📚Book Review: "The Final Score" by Carys Jones
🎶Genre: Thriller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

🎶Why You’ll Love It:
🎼Music and Mystery: The world of a fallen music prodigy combined with dark secrets from the past makes for a compelling and unique thriller.
🕵️‍♂️Unraveling the Past: The slow and methodical uncovering of Connie’s hidden truths keeps you turning the pages, desperate to know what really happened that fateful night.
⚖️Revenge and Redemption: Themes of revenge, redemption, and the inescapability of one’s past are expertly woven into this gripping narrative, making you question how far you’d go to protect your own secrets.

"The Final Score" is a tightly wound thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Carys Jones masterfully blends suspense with emotional depth, making you feel every twist and turn along with Connie. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that explore the dark side of fame and the cost of secrets, this book is a must-read. 🎵 Thanks to @rachelsrandomresources and @netgalley for the #ARC #BlogTour

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Final Score' by Carys Jones.

Well, well, well Wow!!! What an absolute cracker of a book by an extremely talented author!!! This book sucked me straight in from beginning to the explosive ending. It was very well written with excellent descriptions which put me straight into the storyline. The synopsis and the cover suited the book perfectly.

This is an absolutely addictive page turner by the extremely talented Carys. This may be the first book I have read by Carys but it most definitely will not be my last! Carys's evocative writing skills really brings the story to life ensuring you can see everything around you and feel everything that Connie is thinking and feeling. The storyline is addictive and filled with suspense, redemption family, lies, domestic violence, tension, emotions, twists, resilience, mystery, drama and everything you could ask for in a fantastic page turner!! I loved all the twists and turns and throughout it kept me constantly on edge trying to guess what was going to happen next and although I hate to admit I was wrong, I was wrong each and every time, but keep that to yourselves please!! So, a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Carys for managing to prove me wrong time and time again!!! Carys does an absolutely amazing job of weaving the difficult topics of domestic abuse into an absolutely gripping, thrilling and addictive storyline. It is extremely fast paced with multiple layers that the reader discovers about the Connie as they turn each page. The storyline really is chilling, tragic, dark and can be difficult to read at some points. Carys does a brilliant hob in weaving together the multiple timelines of the 1950's and present day together seamlessly ensuring the reader gets the bigger picture and finds out everything that Carrie has been through in her past and her music career. This book was explosive, emotional and intense. Grab your copy of this page turner today and I promise you will not regret it!! An absolutely addictive page turner that kept my heart in my throat on the edge of the seat and absolutely absorbed and gripped me. The fact there were so many different red herrings and so many possibilities that all would have worked perfectly I could not put this book down!!! I was so invested in the storyline that I was up until 2am!! I would LOVE to see this turned into a movie!!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to the previous and future books by this author!!!

THE characters were fantastic, solid and completely believable. The main protagonist is Connie who my heart completely went out to and broke for. It was heart wrenching to read what she went through in the past and was still suffering from. Her character really is both heart-breaking but also inspiring because of her determination and resilience which shone through the pages. I was rooting for her and loved her honesty when it came to confronting her past during her interview with Daniel Layton. This book and Connie's character is also extremely thought provoking especially when you look at many of the children who became prodigy's at such young ages, one of the most famous one coming to my mind being Britney Spears. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Connie as well as the other characters although I must admit I wasn't a fan of them all!! Carys really has created realistic, strong and in depth characters that leap out of the pages at the reader ensuring they feel and see everything they are seeing and feeling. There was a great eclectic mix of characters from good to bad which always helps to liven and mix the storyline up. They all had such different and strong personalities and all suited the storyline perfectly.. There were such a mix of personalities and its hard really to say too much about any of them without giving too much away!!! Regardless of whether you liked, loved or disliked any of the characters they all work perfectly together to bring this story to life. A great cast of characters that come to life thanks to Carys's extremely evocative writing talent!!

Overall a compelling, tragic, dark, gripping and addictive page turner!!

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When graduate student Daniel Layton asks to interview the famous violinist Connie Winchester for his dissertation, she eagerly agrees to meet with him. Now in her eighties, she's excited to relive the details of her celebrated career and maybe inspire a younger musician along the way. But when Daniel visits her home and the interview begins, it's clear he isn't interested in her music. Not at all. Instead, he's focused on the horrible events that happened when Connie was a teenage scholarship student at an exclusive grammar school.

As Connie tries to steer the conversation towards her music, Daniel continues to interrogate her about her past. She has something to hide, and he seems to know it. But why does Daniel care? Who is he really? What does he want? And what's Connie keeping hidden... and why?

Horrifically dark, chilling, and layered with tragedy, "The Final Score" by Carys Jones explores domestic violence, sexual abuse, and PTSD, as well as the allure of cults. The story goes back and forth between the present day when Connie is in her eighties and in 1954 when she was only sixteen. Running away from the pain of home and school, she moves in with her boyfriend Robin Strand and his friends, not realizing he's the leader of a cult. Not that it would have mattered to her. He gives her an escape from her life with his love, support, and LSD. But soon, she uses him as a way to evade the truth -- the very truth Daniel Layton seeks to hear from her in the present day.

"The Final Score" is your next one-sitting read. Connie is a compelling and empathetic character. Her life is a horror show, but you can't look away. Part of the reason is that you want to figure out everything that happened to her, and it's not readily or clearly revealed. However, part of the reason is also how well the book is written. Despite the dark subject matter, reading it is enjoyable. It was so easy to sink into -- and to stay immersed in. Short chapters and staggered sentence lengths (even partial sentences) move the book along at a faster pace and make it even more enthralling.

I flew through "The Final Score", unable to put it down until I finished it. It kept me in suspense until I got close to the end, then blew my mind with the shocking revelations that occurred in both the past and present. It's one of the best psychological thrillers I've read this year -- and one you don't want to miss.

When do you stop running and face up to what you've done?

The story switches from past to present as we're taken through Connie's past, her career and the abuse she suffered to present day where she finds herself being interviewed and forced to face up to what shes done.

The Final Score is the first I've read by Jones and if all her books are as good as this one, then I can't wait to read more!

It was another one sitting read for me, it's such a pacey twisty read and so immersive. It's quite dark and harrowing to read in places and there are triggers of domestic abuse.

A brilliant story of reknown and redemption that's definitely worth a read.

t's a fascinating and unusual thriller. A dual timeline, past and present, a woman who was famous and is left with memories while she wait for a man to interview her.
There's a lot to tell about this excellent story
A more extensive review will follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to Orion and Rachel's Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Chilling, dark and poignant, this suspense is a dual timeline, one in the 1950s and one in the present. It begins with a lonely woman waiting for a young man to interview her about her career. What follows is not what she expects and forces her to face the past and acknowledge it. Connie's early story is tragic. She becomes a successful musician, but her early life defines her, and making music is her salvation. It explores domestic violence and abuse and is disturbing to read in parts. The story is sad, especially the waste of life, but the plot twists are good, and the characterisation is excellent.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I enjoyed going through Connie's journey even though it was difficult at times and I really felt for Connie throughout.

I love books by Carys Jones and was really excited to be offered this book for review

I loved it. Couldn't put it down

Thank you for the opportunity to review

Told over two timelines, the 1950’s and present day the book moves seamlessly between the two. I really enjoyed this book and really felt for Connie.

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