I initially had a few questions about this book. Some reservations and niggles I found as I was reading it. Some things that I had to just accept and move on in order to carry on reading. Sadly, none of these can be really mentioned here because of spoilers, but suffice to say, evident by the 4 stars, these did turn out to be relatively minor when all was said and done, so, basically, what I am saying is: if you feel similar along the way, if you can, try and read through it, as it did come good for me at at the end.
We start with Maura, a strange character but I'll leave you to meet her yourself, warts and all. She is awaiting the arrival of her niece Finn who, along with her baby daughter, is coming to stay with Maura after the death of her mother (Maura's sister). But, on the way, Finn collides with Kathryn, who is also travelling with her own baby daughter. Only three of the four survive.
We then follow the characters as they come to terms with what happened as well as, in Finn and Maura's case, getting to know each other. We also learn more about Maura's past, living in the shadow of her sister, her unrequited love, and the other things that shaped the person she so very sadly became. I say sadly, one of my niggles was that I felt the author did cross the line into farce and the character being a caricature. Only just, but it did elicit a few eye rolls along the way.
But, when all was said and done, it was a bit like car-crash reading - I had to know what was happening and how the author would wrap it all up in the end. And boy did it all escalate! All the way to the shocking and mostly satisfying ending.
I have read a lot of books by this author and, although not her strongest, it is a worthy addition to an impressive back catalogue. I have to say though, I do prefer her series books...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of The Survivors.

Finn is driving with her baby girl to meet her aunt Maura for the first time. Kathryn is driving with her baby girl trying to escape her overbearing family. The cars collide and only one baby survives. Finn awakes to her aunt taking care of her little girl and Kathryn wakes up to the news her baby died. But she feels that her baby is alive and she sets out to find out the truth.

This book was odd and it jumped all over the place and it was hard to follow. Maura was also a very unreliable narrator so it was hard to believe her parts. I just feel like they were yelling way too many different stories it was hard to keep it straight.

Caroline Mitchell's books always have me invested immediately, especially with the survivors stories making you unsure of who to trust, as very compelling and intense read overall.

I love a book by Caroline Mitchell and although the very first chapter was a little slow for me it then took off and did not stop coming with the surprises, there were so many unexpected twists to this book. Maura although you could feel sorry for her was an evil controlling woman who went to extremes to get her own way, even if this meant killing people. A very sad and disturbed individual. Wow great read!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Caroline Mitchell and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Maura Claffey lives a lonely life in a cottage on Misery Hill on the coast of County Clare, she has one friend, Geraldine who runs the village shop in Doolin, but the other locals tend to avoid her, so she's looking forward to her niece Finn coming to visit with her new baby Saoirse. The clifftop roads are treacherous and on her journey Finn collides with another car, driven by Kathryn who also has a baby girl, Kiera. Both women escape the accident battered and bruised but one of the children sadly doesn't survive and both women are struggling with the events of that day. Finn is desperate to learn about her past and why her mother Daisy left Ireland so abruptly, Kathryn is certain there's more to the accident and is desperate for answers, but the one person that can tell them is determined to keep quiet about it.

The Survivors is the latest thriller by Mitchell, told from the perspectives of Maura, Finn and Kathryn, with some chapters going back to the past for Maura. This is an intense, atmospheric and, at times, heartwrenching story for these three women who all seem to have suffered wrongdoings during their lives. I was torn over my feelings for Maura, I felt sorry for the life she'd had growing up, always competing with her twin sister Daisy for their parent's affection, but I felt little sympathy for the woman that she had become, with both Finn and Kathryn pawns in her somewhat evil plans. This story has a well thought out premise with lots of twists and turns that kept me gripped throughout and one of the reasons why Mitchell is one of my go to authors. I highly recommend this to anyone that loves an edge of your seat read.

I'd like to thank the author, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for inviting me to read this book, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Wow this book is full of secrets and lies with some great but shocking twists this really was an unputdownable book as I couldn't wait to find out what happened next

Maura, Finn, and Kathryn tell this twisty tale of the aftermath of an accident. Only Maura knows what happened when her niece Finn, who was bringing her baby to meet Maura, collided with the car driven by Kathryn, who also had her baby with her. And Maura isn't the kind person they first meet. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a twisty one,

The Survivors by Caroline Mitchell is a darkly disturbing thriller enveloped by thick tension, family secrets, grief, jealousy and guilt Set in evocative Ireland, the atmosphere seeps into every nook and cranny and likewise wormed its way under my skin. It gripped me...and gripped hard. I was anxious to race to the end to see what happened yet wanted to hang on to the turbulent story and revel in its twistiness.

Aptly-named Misery Hill is home to Maura, a belligerent, troubled and ruthless woman who regularly witnessed car accidents on the dangerous stretch of road nearby. One night a serious accident occurred between two cars, two women and their babies. Three survived but one baby did not. Finn is taken in by her Aunt Maura as she recuperates. Maura is family, after all, and Finn is reeling after the recent death of her mother. But as the days slip by, Finn is privy to weird goings on. Physical and emotional wounds fester and run deep. Kathryn, the other driver, has deep wounds of her own. Her family also has secrets and plenty of drama. The baby girl and what she represented unknowingly becomes the focus of these women as well as other people. She is a reminder of a slew of past emotions. But her safety is at stake in this cat and mouse game. Despicable characters abound which caused my heart to flop.

Parts of the story are unbelievable but my mind was so hooked it actually didn't matter. I had goosebumps at times and felt the gamut of emotions whilst reading. The writing is descriptive and bleak, adding to the claustrophobia. Do be aware there is self harm.

My sincere thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this riveting novel.

I've read a lot of this author's books and this one seemed very different. It actually took me a few chapters to really get into it and I'm glad I don't have a relative like Maura. My twins are nothing alike, but not to the degree of Maura and Daisy! There were twists I didn't see coming, including Aiden's family and wife. That's all I will say so I don't ruin the book for anyone else.

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It begins with an accident. Two young mothers, each with their child in the car, collide, and the notorious accident site claims yet another victim.

Mitchell's fast-paced and suspenseful psychological thriller is filled with lies, secrets, and tension. It will stir up 𝗔𝗟𝗟 your emotions, and you won't want to put it down.

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Mitchells's style of writing is immersive and atmospheric, capturing the eeriness of the Irish coast and the accurately named Misery Hill. Each chapter is left on a cliffhanger, propelling you to keep turning the pages.

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Maura, the main female character, is quite an unlikable protagonist and definitely reminded me of Kathy Bates in Misery with her possessive, secretive, and controlling mannerisms. This only added to the overall menacing feel to the story.

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 is about how past trauma can affect your present. It's about the lengths one will go to for family and also grief and guilt.

I would certainly recommend this to anyone who enjoys twisted domestic thrillers.
My thanks to Netgally and the author for my copy. The review was voluntary.

An absolutely brilliant thriller from the ever consistent Caroline Mitchell! It would be difficult to describe this book without giving away elements of the plot--suffice it to say that this novel grips from the start and never lets up. Superb!

Took me a while to get into this one, to be honest. Caroline Mitchell’s usual fast-paced style was missing at the beginning, and I found the initial chapters quite slow. The atmosphere is undeniably dark and morose, and while that adds a certain tension, it also made me question if the payoff would really be worth it.
However, once I hit the halfway mark, things truly began to shift. Characters I thought I understood began to show unexpected depths, and the story took on a life of its own. Mitchell skilfully peels back layers, letting the secrets of this small coastal community seep out bit by bit. Just when I thought I had pieced everything together, she hit me with revelations that made me realise how completely wrong I’d been. The plot twists kept coming and threw all my assumptions out the window—one after another. Each twist felt earned and added another layer of tension to an already intense story.
The setting itself adds so much to the novel’s ominous tone, with the isolated coastal backdrop perfectly matching the bleakness of the characters’ lives. It almost feels like another character casting a shadow over everything that unfolds. As the stakes rise, the sense of isolation becomes palpable, amplifying the characters’ desperation and secrets.
Mitchell’s depiction of this tightly wound community is brilliant, filled with simmering tensions and unresolved histories that gradually bubble to the surface. By the end, I was completely engrossed. Though it took a bit to get there, The Survivors certainly delivers a complex, haunting story that lingers long after the final page. This isn’t a book that lets you off easily; it’s thought-provoking, chilling, and filled with suspense.
If you’re a fan of thrillers that take their time to build tension and create genuine twists, then you’ll find this one worth the initial patience. It’s a slow burn but with a powerful payoff.

Maura Claffey lives in an isolated cottage on Misery Hill off the Irish coast. She has witness accidents that the drivers have gone over the cliff edge. When she witnesses two cars colliding both single mothers. With their child in the back of the car. Both mothers survive but only one child survives. Which happened to belong to Maura’s niece Finn. The other woman Kathryn her child dies from being thrown from the car.
Both take a while to recover from the crash. Finn is taken in by Maura to recuperate whilst Kathryn is still recovering in hospital. Both women have secrets to hide. Especially Maura she is not the kind Aunt that she seems to be, and Finn soon realises as time goes on.

Caroline Mitchell has written another fantastic thriller with ‘The Survivors’ This is a tense atmospheric read. It was also creepy with characters like Maura. She reminded me of Kathy Bates in Misery with her creepy controlling ways. This is unputdownable read. I read it in one sitting, 5 stars from me

Caroline Mitchell always seems able to pull something fresh and different out of the bag. With The Survivors she has written a creepy mystery based in Ireland. It's very difficult to say much about the story without revealing spoilers. However as always the characters are well written though in this book on the whole not very nice. The descriptions of Misery Hill and it's spooky atmosphere brought me out in goosebumps. And the twist and the end...... brilliant! Definitely a 5* recommendation from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

An exciting well written thriller of a read which held my interest in the storyline with well described characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC which I can recommend.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Thomas & mercer and the author Caroline Mitchell for an early copy of her book to read.

Another great read from this author,she writes crime books and this book is a psychological read.with secrets and lies..a tragic car crash between Maura Neice Finn and another woman Kathryn both survive..what really happened? An intense read full of suspence..looking forward to reading more of her books...

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon.

This is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, set in an isolated cottage in Ireland. It jumps between past and present as we discover more about the life of Maura, the main character, who is very troubled to say the least. This is a book about secrets, family, love and betrayal. Filled with twists and suspense, one of the best psychological thrillers of 2024 which I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

DNF. This was an incredibly slow read and not enjoyable to the point where I sadly didn’t finish this. Not for me.

On a winding cliff edge in Ireland 2 cars collide one containing Maura Claffeys neice Finn and her newborn baby girl and the other Kathryn and her newborn baby. Both women survive but one of the babies does not. In the aftermath both women try to come to terms with what happened that night. And only Maura knows the truth but she's not letting anyone get in the way of what she wants.
This had me hooked I could not put this down. This is told in multiple povs which definitely added to the story. This deals with many heavy topics including self harm and post partum depression but I felt everything was handled really well. I was terrified for Finn by the end of this. I highly recommend.

At just under 300 pages, Caroline Mitchell doesn’t waste any time or words in The Survivors. We are taken straight into the heart of this tense and fraught story of family, and one complicated woman’s interpretation of what family means.

Maura Claffey lives in isolation, in a cottage on the ominously, but accurately, named Misery Hill. The notorious accident black spot claims yet another victim, as Maura’s niece and newborn baby are involved in a car accident, on their way to meet Maura for the first time.

The Survivors has 3 narrators, Maura, Finn and Kathryn. The three rotate, giving their own version of events, while Maura also gives us glimpses back to her younger, formative years.

As I alluded to earlier, this book is anything but slow paced, it is a tension filled domestic thriller, which canters along. Once it gets hold of you, the sense of foreboding doesn’t relent. The characters are really well developed, very authentic, obnoxiously so in some cases.

I was completely hooked by this tense and gripping book, which is filled with small town claustrophobia, and long held secrets. This is my first read by the author, Caroline Mitchell, but certainly not my last, as she held my attention so firmly. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.