Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

“The Companion”, by Joe Crow, has just about anything and everything you’d want to see in a book about caring for ailing Hollywood A-listers: mystery, secret societies, backstabbing, intrigue! It follows Anna, our main narrator and protagonist, as she is hired to care for the famous yet unpopular starlet, Kara. Kara is in a mostly vegitative state after sustaining an intense fall from the second floor of her house. Colin, her husband, hired Anna to aid in Kara’s care. Not all is as it seems, as Ana hears odd noises in the night, and the husband seems too good to be true.

This book was a lot of fun to read, and it was well-written too. I liked most of the characters, even though Anna made it difficult at times. She was one of those protagonists who was as smart as she was a little dense—rather maybe gullible is a better word? She made a lot of connections on her own merits, while other times she completely missed the plot. She was also a more complicated character, as she did everything on her own morals but sometimes those morals were questionable at best. I like having characters like this though, it bring a lot more depth to a story. In particular when it’s the lead character it’s the most intriguing. Most protagonists have a bit of what I like to call, “protag syndrome” where they aren’t too much of anything other than vanilla as it makes it easier for the reader to identify with them. For me, it makes them a little boring and I tend to like side characters more because of this. Thankfully “The Companion” doesn’t do that, so I really appreciate the author’s approach to characterization in this regard.

While others weren’t as questionable in their intentions as Anna, I still found most of the characters throughout the book each had their own depth and motives. The book really has a lot of great things with this, I think writing characters can sometimes be one of the most complicated things to do in books, and Joe Crow proves it’s one of his strengths. The story itself is well done, I really enjoyed reading it and its pacing felt pretty perfect overall. Though a lot of the twists and turns were somewhat predictable, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment—also it comes with the territory of the genre. I think some might not figure it all out by the end, but it’s definitely a great thriller/mystery for both veterans of the genre and those just coming into the fold.

Overall I scored “The Companion” 4.5 stars out of 5, which we’ll round up to a solid 5 stars! An excellent book and the first I’ve read by Joe Crow. This is another author I’ll keep my eyes open for when picking my next read.

This book was hard to put down! I read it very quickly. I liked how the chapters were relatively short and it kept me guessing.

Loved this book. What a twisted story I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend to all who loved to read psychological thrillers.

A gripping and twisted psychological thriller that keeps you guessing at every turn. It was well written with great characters even though Anna could be annoying at times. An easy read that was well paced. Some parts are predictable but didn't see the ending coming. I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Relay Publishing and Jo Crow for an ARC of "The Companion".

When Anna gets a job acting as a companion to Colin Harrington's invalid wife, she thinks that she has hit the jackpot. Because Anna has plans of her own, and working in the high profile podcaster's mansion might open some doors for her.

But she hasn't bargained for the strange atmosphere in the house, as well as some of the realisations that are about to come her way...

This is a suspenseful and engaging story, but the pacing is somewhat uneven. There are plenty of plot twists, not all of them predictable. Worth a read, it gets 3.5 stars.

Completely forgot to review but never-mind! Well... that was a ride. I always think that when a book is still as clear in your kind a month after reading as it was when you just finished, that's the sign of one heck of a book!!! I loved it, it did feel a bit slow to start but pretty quickly I was deeply invested. The characters were original and brought to life well. The plot is well paced and not always going in the most obvious direction and I absolutely loved the ending! When you get that big reveal I was literally cheering! Such a good book

This book had a slow start, with the pacing not really picking up until about 30% into the story. While I was hopeful that the remainder would be more engaging, unfortunately, it failed to hold my attention. Despite an interesting premise and a cast of intriguing characters, I found myself predicting the outcome long before I was halfway through. This lack of surprises made it difficult to stay invested, especially for a suspense or thriller novel where twists and unexpected turns are crucial to maintaining suspense.

While the plot had potential, the overall execution left me wanting more. Ultimately, it didn’t deliver the kind of thrilling experience I was hoping for, and I was left feeling a bit disappointed.

I really enjoyed this book! Our “hero” Anna wishes to be a voice actress so a job offer as a personal companion in Colin's house is right what she needs, as she’s got ambition and a dark secret of her own. There is a studio she can use and the job is not the worst one, she just needs to make Colin's wife's Kara company and be the best companion she can be. But the house and its occupants have their secrets too, dark ones. Will Anna get out with what she wants and in time?
Thank you, NetGalley for this copy!

Dark, twisty and ultimately an absolutely fantastic read.

There’s nothing in this book that isn’t gloriously claustrophobic and it is impossible not to fall deeply in love with the atmosphere.

This is one for the dark nights, you will swallow it whole.

This was fantastic! It was twisty, suspenseful and overall a very fast-paced read! I loved the characters and the plot and it was an unexpected ending. A must read for any psychological thriller fans! I received an ARC from the publisher for this book- thank you! This has been one of my favorite thrillers ever!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Companion by Jo Crow is an absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will make your blood pressure sky-high from time to time!
Ok, the first part of the book gave me kind of strong Verity vibes (minus the mad sexual overload (thanks Goodness!)) and the second part picks up in the original direction.
The book is presented from Anna's and Kara's point of view and mainly told in the present so it was easy to follow.
This book shows dark and twisted showbusiness shadows with evil people who will not stop in front of anything to get what they want.

Anna wishes to be a voice actress so a job offer as a personal companion in Colin's house is right what she needs! There is a studio she can use and the job is not the worst one, she just needs to make Colin's wife's Kara days a bit brighter!
Anna is not ready for the dark side of this offer but can she get out on time?

The end twist definitely took me unexpectedly!

Thank you, NetGalley for this copy!

This book was such a fun and wild ride!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to guess what was going on. The characters, setting and overall story were written very well. I will be recommending this one to all my friends who enjoy thrillers.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This book was quite a pageturner. The beginning had definite Verity vibes, but by the middle of the book went in a completely different direction. I do have to say that none of these characters were particularly likable, which was hard for me. Where were theee people’s morals??? But overall, 3 1/2 stars.

Loved this book! An easy read with a lot of twists and turns. I was sucked in right from the beginning.
Anna is trying to make it in LA, doing whatever she can to move forward. She takes on a job as Kara's companion, an invalid with a dark past.
Is Anna up for the challenge of taking her on? How far will she go to land her dream role? Who is causing mischief around the house to scare her?

Jo Crow’s The Companion is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into ambition, betrayal, and the murky waters of human morality. The story follows Anna, an aspiring actor, who lands a unique job as a companion to Kara, a once-rising starlet whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.

The novel starts at a slower pace, carefully laying the groundwork for the complex relationships and layered backstories. While the beginning requires patience, the payoff is worth it. Around the halfway point, the tension ramps up significantly, and the book becomes impossible to put down. Crow’s expertly timed twists and vivid characterizations make the second half a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations.Anna’s perspective adds an engaging layer of intrigue as she navigates the glamorous yet shadowy world Kara once thrived in.

If you enjoy thrillers with slow-burn beginnings and explosive, twist-filled endings, The Companion is well worth the read. It’s a haunting reminder that the price of ambition can sometimes be too high.

Mind over Matter

'The Companion' by Jo Crow is a modern thriller with an interesting take on the lengths people will go to to become successful in Hollywood. Anna is a voice actress with no work and nowhere to live. On the recommendation of her father, and for the added perk of being able to use the home sound studio, she takes a job as a companion to Colin Harrington's wife who has very little mobility after an accident. However, it seems as though only Colin wants her there, which is fine with her, because she wants Colin. Whilst she fights to keep her job with the Harringtons, she uncovers the deadly secrets they are hiding, while trying to keep her own undiscovered.

I enjoyed reading this thriller and read it in only a few days. The twists and turns were surprising, and the few I guessed, were mainly due to them being seeded in the novel. The novel is a page-turner, but more plot-driven. The characterisation is pretty superficial and the main character doesn't really change in any significant way. Anna wasn't really a sympathetic character until she was put in jeopardy.

Themes of domestic abuse shown through gaslighting, control presented as love, violence and other forms of manipulation are clear and were given a fresh take in relation to life coaching and self-improvement. More could have been done with some of the secrets, especially in their relation to some of the more recent Hollywood scandals, but I thought it was a fun read. I think it would be a good read on holiday or on a commute.

Thank you to Relay Publishing and Netgalley for making this eArc available for review.

Anna lands a job as a companion for a former actor and the wife of celebrity podcaster, Colin. Colin's wife, Kara, was in a terrible accident and is largely unresponsive. Anna's job is to be there for Kara, so she doesn't feel so alone. Anna is excited because the job pays well and she has somewhere to live. Plus, the beautiful house also has a sound studio, which provides the perfect chance for Anna to jumpstart her career as a voice actor. However, as time goes on, the gig doesn't seem so great. Caring for Kara (no pun intended) is harder than Anna imagined. Plus, she keeps hearing noises in the night and feels like she is being watched. Although, Colin is pretty easy on the eyes...but, as time goes on, Anna discovers a few secrets buried in the house. And someone wants to keep those secrets hidden.

This book reminded me of The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden and The Nurse by Jenna Kernan. If you have read either of these books, then this one may feel a bit too familiar. I will say that the ending was very twisted and well done! It is a super quick and easy read. Some parts were a bit predictable (maybe because I have read some similar books) but the final twist was really good and surprising!

Thank you Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Landing a job caring for the unresponsive wife of celebrity podcaster Colin Harrington could be the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I get a place to live, a paycheck and a way to salvage my comatose career.....

Yes, it is reminiscent of Verity and The Wife Upstairs, so we've seen this plot before - creepy wife upstairs not talking, needs a companion/home help......however, this was just, better. Unsettling, well developed characters and well thought out. A prime example of a thriller done right. While the general plot may be familiar, this was the best of the bunch for me.

It was well written, some good twists and an ever developing storyline. I liked the backstories, the hidden tapes, the meddling nurse, how unnerving Kara was and the ending was wrapped up nicely. Anna was fabulous, a wanna be actress who would seemingly do anything to make it in Hollywood, however her strong morals and loyalty surprised me.

A great read, can't wait to read more from Jo Crow.

Jo Crow’s The Companion delivers a gripping and twisted narrative that keeps readers guessing at every turn. From the very beginning, Anna’s journey plunges her into a web of unexpected challenges and dark revelations. The sense of foreboding grows with every page, and as the plot unfolds, the twists come in unexpected yet satisfying ways.

What stands out is Crow’s ability to mislead her audience—just when you think the story might take one direction, it surprises you with an entirely different path. The resolution is particularly rewarding, tying up loose ends in a way that feels both shocking and satisfying.

This novel has it all: tension, psychological depth, and a sense of unease that lingers long after the final page. For fans of suspenseful and layered storytelling, The Companion is a must-read.