If you didn't kill her, then who did?

Chelsea has just been paroled, having been in prison for 16 years, convicted of killing her best friend, Izzy, at university 17 years earlier. Chelsea knows she's innocent, but nobody else believes her, until a chance meeting with Izzy's mother reveals that somebody does believe her.

I really felt for Chelsea. Imagine how your life, at 19 years old feels; your whole future ahead of you, good friends and loving life. 16 years later, you're 35 years old, fresh out of jail, controlled by your probation officer, shunned by everyone who recognises you and you've missed out on so much. So many opportunities that have passed you by - your career, maybe marriage and children. Your mum died while you were behind bars. Heartbreaking. So I completely understood why Chelsea was absolutely not willing to leave it alone - neither would I!

There were so many possibilities as the story unfolded, I really was kept guessing until the very end and I had many inklings along the way!

A really great read, well written and captivating.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Annie Taylor and Michael Joseph, Penguin for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I had no idea where this was going. But I needed to find out. I tried to stay up late far to often to do so!
It's propels you forwards on an emotional journey.
It's is definitely a page turner. You quickly form a bond and empathy for Chelsea. I can't imagine knowing you've not done something so horrific that it basically ends your life, taking you to prison. Innocent. And how you're very being must erode away because noone will listen. And you cant do anything. Your stuck in a trap notnofmyour making. It must feel like the worst kind of hopeless. I admire her dogged bravery to find the truth. To even have a semblance of strength when she is released shows just how strong justice can make people.
It was also a really beleiveable outcome and story. There wasn't a far fetched or unrealistic storyline. The crime wasn't full of unusual twists to make a plot glisten. You could see how every step of the way things occurred as they did. Of course only because of some very powerful(suprise suprise) and bad people. And at the expense (suprise suprise) of one innocent party fed to the wolves.
I love it when you come across a book like this. That you enjoy and giddily pickup to read more. That at the end you think wow authors really are a talent!
I'm ready to read more by this author.

Another author to be added to my list to watch out for future books, this book was a quick read and fast paced and I have recommended it within my book club.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this eCopy to review

I just finished reading If You Didn’t Kill Her by Annie Taylor. The story centres around Chelsea, who has just been released from prison after serving time for the murder of her university roommate, Isabella, a crime she didn’t commit. Determined to clear her name, Chelsea starts digging into the past, uncovering new details and suspects along the way.

Taylor’s writing style is engaging, effectively using multiple timelines and character points of view to weave a complex and gripping narrative. The story alternates between Chelsea’s present-day investigation and flashbacks to her time at university, providing deeper insights into the relationships and events leading up to Isabella’s death. This dual timeline adds layers of suspense and keeps the reader engaged.

The different character perspectives, especially from Chelsea and her former friends, add depth to the story, revealing various motives and secrets that complicate the straightforward murder investigation.

However, there were moments when the plot felt a bit predictable, and some parts dragged a bit. Despite this, the strong suspense, intricate plot, and intriguing twists make it an enjoyable read for mystery lovers.

Chelsea is released from prison after spending years locked up for the murder of her best friend. She has always maintained that she is innocent and once released she starts digging into the past to try and uncover the truth.

This was a well written thriller which draws you into the past and has creates a nostalgic atmosphere at times. The past timeline works well with the present and helps the reader understand the backstory. The characters are well developed and I kept changing my mind on who to trust, although when it came down to it, I didn’t get any major surprises. Even though the story flowed well, I found it not to be the fastest paced book. Overall though, this is a good read and I would certainly read more by this author. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Chelsea has just been released from prison. Incarcerated for 16 long years, for murdering her best friend. Refusing to put the past behind her, she embarks on a mission to find the real killer.

This thriller dives in to the dysfunctional family of the Dunwoodys. Rich, opulent and tainted by greed and jealousy.

The characters are well developed and I really felt like I understood them.

The suspense was good, but there wasn’t really any “jaw dropping” moments and I felt it was maybe a little bit longer than it needed to be.

I enjoyed it though. Easy to pick up and put down, not one you need to binge read to stay tuned in to the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my advanced copy.

"If You Didn’t Kill Her" by Annie Taylor is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing from start to finish. The novel follows a protagonist who finds themselves at the center of a murder investigation, with twists and secrets unraveling at every turn. Taylor masterfully builds tension, exploring the blurred lines between truth and deception, as the protagonist tries to prove their innocence while navigating complex relationships and hidden motives. With well-drawn characters and a suspenseful plot, "If You Didn’t Kill Her" is a page-turner that will appeal to fans of dark, twisty thrillers. It’s a thrilling exploration of guilt, memory, and the lengths people will go to protect themselves.

Chelsea Keogh has just been released from prison, on license, for a crime that she is adamant she did not commit and she's determined to clear her name and find out who really did murder her best friend, Isabella Dunwoody fifteen years ago, back in 2007. She's struggling to adapt to life on the outside again, living with her auntie in Scotland and knowing that some people still believe she did it, but as she starts to uncover new evidence it's clear someone doesn't want the truth to come out and will try anything to stop her digging deeper.

If You Didn't Kill Her is a dual timeline story, alternating between 2006/2007 leading up to, and following Izzy's murder and then 2022 after Chelsea is released from prison. The story begins in 2007 with a transcript of an interview between the police and Chelsea Keogh following Izzy's death and these transcripts appear regularly throughout the book. The story is well crafted, with short chapters and I really liked the depth in which the author delivered her characters to the readers, starting with their university days and then to their lives in the present day and how the death of Izzy had affected each of them. The alternating between chapters keeps up the momentum and the suspense of who was responsible and I was second guessing throughout, although I did eventually figure out who was involved before the big reveal. This is the first book I've read by this author but it certainly won't be the last.

I'd like to thank Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for allowing me to read and review this arc.

This book grips from the first page - which doesnt happen for me very often.

The book jumps between different timelines - but it is not confusing or difficult to follow.

The book is very fast paced, and it leaves you to want to read 'just one more chapter.'

Ive never read a book by this author before, but I would consider reading more!

This books begins with a transcript of a police interview into an investigation flashing back to 2007. This instantly gripped me and I thought it was an excellent way to start the book as it jumped straight into the story rather than taking a while to pull the reader in. The book then jumps forward to 2022 where Chelsea is released from serving a long prison sentence and the start of her new life on the outside begins.

The way the book alternated between past and present time as each chapter went on added a lot of depth to the book. I felt this provided a perfect amount of background into the character’s and really built a picture of how their lives had intertwined as certain events had happened. The amount of main characters within the book contributed towards adding suspense and mystery to the “who done it” edge of the plot whilst also being easy to follow who was who.

This was a fast paced book that kept me thoroughly invested throughout. The story progressed at a good pace, never leaving me feeling bored whilst reading it. I constantly questioned throughout what involvement each character could have had in the events that were unfolding, and the ending did not feel predictable in my opinion. Overall I think this was a great read and I would definitely recommend. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

A student is murdered by her flatmate, who serves 17 years in prison. The story is told across two timelines: from the viewpoint of the released culprit and also from her in the weeks and days before the murder. As the title suggests, the real murderer is still at large.
Ideal for fans of slow-burning, straightforward suspense.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Upon publication, I will post this review on my blog and on GoodReads.

I quite enjoyed this book but it didn’t have many surprises. The characters were ok and the story plodded along without much tension and intrigue . I would recommend this book as it may appeal to others but only a 3 star from me

I had really high hopes for this novel and it is well written. However I started losing interest about 25% in as it wasn't well paced. It didn't feel like anything was really happening in either time lines

An incident happens at uni and Chelsea ends up paying the price. Facing all the constraints and uncertainty… this is one emotional rollercoaster!

Power… Notoriety… Fame… This book has it all & I just couldn’t put it down!

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Fiction that touches on prison
- Stay up late reading
- Hard to second guess storylines
- Dual timelines
- Satisfying endings

With thanks to Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Wow, this was a really gripping read! I had to finish it in one go! Chelsea jumped off the page for me and she was so believable. I really enjoyed reading this and I was not expecting who the culprit was in the end

This was a good story, I liked the style of writing and the past and present chapters. It was slightly too long in places.

when chelsea is arrested for her friends murder … did she really do it

as a reader i really enjoyed how each chapter was set in the past then future, it added an air of mystery to the plot.

the police interviews are also super interesting as an element to the story.

overall, this was a really well written murder mystery and i’d definitely pick up another book by this author in the future.

I loved this book. Totally engrossed nearly missed my stop

Thanks for the opportunity to review.

Lots of twists and turns

Absolutely brilliant from Annie Taylor. The book follows the story of Chelsea after she's released from prison and determined to prove her innocence. Highly recommended!!!!