I loved this psychological thriller. It was my first book by this author and for sure it wont be the last. Such a page turner!!

I do enjoy Miranda Rijks books & this one was quite good! I read it in a few days as I was excited to find out how it was going to end!

Read this if you like:
real estate
wealth
multiple POV
family businesses
controlling parents
twists & turns

This is my first book I’ve read from this author and definitely not my last.
Being haunted by a mistake you’ve made 10 years ago seems terrible doesn't it? Also if this leaves you indebted to your controlling father and you can’t make your own decisions.
I LOVE domestic suspense and thriller books. This one ticks this box for sure.
At first the multiple POVs made it a bit confusing for me as I couldn’t connect them and it didn’t seemed useful, but around 1/3 into the story a surprising turn makes you understand everything!
I enjoyed that there is a lot of action in the book and a lot keeps happening but on the other hand, we jump very quickly in timeline throughout the story which makes some events feel a little too fleeting or you would like to know more about them.
Most of the characters have a suspicious allure around them which makes you as a reader question a lot of things and on the other hand you question how far Leonie will push her luck. I really loved this vibe throughout the story, it keeps you on your toes. But even then, I didn’t see most of the twists coming which is the best feeling! Revenge can be bitter sweet.
The ending felt a bit abrupt which leaves me feeling somewhat unsatiated but all in all I enjoyed this surprising story and I hope to read a few of her other books.

This was a fast paced read that I kept me entertained with a crazy twist that set up the amazing plot! I’ve loved every book I’ve read by #MirandaRijks. She’s quickly become a favorite author of great #thrillers!

Thank you, Miranda Rijks, Inkubator Books, & netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.

Wow. I've read several books by the masterful writer Miranda Rijks, always full of suspense and twists.

But 'Make Her Pay' is undoubtedly my favorite of her books so far.

I can easily envision a gripping movie adaptation of this novel.

I don't know why, but from the start, I pictured Leonie as a young Cameron Diaz. Beautiful, charming, successful.
With the perfect partner Markus, who adores her and buys her expensive gifts.

With parents who, despite her being grown and successful in her career, still exert too much control, especially her father.

Of course, we soon find out why. Leonie’s life hasn't always been so perfect. In fact, she caused a tragedy due to reckless driving. The very tragedy itself is the cause of vengeance and is the reason why someone wants to 'make her pay.'

As the 10th anniversary of this tragedy approaches, Leonie’s life begins to crumble like a house of cards...

I'll stop here with the recap because I don't want to spoil anything. I can only say that the book is excellent. Gripping from the first page, full of events, multiple points of view. A masterpiece.

Secrets unravel one after another, shocks accumulate. Whoever initially seems perfect, kind, and trustworthy - as befitting a true psychological thriller - is not.

The book is filled with manipulation, lies, deceit, and insinuations. The essential message, brilliantly and convincingly presented by the author, is that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Can Leonie trust anyone at all???

Find out for yourself. You must read this book. REALLY.

Miranda Rijks, Make Her Pay, Inkubator Books, December 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Miranda Rijks’ novels have been on my reading list since I reviewed What She Knew in July 2022. Since then I have read several of her novels, including the very disappointing The Lodge in June 2023. What a delight to see that she has moved into far more successful territory with Make Her Pay. This is a clever novel, with an intriguing prologue, a good plot that is plausible enough, characters who have a motivation for their behaviour, and a satisfying resolution.

A person waits for death, and eventually blackness descends. And then Leonie Wilding’s story begins. She is 16, painting her toenails, seated by a swimming pool at her parents’ holiday house in Northumberland. Brenda and Gus Wilding and are described in unflattering tones; to Leone they are wanting both physically and emotionally. Leone is neither in her opinion, and, resentful of the plan to return to London early, that night takes her mother’s car and drives furiously away from their huge party. As a result, she and her father harbour a secret that controls her life to the present day.

Leonie in the present is a successful businesswoman, dependent upon her parents’ good will, in particular her father’s, but achieving some independence with her small staff and her own competence. The secret remains in the background of her interactions with her father, her relationships and her capacity for enjoying her wealthy lifestyle. Also in the present is Carrie. She is covered in scars, physically and mentally, has a slight limp, has lost a baby, husband and well-paying job and is seeking revenge.

Making Her Pay brings together Carrie and Leonie; Markus, a handsome and caring man who charms Leonie; Zac, Leonie’s long-time friend, one night lover and now a member of her staff along with Diane and Erin; and Leonie’s controlling parents. Twists are logical rather than contrived (eluding a pet dislike of mine) and tremendously well placed. Where the novel seems as though it will meander into long explanation (as I have criticised in past reviews of Rijk’s work) Rijk so cleverly introduces a comic twist and, again, one that is plausible. For me, this Miranda Rijks novel is a marvellous move to all that I expected and looked for from reading What She Knew (2022) and The Second Mother. (2022) Making Her Pay is a really good read and I look forward to more like it.

I love this author and she didn't disappoint me heading into 2024!

Make Her Pay is a revenge thriller with some great twists and turns. None of the characters are exactly likable, but Leonie did just enough to make me care about her and want her to get on with her life. The author's books are always fast paced and real page turners, and this one is no different. The only fault I had with it was the ending which I felt was slightly rushed, however it concluded the story well.

A great psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns - some I was able to work out but others really took me by surprise!

I throughly enjoyed Make Her Pay! If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller that’s easy to read you’ve found it with Miranda Rijk’s most recent thriller.

Leonie is living with a lot of guilt following an unfortunate secret accident when she was a teenager. Her relationship with her parents is guarded, controlling, and toxic, but also necessary. Of course, as she grows up secrets don’t stay hidden and she has to question everything and everyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ending of this novel, it didn’t feel like the stereotypical thriller ending.

Overall, Make Her Pay was a fast, easy read that kept me entertained and didn’t disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity!

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and it didn’t disappoint. “Make Her Pay” is a revenge thriller where nothing is as it seems, and I mean nothing! If you enjoy twisty, suspenseful stories you can’t go wrong with this book. I enjoyed it and have recommended it to others.

First, here's the not-so-good. I did not like any of the characters. No one warmed my heart, and at best a book is lukewarm to me if I can't root for a protagonist. An important part of the plot involves one character recognizing another many years later than they had a fleeting glance at each other. The fact that she had a matter of seconds to view a face and remember it much later seems unbelievable.

Then, there's the good. The plot makes you think about how far a character will go for revenge. There are some twists and turns in the story that left me hanging with wondering what would happen next.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a massive fan of the author so knew I'd love this before I even started! And it didn't disappint. It wad short but so well written with plenty twists to keep me guessing. The ending was a tad abrupt but everything else was so well done, from the plot lines to the characters to the suspense built throughout that we can forgive a bit of a quick ending. Otherwise, just a really top tier thriller

An enjoyable faced pace thriller told thru alternating view points. A compelling brilliant read I could not recommend more!

3.5 stars!
Leonie was once a careless girl, until her part in a tragedy turned her into a guilt-ridden woman, holding everyone at arms length and controlled by her wealthy father.
Until she met Markus, who she's able to let in and learn to love.
But something is still not quite right, and the several small things going wrong have become much bigger things. Someone is making sure Leonie suffers, but who?

It was fun to see it from two points of view. I wanted a bit more suspense, but this was very enjoyable.

Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Before I dive into my review, I'd like to thank NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

Make Her Pay focuses on the story of Leonie. When we first meet Leonie, she's a 16-year-old girl making a terrible, life-altering choice. The story follows Leonie as she grows up and faces - or doesn't face? - the consequences of that choice.

It's rare that I provide a five-star review for a book, but man - Make Her Pay was SO close to a five-star read. I was engaged throughout the entire novel, constantly questioning what would happen next. I found myself rooting for Leonie - even when I had to step away from reading (#MomLife), my thoughts returned to Leonie's story + my hope that she would come out on the other side of the events happy and okay.

Up until the last 30-40 pages, I would have rated this book five stars. Unfortunately, Make Her Pay suffered the same ending I find to be common amongst thrillers - the conclusion was rushed and flat. It felt as if the author threw several twists in for the sake of wrapping up loose ends in a dramatic way, and I just... wanted more. The author proved herself more than capable of developing unpredictable plot twists, so the twists at the end felt messy + out of her normal style.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book + would definitely recommend it for fellow thriller-lovers. If I could wave my magic wand, I would change the ending a bit - but otherwise, it's a fantastic read.

Who knew that one fateful evening could change everything? When 16 year old Leonie makes a terrible mistake, she fears her life is over right there and then. But money talks, and her father covers it up for her. But is it really truly gone? Do secrets ever truly stay hidden forever?

A quick thriller that I was able to read in one weekend, quickly zooming from one plot to the next! I enjoyed it very much!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

3.5 stars! This was my first time reading something by this author and it won't be my last. It was a good psychological thriller and a page turner as well. Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

I received a free copy of the ebook from NetGalley. This is my honest review. #MakeHerPay #NetGalley

This was an easy book to read on a 3-hour flight. The hours flew by with the twists and turns of the story.
Some of the twists were quite predictable, but the whole reading experience was enjoyable.

"Make Her Pay" by Miranda Rijks is a riveting thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Rijks masterfully weaves a gripping narrative with unexpected twists, creating a compelling story that's hard to put down. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is filled with suspense and intrigue. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling mystery with a touch of psychological depth.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a new author for me, but I will now have to go back and read her other books., definitely a master story teller and one of the best reads of 2023.

A teenage act of rebellion, a crime covered up and an act of revenge sums up Miranda Rijks latest thriller novel - one that has you glued to the pages.

Sixteen year old Leonie's carefree life is propelled out of trajectory when she causes a car accident resulting in a man's death. Fearing for his family's image and his daughter's future, Leonie's father covers up the accident. Now a decade later, a successful business woman running a niche wing of her father's real estate company, Leonie is gearing up for her wedding when strange events begin to occur. Though minor at first, they gradually escalate until Leonie is convinced that she is being targetted. Soon realization dawns that her well-guarded secret is a secret no more and someone connected to her past is out to make her pay.

This was by far one of my favourite books by this author - she never fails to impress. The suspense is slow-building and has you riveted throughout. Leonie's character arc - from the rebellious teenager to a hypercautious adult living under her parents' thumb to a confident woman - was a worthy read. The twists and turns ensure nary a dull moment.

Overall, a gripping and indulging thriller. Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator books for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.