Clickbait was a book I thought I wouldn’t like at the beginning but was hooked very quickly and loved it!!
The book is based around a reality tv show “Living with the Lancasters”. Mum who wants fame, Dad the ex premier league football player and their three children Taylor, Locke and India. Think more the Osbournes mixed with the Stallones kind of tv. 2003 and it’s Ed’s fortieth birthday party arranged by Lynn. Bradley Wilcox is there as Taylor has the hots for him but after that night he has never been seen again. What happened to him? Twenty years later and his sister is still trying to find out the truth and someone suggests she should get in touch with Tom Isaac an investigator who has weekly podcasts on his YouTube channel. What follows is an investigation that reveals a lot more than originally thought.
This was a really absorbing read that I struggled to put down. I’m not a fan of reality shows or podcasts but this was a great read and the twists and turns and revelations were abundant and add in the dishonest characters and this made for a fab read. I liked how the book was told from multiple POV and over different timelines either through the characters or Toms YouTube channel or police interviews or evidence found. A book with a different outcome to what I was expecting.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Transeorkd Publishers for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

The case of a missing person, Bradley is reopened after 20 years when the spotlight shines on the celebrity family who last saw him alive.
Delve into the glamorous world of the Lancasters, a reality tv family - think the Osbornes meet the Kardashian’s
An old video emerges of one of their legendary parties and the family are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Tom Isaac, a true crime investigator and YouTuber is on the case and is determined to find out what really happened to Bradley.
Perfectly paced and an enjoyable story of celebrity, media, fame and reality tv.
Loved that the story was told in mixed media with podcast and YouTube videos - left you wanting more and worked so well with the plot and characters.
Thanks Lauren_C_North @bantambooksuk and @netgalley for the brilliant read

Anything about fame and entitlement catches my interest so this book immediately caught my attention. The Lancaster family were like a car crash; hideous but you cannot look away. Think the Kardashians, but on a whole other level and British. In fact I thought of the Kardashian's a lot throughout this book and it made me question everything I know about them (which I appreciate is unfair).

Every one of the family were awful in their own way. They were driven by greed, need for fame and selfishness. Even when I thought some of them were innocent, I didn't like them. I did like Tom's character. He was really calm and controlled; the perfect person to be making a docuseries. If you've ever listened to the podcast Somebody Knows Something, he reminded me of the host David Ridgen.

My favourite thing about this book was that it was made up entirely of YouTube episode transcripts, podcast episodes, interviews and news reports. There was no prose included and it made it a super quick read and kept me very engaged. It felt like listening to a podcast but with my eyes. I had a fun time and enjoyed following along with the plot and witnessing the story unfold.

A good read. Liked the style of story telling in documentary and interview snippets. Meant that you just wanted to keep reading just one more bit!!! Clickbait for me just highlights how callous, egocentric and narcissistic the pursuit of fame and notoriety can be. And probably how many people get away with literally murder given the cold determination to further oneself! Power, control and greed. A juicy storyline!

Wow, just when you think you know where the book is going it goes in a totally different direction.
Devoted sister is still trying to keep her brother's disapperance 20 years earlier.
The party he disappeared from his now a high profile celebrity family.
Enlisting the help from pod cast investigator twist and turns follow that will make your jaw drop right up till the last page.
Love or loathe the characters you will put faces on the characters in your own mind.

I have to admit that I am no fan of Reality TV. But I do admit that on the occasion this topic has popped up in a book, I have been completely riveted. Does that make me a fan by proxy ?
Anyway... the Reality TV in this book refers to "Living with the Lancasters" a show that ran for over a decade, thrusting the family, parents and three children, into the spotlight. Well, I say that, the father being a well known footballer, they were pretty much already there... but this took it all up a notch. As well as the TV show, they were all a bit wee known for their parties...
Anyway... there was this party, and after the party, one of the guests, teenager Bradley Wilcox, disappeared. The other guests and the family all swore blind that he left with a bunch of others in a taxi before midnight. The case was never closed, Bradley was never seen again.
But... and here's the catalyst, footage has recently been unearthed. Of that same party. Showing Bradley. Still at the party after midnight. It also appears that he is having an argument with someone...
Enter Tom Isaac, true crime investigator, and podcaster, to re-open the case with a vengeance. Determined to find out what happened to Bradley...
This was a cracking book. Like the author's previous book - The Ugly Truth - the story is delivered in many formats, podcast transcripts, social media, emails, all methods of successfully imparting information to the reader in a succinct manner.
I especially liked the overbearing mother who nudged (pushed) her children into what she wanted them to do rather than what they wanted. Of course that wouldn't damage a child at all! It was a cracking eye-opener to what I assume is the norm for some families in the spotlight and shows all the perils and pitfalls of being famous for just being famous!
But all that glamour and glitz was just gilding for what was also a cracking mystery to be solved. One which was tightly plotted and which held my attention well all the way through as I tried, and gave up , second guessing. It really took me places that I never saw coming but what were perfectly reasonable places to go to.
And the ending... well... apart from being perfect... was also quite profound...
With two absolute screaming winners under her belt, I am really now hanging to see what she serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I've read so many fantastic psychological thrillers recently, and this is another one that has a clever, original premise.
It is based around a hit reality show 'Living with the Lancasters'. On the night of Ed Lancaster's fortieth birthday, a young boy, Bradley, disappears. Several witnesses saw Bradley leaving the party in a taxi at 11.45pm. Twenty years later, an old video appears, showing Bradley was still at the party. True crime investigator Tom Isaac decides to take on the case. What really happened that night?
I loved the way this story was told through a range of mixed media. There are video excerpts, diary entries, social media entries and emails. These start to reveal that life in the Lanaster family wasn't quite how it seemed on camera. I sped through this book and read it in just over a day. It really shows the dark side to reality TV, and I loved the different unreliable and mainly unlikeable characters. I will definitely be reading The Ugly Truth soon, which is also on my tbr pile.

Clickbait steps into the world of true crime, exploring our fascination with celebrity culture in a twisty narrative that left me speechless.

Thrillers are always more interesting to me when told in unexpected ways. So far, I’ve enjoyed North’s work and Clickbait continues this winning streak with me. I adore a multi-media narrative and this was used to excellent effect here, focusing on how narratives can be twisted and manipulated. We see YouTube videos, episode excerpts and social media comments in a hybrid narrative that feels like you’re getting sucked into a true crime show. It has this incredibly meta sense to it - adding yet another layer of narrative manipulation. Everything in this story hinges on that narrative that the public decides to follow - from aesthetics to personalities and much more. North has crafted such a devious tale of deception and lies, spun in this gossamer thread of fame and glamour. It is particularly prevalent in the age of child social media stars, providing a timely look at fame and its ramifications.

This was a truly brilliant thriller. It is addictive reading, keeping you glued to its pages. North has sprinkled in twists that just create such an impact and totlly redirect the story from where you may have thought it was going. No spoilers will be shared here, but the ending is a complete jaw-dropper too. At the same time, this has a lot of meaningful things to say. In particular, there is a parallel that can be drawn here for the dehumanisation of people caught up in the public eye and how they are reduced to entertainment for the masses. We see this in the caricaturish celebrity figures, but it also applies to the true crime case involved. It is reduced to snappy headlines and expected plot beats in a structure we are familiar with - removing the emotion, the heart and the humanity of it all. North contradictingly explores this and its reversal - how these images can be distorted to hide the truth beneath a false image.

Clickbait is a book that takes hold of you and won’t let you escape its nefarious clutches until you finally arrive at the bitter truth.

'We're not famous anymore. We're notorious.'

This is the statement made from the Lancaster family who shot to fame in their famous reality TV show, 'Living with the Lancasters'. Suddenly their family reputation is at risk when an old home video of one of their legendary parties hits the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, mainly that it shows missing teenager Bradley Wilcox who hasn't been seen since that party twenty years ago. The family have protested their innocence but this video threatens the validity of their stories and true crime investigator and YouTuber Tom Isaac is on the case to find out the truth. When the cameras aren't rolling, how long will it take for someone to crack?...

After having loved 'The Ugly Truth' I have been very excited to read L C North's next title and wow, 'Clickbait' has not disappointed in any way! I am a huge fan of the story being told through mixed media, a mixture of emails, podcast scripts, video transcripts etc and was completely immersed in this from the very beginning. The writing style never seems disjointed, it reads just like any book, full clarity at all times as to who is speaking, which viewpoint etc and still allows the character connection - be warned, you will dislike Taylor from the offset!

I couldn't put this book down - and nor did I want to! It reads exactly like the reality TV series it describes, something you can easily binge it in one sitting! Like her first book it really makes you think about the impact the media and these 'real-life' TV shows have on society and just how important it is to realise not everything is necessarily always what you are told to believe.

After both of this author's books have been 5 star reads for me I can't wait for the next one, L C North has been added to my must-read list that's for sure!

"Be the smartest in the room. Be the one who knows everything. That's what gives you power. Above all, don't let anyone or anything stand in your way."

I was totally engrossed in Melanie Lange‘s disappearance in The Ugly Truth last year, it was one of my top reads of the year; so I was super excited when I saw that the author had another book being released!
Clickbait is another gripping thriller that cleverly combines suspense, intrigue, and the dark side of fame. Set in the world of reality TV, the story follows the Lancaster family, stars of the show "Living with the Lancasters," whose lives are upended when a video resurfaces, casting doubt on their involvement in the disappearance of teenager Bradley Wilcox.
In a similar vein to The Ugly Truth, Clickbait unfolds through a mix of interviews, podcasts, and social media posts (via true crime investigator Tom Isaac).

I found this to be another captivating read, highly recommended for those who enjoy suspenseful thrillers or are just intrigued by the world of reality television. Two books in and I have already designated this author to my auto-read list!!!

Well Mrs N should stand up and take a bow because this book is completely phenomenal. North is BRILLIANT and definitely one of the best of our time. Clickbait is a book which should be on everyone’s radar.

This is current and relevant to our time. The term “influencer” just screams attention nowadays. There’s also the increase in reality TV shows and I think to participate there has to be some level of aspiration to achieve fame.

North captures this perfectly. We have a Kardashian’s and Marple cross which results in a pretty magnificent read. I have devoured this book in just one sitting. I found myself torn between wanting to savour every last moment and wanting to race through. This is a truly brilliant read.

We have transcripts, interviews and a host of characters . As a reader, I have questioned all of the characters at one point or another. This is completely unpredictable. I feel like North has pulled the ground from under me. I am in complete shock.

North writes in a way that just pulls you in. I definitely became hooked very quickly. I loved delving into the glamorous world of the Lancaster family (I do love a bit of reality tv). Although, I didn’t particularly like Taylor from the very beginning.

I adored the different elements of this. From Bradley being missing to the complex dynamics of the family. Each different element has been intriguing and made me question what the links were. I have been left completely speechless. North has created a masterpiece.

This is perfectly paced and completely unforgettable. I’ve read all of this author’s books, I can say they get better and better. Each book is a treasure and gets better and better.

Sometimes, you come across an author you just know you adore. For me, North can do no wrong. Talented, lovely and the creator of some real dark tales. Clickbait is sensational, it will dazzle readers and leave a sense of awe at how utterly brilliant North is.

This is a book worthy of all the praise. I really hope this is a best seller because outstanding is an understatement. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

Well, the story is about a reality TV show based on the Lancaster Family called Living with the Lancasters, they are Lynn (Mum 59), Taylor 37, Locke 34 and India 29. It all begins when the Lancaster family find a tape of their late Dad's 40th Birthday party and seen in the background is Bradley Wilcox. 18 year old Bradley Wilcox has been missing since 2003. Carrie Wilcox, Bradley's younger sister, decides to hire Tom Isaac, a podcaster on YouTube with a podcast / show called Tom Isaac Investigates, where he asks his Tom Investigators to comment on the show (TIs) to help solve a mystery. This story revolves around using various social media formats, such as YouTube, Texts, Emails and is told via different characters over several timelines - 2003, 2007 and 2023. It was well written and very descriptive. I couldn't put this book down. The ending came as complete surprise to me. I will be recommending this book.

What a great read this is. Personally I don’t watch a lot of reality television but this book was certainly very compelling. Bradley Wilcox is a teenager who went to a party at the wealthy Lancaster’s house in London in 2003 and was never seen again.
In 2023 the hugely successful reality show Living with the Lancasters has been running since 2007. It features Mum Lynn, daughter Taylor (36), son Locke (33) and youngest daughter India (29). The family were used to being in the limelight as Dad Ed was a premiership footballer but the show only started after his unexpected death.

Briefly, in February 2023 Locke releases a home video from the party in 2003 which immediately raises questions about witness statements at the time of Bradley’s disappearance. Enter Cassie Wilcox, Bradley’s sister, who has never given up on finding her brother. She contacts Tom Isaac who is an investigator with his own You Tube channel and asks for his help in finding out the truth of what happened to her brother.

The story is told from multiple POV’s in dual timeline alongside the You Tube podcast channel, incident reports of the police investigation (which has been reopened) and diary entries. A twisted tale of narcissism, greed and fame brilliantly laid out for us the reader as the truth slowly emerges with the most startling conclusion. This is a absorbing read with great twists and turns, a big bunch of untrustworthy characters and lots of secrets. Gripping stuff.

As a reality show fan, this book was everything and more; after all if your entire life is recorded, can you really get away with murder?

With a fresh style of presenting the story, I quickly lost myself in the world of the Lancasters. If you are going to read this book then cancel any plans you may have because you won't want to put it down, it is the equivalent of those TV series you binge-watch.

With plot twists galore and everyone lying (or are they) to save their own skin - Clickbait will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

I'm really enjoying mixed media novels and definitely liked Clickbait. It's like going behind the scenes of something like Keeping Up With the Kardashians but discovering a sinister undertone.

There's a disappearance, possible death, lies, and family deceit.
When a true crime podcaster and YouTube gets involved you know it's going to all come out eventually.

Largely, it's a cast of unlikeable characters but that's what makes it compelling. There's nothing quite like waiting for a villain's downfall. But all is not necessarily as it seems.

You'll never watch reality TV centred around families the same way again after reading this!

The Lancasters are famous for their reality series Living With The Lancasters. Teenager Bradley Wilcox went missing years ago, however a video shown on The Lancaster’s programme may show a different turn of events. What really happened?

I really enjoyed Clickbait! This was a fresh, creative and entertaining thriller with a unique writing style, told in interviews, podcasts and diary entries. The writing style and podcast elements were done very well and flowed nicely. Although it took a while for me to get into the story once I did I was gripped and found I kept having to read one more page and then there’s the twists, it’s hard to keep up! I would definitely recommend this book and I hope there’s another book by this author in the works to look forward to. Although I enjoyed this book more than her previous book, The Ugly Truth, I would definitely recommend it also if you enjoyed this one. 4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Bradley Walsh disappeared 20 years ago after a party at the fame hungry ‘Lancasters’ house, he got in a taxi with others and was never to be seen again…
But did he
Do the Lancaster family, now famous YouTubers with many years of success in their family no holds barred series know more than they are saying?
Tom Isaac, true crime investigator thinks so and is on a mission to find out….little knowing the chaos, secrets and ultimately the truth he will uncover
Written in podcast style throughout with emails, interview’s and fan reaction comments this book really got me going…it was easy to become involved and soon I too was a P.I. and wanted justice for Bradley and to see just what the Lancasters had/hadn’t done
Flowed like the Thames, encouraged reader participation and thought and was genuinely exciting, a very enjoyable experience which did not let up for one paragraph, even the last one….

I flew through clickbait as if I was browsing Instagram. I loved the Nightshift pieces of information which is drip free to you through interviews, snippets and podcasts. I really felt like I knew the characters, the Lancasters t totally gave off the Osbourne vibes and the investigative journalist reminded me of the BBC podcast uncanny.

The story is quick and involved with twists and turns all over the shop. Loved it.

The Lancaster family are the stars of their own reality show. When a video emerges showing that they may have known more about a teenager who went missing twenty years ago, true crime investigator Tom sets out to uncover the truth.

Clickbait is an incredibly clever story full of twists you won't see coming.

The concept of the plot really appealed to me because I desperately wanted to find out what had happened to Bradley the missing teenager. It felt like there were so many secrets just waiting to be revealed.

I loved the format of this book. It is told through interviews and episodes of Tom's YouTube show, which was very different and unique. It made it feel like I was a viewer of the episodes along for the journey.

LC North has really pinpointed the obsession we can have with reality TV with characters that came across as completely believable. It made for a shocking read following the revelations that came out along the way.

You will absolutely fly through this without being able to put it down!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

When you live your life in the spotlight, you have to be prepared for anything that comes your way. Living with the Lancasters has been a successful YouTube programme for many years, a ruthless mother pushes her 3 children into the life she wants for them with great aplomb, however a cloud has always been over them after a teenager went missing after a Lancaster party 20 years previous. And when a video of that night goes viral the past comes back to affect everything Lynn Lancaster has worked for.
I loved this novel, told in Epistolary style in a selection of podcasts, messages and notes it follows the trail of Tom Issac, a true crime investigator who is hired by Bradley's sister to finally find out what happened to him.