Thank you Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for one of the best reads this year so far.

I've read some of Louise's other books and just knew this was going to be brilliant.

I liked the split timeline it was done really well and there is so much misdirection you really don't see the twist coming - and it's a good one.

The storyline and characters were realistic and not all are nice but you aren't going to get any spoilers form me.

I understand this is going to be made into a TV series, so do read the book first - they are always better!

5 out of 5 from me

I recently read 'The Heights' by Louise Candlish which I absolutely loved so I was looking forward to reading her newest release. 'The Only Suspect' is such an intriguing premise and I enjoyed my time reading the book.

Alex and Beth are a regular couple living peacefully in the suburbs... until the creation of a new nature trial nearby causes Alex to panic - but why? The story follows Alex in the present day and the story of someone called Rick back in the 90s as we try to figure out what's going on, and how all of these characters are connected.

It was a really tense and interesting story which I would recommend. I did feel that it didn't need to be anywhere near as long, it was a very slow burn, and some elements were a bit too convenient. Apart from that though, it was a really well-crafted and clever story, and I look forward to reading more from Louise Candlish.

"The Only Suspect" by Louise Candlish is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. The story follows the lives of a group of people whose paths cross in unexpected ways when a murder occurs in their neighborhood.

The plot is full of twists and turns, with a cast of complex and intriguing characters who each have their own secrets and motivations. The writing is tight and suspenseful, with just enough clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

One of the strengths of this book is its portrayal of the aftermath of a murder on a close-knit community. The characters are forced to confront their own prejudices and biases, and the tension and mistrust that emerge in the wake of the crime are palpable.

Candlish's prose is both atmospheric and immersive, with vivid descriptions of the London setting that add depth and realism to the story. The pacing is just right, with enough action and tension to keep the reader engaged, but also enough quiet moments to allow the characters to develop.

Overall, "The Only Suspect" is a well-crafted and thrilling read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction. The writing is excellent, the characters are complex and intriguing, and the plot is full of unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommended.

A superb chronicler of contemporary Londoners, in this novel Louise Candlish crafts outwardly calm but inwardly conflicted civil servant Alex, who lives an uneventful life with his wife Beth in the fictional South London suburb of Silver Vale. A community activist, Beth takes on a leading role in a local nature project, and also moves a pregnant friend into their home. Her constant, often domineering presence and the success that the nature project enjoys start to threaten Alex’s comfortable life as secrets from his bachelor days twenty years previously start to emerge. As characters from Alex’s past, such as the louche Rollo or the enigmatic Marina, are introduced, the thriller gathers pace and I am not sure what I enjoyed more: the turbo-charged thriller that unfolded, or the aspects of smug, contemporary London that are folded into the storyline. ‘The Only Suspect’ is, quite simply, Louise Candlish at the height of her admirable game! Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the free ARC that I was thrilled to receive and that enabled me to produce this honest and unbiased book review.

Louise Candlish is the master of tense twisty page turning domestic thrillers and this one is no exception

Loved this book! I couldn’t put it down! Told in the past and present tense and slowly throughout the book it unravels to tell what happened and keeps you guessing till the end!

If you've read any of Louise Candlish's other books you'll already know this is going to be a rip roaring ride!

The difference in this novel is the split timeline, used to great effect, and yet again she turns up the tension and adds in misdirection at every step so you don't see the twist coming...

The cast of characters are again realistic, in that they're not all likeable and all have more than one side to them. Don't want to give any more spoilers than that.

This is being made into a TV series soon, so read the book before that comes out!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early review copy of this thrilling read. This was my first book by Louise Candlish and I really enjoyed it. I loved the way the story was told in dual timelines and it kept me intrigued with the twists throughout I would recommend this one and give it 4 stars.

A brilliant thriller that I just couldn’t put down! I was kept guessing all the way through and loved how the twists were revealed.

Louise Candlish does it again with her latest thriller, telling the story of couple whose life is upended when the police find a body not far from their house. An amazing and scary novel!

Twists, Turns & Dual Timelines!? YES PLEASE! All the makings for a nail biting, twist filled mystery! Loved every page!
-
Thank you to the publisher for the arc!

Wow what a belter of a book.
Alex is married to Beth and although I’d like to say happily I think they are just plodding along in life and we get the impression he has just settled for Beth.

When he hears about a new nature trail being built near their house he becomes anxious and obsessed with it, apparently it’s near where a woman’s body was found years before.

The story then goes back to the situation surrounding the murder and the lead up to it, the timeline goes back and forth as both stories unfold which leads to a shocking climax.

I was not expecting the story to turn out the way it did. I was racing through it with my expectations of what had gone on firmly decided in my mind and then BAM the rug was pulled firmly from beneath my feet and I just love it when that happens. The message I take from this book is that guilt will always find you and there is ultimately no escape.

Shocking, dramatic and cleverly constructed with twists you definitely won’t see coming. This new masterpiece by Louise Candlish will have your heart pounding out of your chest.

4.5 stars out of 5

Great twisty psychological thriller. I took a while to get the timeline and story straight in my mind but found it compelling and hard to put down. I wasn’t sure who I was rooting for but that made it more interesting and I couldn’t wait to see how it all panned out. Satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thanks netgallery for the early review Copy.

Once again its been a fantastic read from start to finish. The twist I never seen coming makes u want more more and for the book never to end.

Louise is an auto-buy author for me, and this is possibly my favourite book of hers yet. The plot kept me reading on and managed to leave me speechless! Five stars.

I really enjoyed this book. Alex lives with his wife Beth in the pretty suburb of Silver Vale. He's just a normal guy, but when he hears that some of the local land is being dug up to build a nature trail he is petrified. Why? The other part of the story is set in 1995, where Rick meets and falls in love with Marina. It is only after a while that Marina confides in him that she is in an abusive marriage. They start to plan how she can get away. How are these 2 plots linked? I found this to be a real page turner which kept me guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Apologises but unfortunately I’m going to have to review this book at a later day due to unforeseen family circumstances. Once I have read The Only Suspect I will post to my Instagram page

https://www.instagram.com/thebookreviewcafe

Told in dual timelines, Rick in 1995 and Alex in the present. Rick meets a woman named Mariana and falls head ber heels for her and would do anything to protect her. Alex is a very private man hates social media and likes to keep out of the spotlight and when a new nature trail is being developed near his house he seems strangely worried about it.

A great pshcolgical thriller, loved both the timelines and they really drawed me in. I did suspect a couple of the twits however it didn't take anything away from my reading experience as the writing was so good and unfolded really well at an excellent pace.

Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.

This book is enjoyable and touches upon the ever so common concepts of love, jealosy and obession. the character were well fleshed out and the book was an easy read. gripping and tense, definately 4 stars.

This one had alot to it. About 3/4 in I was a tad confused but the twist was too good to let it get in the way! So instead of getting frustrated I back tracked and re-read the chapter.
It alternates between the past circa 1995 and present day. Rick is working in the same building as Marina and they soon start to date..only Marina is married. In the current timeline Alex is married to Beth living in a lovely area that's having work done on an old nature trail meaning upheaval and construction and memories of something very bad that happened there years ago.
Both stories are related but you don't know how initially...and even when you do...you don't! That's the twist. I won't say more but if you like a thriller than has plenty of twists,murder,infidelity,mystery,hidden identities and gets the brain working then this is for you. With thanks to NetGalley and @simon&schuster for an arc to read and review.
BOOKWORMS RATING: 📒 📒 📒 📒