Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for an ARC of The Commuter.
3.5 stars rounded up
I was excited to receive an ARC for an Emma Curtis book, having just recently read other books of hers. However I found the skipping and jumping timeline in this book slightly confusing to follow. Other than that it was a good book and a good story.
Recommend.

Wow. What a rollercoaster of a book this is. I know that sounds like a horrible cliché, but in this case I'm afraid it's true. I literally could not put this book down. It was like some kind of addiction...

Rachel is a married to a wealthy man, much older than her. She is happy enough in her marriage, until she meets a handsome stranger on the tube.

Her stepdaughter Caroline has always had a harsh opinion of her, believing that she split up her parents marriage, and conveniently forgetting that it takes two to tango...

Caroline is also a spoilt brat.

Bought up in a life of privilege, wanting for nothing, it has left her with a terrible attitude to life, believing she can trample over people to get what she wants, or pay them off if something unpleasant happens, or doesn't go her way.

Her Father sticks up for his poorly behaving daughter, even when he knows he shouldn't.

He's been doing it for so long that he doesn't know how to stop. But he is at risk of tearing his marriage apart if he doesn't do something soon.

Caroline will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

But no one could know exactly how far she would go to get what she wanted...

Rachel has been in a car accident and when she wakes up in hospital she finds out that her much older husband has died at their home. Rachel has flashbacks about a man she met on her commute and doesn’t know where he fits into her life.

This book has plenty of twists and turns. It starts well but loses its way before getting to the final section which is just too ridiculous. Good in parts.

This was a real roller coaster ride that was full all the way with lots of twists and turns. It is a scary thriller written by an author that I shall look out for in future as this was such an amazing read. I did not want to put it down and sat up half the night so that I could finish it. I did not see the ending at all.

A fabulous read, many layers making a complex and clever plot. The characters are authentic and well developed. A fast paced story that will keep you guessing.

I hadn’t read a book by Emma Curtis before this but it will not be my last. This was such a gripping thriller that I won’t forget in a hurry and I don’t think you will either. I was gripped from the first page I needed to know how the main character ended up in a coma and murder suspect. This is a gripping book that has the reader wondering just who is trustworthy and with manipulative characters aplenty it delivers a dark, fast paced story. I thought the characterization of Rachel was brilliant – she felt like a real person, with lots of layers and a sad and difficult history. The fact that she couldn’t remember parts of the recent past made it feel like I was living the story with her, willing things to be pieced together. A definite page turner and thoroughly recommended.
#TheCommuter #NetGalley

A classic gripping, twisty thriller. I couldn't put this book down. I loved the premise and the plot and thought the characterisation was brilliant. My first Emma Curtis book but not my last!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I literally couldn’t catch my breath while I was reading this, it was honestly the wildest ride I’ve ever been taken on when reading a book.

I was so torn on who to believe and with every chapter my mind got changed and I was deceived all the way through!.

It was shock after shock and twist after twist, this book will definitely be a book of the year for 2024.

If you’re on the fence about this book, take my advice and read it ASAP, plus it’s only 99p at the moment ( at the time i published this post).

Emma Curtis sucked me in with The Babysitter, and she kept me there with The Commuter! A twisty, unreliable tale that had me second guessing a lot of it, and trying desperately to unravel the secrets behind the mysterious man and this mysterious evening. LOVED LOVED LOVED
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Thank you to Atlantic for the early read!!

The Commuter by Emma Curtis is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the hidden lives and secrets of those we think we know. Curtis masterfully builds tension as she delves into the routine yet mysterious world of daily commuters, where a seemingly ordinary train ride turns into a twisting and suspenseful journey. The protagonist is drawn into a web of deception, betrayal, and danger, making readers question how well we can ever really know the people around us. With its well-crafted plot, unexpected twists, and expertly developed characters, The Commuter keeps readers on edge, unraveling layers of mystery with each page. It’s a compelling and intense read that will resonate with fans of domestic thrillers and suspense.

Rachel is married to Anthony living with her step daughter who dislikes her immensely. People think she is only married to him for his money but Rachel has tried to show this isn’t true continuing with her job in the city making sure she can rely on that income for herself. On the train one morning she meets Sean who helps to calm her down when the train breaks down in the tunnel and they form
A connection. She looks forward to seeing him each morning. It is only after she is in a car accident and she awakes to discover her husband has been murdered and she can’t remember the many weeks previously which rouses suspicion in the investigating police detective.
Rachel has to try to remember those missing weeks to find if she really did have something to do with Anthony’s murder and if not to find out what actually happened.
This was a great book which kept me guessing right up to the end.

A polished, twisty , page turner told over two timelines. This book builds beautifully, the pacing is excellent and once I hit the half way mark in reading it was almost impossible to put down.
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, add this book to your list immediately. It kept me engaged and guessing the whole way through. Recommend.

I am grateful to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for providing me with an ARC of The Communter by Emma Curtis. The story's narrative has completely captivated me, immersing me in Rachel's daily life. Her journey after losing her husband and memory has added a captivating layer to the plot. The book's pacing is expertly done, seamlessly shifting between reflective moments and thrilling sequences, keeping me engaged throughout. The unexpected twist at the end pleasantly surprised me, enhancing the overall richness of the reading experience. Although some parts were predictable, they still contributed to the book's depth. Overall, I truly enjoyed this read!

Dive into Rachel's world 📚✨ Unpredictable twists 🔄🔍 Engaging storytelling 📖🎭 Intriguing characters 💫👤 Captivating narrative 🌟📔 #bookreview #thrillerbooks #readingcommunity #mysterynovels #booklovers #fictionreads #immersiveexperience #unexpectedtwists #captivatingstorytelling #memorylossjourney

This story is told in two timelines - before/after the crash that killed Rachel's husband. I must admit to finding it confusing . I have loved Emma's previous books but this one didnt have the same impact , in my opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

This is a book of two only slightly different timelines: Rachel is the main character and is married to Anthony who is much older than she is, with an adult daughter, Caroline who he dotes upon. She basically coasts through life doing whatever she wants, with daddy's backing and protection. Everything is fine until Rachel starts to put her foot down and suggests that Caroline starts taking responsibility for her actions. The other side of the story finds Rachel in hospital following an incident which Rachel can't recall. Her memory of events during the days running up to waking up in her hospital bed very slowly return to her over a course of many months, the most shocking being the fact that Anthony died suddenly and that Rachel feels that she is somehow implicated.

In the earlier timeline we also have a mysterious gentleman who Rachel meets during a power failure on the underground during her commute. Who is this man? And why does it feel as if he can answer some of the many questions Rachel has about what happened during her lost days?

I did find the timelines a little confusing in this book, and really needed to concentrate on what was happening when. There was lots going on, and plenty to keep your attention focused on the different characters. I found Caroline to be rather obnoxious and spoiled, and really wanted Anthony to take his rose-tinted specs off and realise just how much damage he was doing with his responses to her actions. Where she was concerned I was totally on Rachels's side - but the background to the relationship between the two women is also understandable to a point, however Caroline is a bit old to be playing the wronged daughter card in my opinion.

If you want a fast paced, entertaining thriller this will tick all the boxes for you. The author has a very engaging writing style that will have you turning the pages and possibly missing your stop on your own commute as you get well and truly drawn in to the crazy world that Rachel finds herself in after what should have just been an ordinary tube journey.

This post will be posted on Thursday 17th October on my blog and social media.

I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters interesting as well as the storyline, it almost felt like a book of two halves. A meeting on the Tube had Rachel unable to stop thinking about the person she met. This is all quite subtle and engaging. Then the latter part of the book is all action and tumultuous with the twists and turns so you don’t know how the story is going to end.

‘The Commuter’ by Emma Curtis is a total rollercoaster of a thriller, with multi-layered mysteries and connections at its core. The novel tells the story of Rachel, the younger second wife of a respected businessman Anthony, as she wakes up from an induced coma with a dead husband and vague memories of a fellow commuter.

I liked the themes of suspicion and redemption throughout the novel, and the unexpectedness of some of the twists. I found the relationship between Rachel and her step-daughter Caroline intriguing and really felt her isolation given how many of her acquaintances were linked to her husband.

The narrative structure was interesting - with jumping timelines and multiple perspectives, but did come across as chaotic at times, especially towards the end of the book. I also didn’t really find any of the characters loveable which somewhat reduced my desperation to find out what happened, and meant I wasn’t really rooting for anyone.

Overall, giving this 3.5 stars for the imaginative premise and the satisfaction of so many threads weaving together at the culmination of the story.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Atlantic Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book started so well and kept my attention. The characters were sometimes likeable and some were downright awful. I loved the pace of the story and trying to work out where it was going. However, the fly in the ointment for me was the conclusion just became too unrealistic to put it mildly. The body count became that high that it was almost comedic. Had I left the last 10% to my imagination, I would have loved this book and it would have been a standout read

Rachel Gordon has just woken from a coma, and is told that her husband Anthony, is dead. She immediately blurts out 'I killed him', then drifts back off to sleep.
When she finally fully awakens, she finds that she has amnesia and has no idea why she is in hospital, or the events for several weeks prior.
She is certain that she didn't kill her husband, but the police don't believe her, and suspect that she did murder him.
Tiny snatches of memory resurface, and Rachel has momentary visions of a man on her morning commute. A man that she feels she has a connection to, but the memories keep failing her.
She tries to piece the information together to see if the man she met has something to do with Anthony's death, and strives to clear her name.
Meanwhile, she has to cope with her step-daughter Caroline, who has always hated her step-mother. Could Caroline be behind her father's death?
This was an excellent read, and a real page turner, with a great twist at the end.
One not to miss!

A compelling read told from different POV’s and timelines to keep up the intrigue.

The main character Rachel meets the mysterious commuter on the tube to work one morning. She finds herself looking for him the next day and their relationship develops.
Above ground Rachel is married to a much older man with a spoilt grown up daughter. The relationship with the commuter only highlights the cracks in her marriage.
After a car crash Rachel awakes to find her memory gone and her husband dead, proclaiming ‘I killed him’ puts her firmly under suspicion.
The story moves between before the crash and after the crash to tell the story of how her husband died as Rachel struggles to recover her memory, find out if she did actually kill him and who the commuter is.

A bit slow in places but the mystery built up kept me reading to discover how it all fit into place. The ending was clever and not one I saw coming.

Overall an enjoyable read.