed through this book wanting to know what would happen next,

A solid 4 star thriller, I did enjoy this one. At times it was a little uncomfortable to read, unsettling and stomach twisting. All good ingredients to a great thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC, as always this does not sway or change my feelings on a book. Highly recommend this one!!

Eighteen years ago she was Annabelle King, in the present day she is Ava Knight, a crown advocate (prosecutor) for the CPS. At the last minute she is asked to prosecute the case of 15-year-old Lily who is charged with a stabbing incident with the victim proving to be Michael Osborne, Ava’s enemy. This was a great book with enough tension, twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I was sorry when I finished this amazing story. This was a riveting read – the plot was original, the pace was ideal, the number of twists was just right and the ending was shocking. I would definitely recommended this for anyone who loves a really well-written thriller.

This is a twisty tale of deceit, lies, secrets and revenge and it was completely gripping and scarily very topical. I loved the writing style and thought the different points of view and timelines worked well keeping the story moving at a fast pace.
I flew through the book I just didn’t want to put it down and as the tension increased so did my page turning as I so much waned to know how it would all pan out.
I had thought that the book was just going to be a legal thriller but it’s a whole lot more than that and send a very powerful and positive message, hats off to Lia Middleton for taking on a disturbing subject and dealing with in an excellent way.
So great story, super writing and lots of tension what more could you want …I loved it !
My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin, Random House for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This has been on my shelf for a little while and I was pleased I pulled it out on this hot day and demolished it in one sitting.
For the most part it was absolutely nail biting, and the only reason it lost a star was the fast pace it changed between past present and the 3 main POV’s made it a bit harder to follow at times.
The plot - although not original as such, was told in such a way it felt original and new!
I really enjoyed it and it had all the things I love in a domestic thriller! Xxxxx

Absolutely brilliant! I loved this book from the word go and read it in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. On two occasions it actually took my breath away – at 50% and then 75%. What an incredible author and what an amazing story. This was a riveting read – the plot was unique, the pace was perfect, the number of twists was just right, the court scenes were authentic, and the ending was shocking. Heartily recommended for anyone who loves a believable (mostly!) and really well-written thriller. One of this year’s best. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel in return for an honest review.

Drew me in from the blurb and I was not disappointed.

Ava is now a lawyer and finds herself coming up against the one man she never wanted to see again.

This has some really difficult themes which Middleton deals with sensitively and with an aim of justice. I really liked Ava’s character and the insight we get in to her life throughout. She is a formidable main character.

Utterly unputdownable.

This book was all about secrets and lies from the past and present a page Turner that has you hooked from the start. Ava Knight is a prosecutor that plays by all the rules until a case falls into her hands and she is drawn back to her past . Can she find the truth so that another young life is not destroyed by the man that had raped her 20 years ago An excellent read

Lia has done it again! What a superb novel - very Anatomy of Scandal but potentially even better. Lia is fast becoming one of my favourite authors in this genre.

Lily Hawthorne has been accused of stabbing a man - Michael Osborne - and the evidence against her is overwhelming. Ava Knight, a prosecutor, is roped into covering this supposedly open-and-shut case for her colleague - only to discover that the “victim” is the man who raped her 15 years ago.
Can she get justice for Lily and revenge on Michael - without risking her career?
Having devoured and loved When They Find Her, Lia’s debut, I was very keen to get my hands on her second novel. It is just as brilliant - fast-paced, suspenseful, scarily believable. Surely destined to be one of this summer’s hits.
For fans of Sarah Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal and Louise Doughty’s Apple Tree Yard.

Fantastically gripping, thoughtful thriller with believable characters and a story that surprised me on so many occasions. I loved the courtroom elements, and that the story switched between timelines and also points of view. I always hesitate to say a book is twisty, because that seems like a bit of a gimmick, but this book was SO twisty but in a way that flowed with the story. Shocking, clever and unpredictable.

Ava Knight is called to court on the case of 15 year old Lily pleading guilty to GBH for stabbing her best friend’s father, Michael. Ava recognises Michael as he had assaulted her when she was 15 but he was acquitted. Can Ava help Lily and bring Michael down in the process.
This was a really clever thriller which really did keep me gripped. The writing was fluid and easy to keep track of exactly what was going on.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars!!!!
This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension - impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

A great book with enough tension, twists and turns to keep me racing to the end. I wasn’t going to sleep until I finished this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Comparisons with Anatomy of a Scandal are inevitable given some similarities in the basic set-up, but Your Word or Mine very much stands on its own merits as a powerhouse thriller and rollercoaster of a ride.

The characters are sympathetic and believable and they really draw you into the heart of this story. The courtroom drama is pitched at just the right level so it doesn’t focus too much on the process, while also giving a realistic sense of a system at work that doesn't always meet the needs of the victims it is supposedly supposed to be finding justice for.

.Lia Middleton proves herself once again as a mistress of the morally dubious thriller where otherwise good people make bad decisions from a place of fear or good intentions

Ava Knight is a brilliant prosecutor who plays by the rules but she has a secret,when she was a teenager she was raped by Michael Osborne but sadly the jury didn't believe her.
Now another teenager Lily is in court but this time she's on trail accused of stabbing Michael Osborne.
Ava knows there's more to the case but can she prove it and what lengths will she go to find the truth while keeping her secret hidden.
What a gripping hard hitting story told through two timelines and an ending leaving you shocked.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph Penguin Random House for the ARC.

YOUR WORD OR MINE by LIA MIDDLETON
BOOK - Published Date: 18 August 2022

This is my first book by this author and will be looking for more of her work. I loved and disliked many of the characters in this novel, none more than the protagonist, Ava Knight. Twists and turns on every page. I enjoyed the author's style of writing and vocabulary. I thought the storyline in some chapters a little far fetched but hey, we read to be entertained, don't we?

This story is about lies (lots of them), secrets past and present, betrayal, family and murder. Once I started this story, I had to find out how things ended.

I give a 4 star rating

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REPLY

Another masterful, suspense read with he said/she said theme. This had me hooked. I couldn’t put it down.
Our protagonist, a female barrister, is covering a friend’s case when she discovers she knows the man. He raped her decades ago but was never found guilty. In the present day case he’s been stabbed by his teenage daughter’s friend, but there is more than meets the eye.
An absolute page turner, with topical themes and razor sharp observations yet the writing never loses its grip over the story which is driven by two compelling characters. An absolute knockout.

I really loved the suspense in this book, my heart was pounding the whole time I read it! Sometimes I find that flashbacks and chapters that are written from different characters points of view can hold up the story a bit but this was so fast paced, it didn’t distract from the story at all. There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming at all and although I kept wishing that Ava would just do the sensible thing, it’s hard not to admire the courage of her character. All in all an excellent novel.

This originally felt so so similar to Anatomy of a Scandal, I wasn't sure it would offer anything new. But it did. Couple of twists (some I saw coming, some I didn't.)
Did find it a bit jumpy with timeline and point of view initially which felt unsettling but the second half of the book it came into its own and became quite powerful.