The story is told by two main characters, Natalie and DI Stratton, in alternating short chapters which kept up a good pace with plenty of twists and turns that keep you wanting more.

I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters and found the short, sharp sentences throughout the book a little grating. I love reading a police procedural novel and while this was a good story, I wanted more from the main police characters. I don’t expect to like them but I found DI Stratton irritating. However, I’m hoping Believe is the first in a series and there is a now a base to build from, I’m definitely keen to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph and Penguin Random House for the ARC of this book.

This was gripping and thrilling from the first chapter. It's filled with twists and turns, but is fully fleshed out so you can keep up the entire time (something i struggle with sometimes). The characters are great, the pacing is perfect and it had an ending I didn't see coming. Loved it

I was going to save my review until tomorrow but like buses, my posts are none existent and then they all come at once! I’m just too excited to share this as it was a fantastic read and I need to discuss that twist with someone, other than my 12 year old who wanted to know what was up when she heard me gasp from shock! And @sarahgovett apologies for all the tags but I absolutely loved it!

Once a year if you’re lucky you will come across a debut that blows your socks off, and this is that book for 2025.

I was convinced I had my culprit pretty early on and held that right until the twist was revealed and it was a big big twist that actually worked. It wasn’t just thrown in, everything added up and made perfect sense.

It is perfectly written with short chapters that just keep you promising one more, but you wake up with your kindle still in your hands as you can’t put it down.

The story follows Natalie and DI Stratton. Natalie has PTSD from when she was raped at work and DI Stratton is desperately looking for her big sister who vanished 30 years ago. When their lives a thrust together will we find out the truth and who do you believe?

If you love a twist then this is the book for you. I am really excited for SM Govett’s next book!

This is quite an intense book with a trigger warning about rape. It begins slowly building up the tension and speed as the story progresses. It highlights how difficult it can be to trust someone especially your husband who Natalie had implicitly trusted to that point in their lives. There are plenty of twists and turns and wow moments throughout and it can be confusing at times but in a good way. And then there is that ending.......read it to find out.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

I have taken forever to write a review and for that, I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure whatever I said did this book justice however, nothing I say would be enough because this was phenomenal.

I don’t think you’ll find a more compelling, fast paced and gripping thriller as this.
I was as hooked on the story as I was the 2 main characters, Natalie & DI Stratton.
I adored them both for very different reasons. Both have their own unique personalities, quirks and flaws. Both have a vulnerability to them as a result of trauma they’ve suffered in their past. And both were so well written I could easily picture and hear them. Fantastic character arc that I was completely invested in.

This has the right amount of twists, turns and surprises that will have you constantly coming up with your own theories as you desperately try to find out the truth from the lies and red herrings that are cleverly told.
Brilliantly written with beautiful descriptions, imagery and dialogue. Yes, it’s dark and full of sadness but there’s also humour, warmth and heart. It’s practically perfect.

And that twist at the end? Why didn’t I see it coming?? I’m so annoyed at myself. lol It’s bloody brilliant!

This is my new favourite thriller of, not only 2025, but of all time!

My star rating is out of 5 but I truly would give this all the stars in the night sky!

Thank you, Michael Joseph & Penguin Random House for the arc, via NetGalley, of this incredible book.

This is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.

A storyline that had me hooked from page one and it didn’t let up. S M Govett has created a captivating and suspenseful plot with short sharp chapters complimented by vivid and distinctive characters who lead you through many twists and turns.

An exceptional thriller which covers issues of sexual assault and the devastating impact of such actions.

I loved the lead Detective DI Stratton in this story, a main female character created with wit and humour and made this book for me.

I can't recommend this book enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers and SM Govett for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

What a brilliant premise that is thought provoking and engaging.

It kept me guessing the whole way, it’s well written and plotted with relatable characters.

I enjoyed this from the start. I’m not always a fan of dual point of view but I thought it worked well here. Stratton was an interesting character and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her return in future novels. As is frequently the case I failed to work out who the culprit was and while the ending was maybe a bit of a stretch of the imagination, isn’t that why we read fiction?

An entertaining page turner, the dual point of view and short chapters kept a nice pace throughout.
I do feel that there were certain aspects of the story that could have been explored and explained a little more. I'd also say that the end was a little rushed in comparison to the build up, but overall was an enjoyable read.
With thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

Believe by S.M Govett 👀

Firstly a massive thank you @michaeljbooks for approving my request to read and review this e-arc of Believe 🫶🏽

Review: okay this had me on the edge of my seat! I could not have enough of this!!! The suspense that was built up was phenomenal! I did not expect that ending at all!

The unravelling of the plot was not too fast and not too slow! It’s was the most perfect paced suspense! Short but punchy chapters kept me constantly finding time to get straight back in!

The character were amazingly portrayed! All had their own distinct personalities which really worked to the storyline! You couldn’t actually guess until the end who was the person behind all the bad events! Normally you have an inkling, but this threw me 360 degrees! 😱

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For the past ten years, Natalie has hardly left the house. She’s been raped by her boss, Gavin Scott. The case went to trial, but she was branded a liar. When the trial ended, Gavin suffered a deadly heart attack, and his widow, Fiona, has been sending threatening letters to Natalie.

Natalie hasn’t had a letter for over a decade. Until now.

When her husband, Ryan, is accused of rape, Natalie isn’t sure who to believe. Her husband insists he’s innocent.

However, Natalie has been suffering from blackouts, and she loses track of time. Can she trust herself?

I loved this tense thriller. It’s told from two points of view: Natalie’s and DI Helen Stratton’s, the lead investigator.

I really liked DI Stratton from the start: she had a no-nonsense approach and wanted justice for the victim families.

There are some unexpected twists and turns in this book, which I adored. I certainly didn’t know what to expect at times. The ending was sublime, too!

I am looking forward to another book by this author.

Many thanks to Penguin for approving my NetGalley request.

This book has a bright and eye catching cover which caught my attention and made me want to find out more about the story.

The story alternates between the points of view of Natalie - a troubled woman who’s receiving threatening letters and suffering from blackouts where she loses time and Helen - a police officer trying to bring justice to families after her sister went missing over 30 years ago and was never found.

Natalie is struggling with the return of the blackouts and the letters but she can count on her husband, Ryan, for support. Until he’s accused of sexually assaulting a colleague who then turns up dead and her world falls apart even more. Ryan says he’s innocent but can she trust him?
Helen is trying to find her sister and cope with her mum’s dementia and distress over the disappearance of her daughter. Meanwhile she’s partnered with a new ‘fast track’ officer.

This is a readable story with nice short chapters which keeps it quite pacy. I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters but wanted to find out what was going to happen. Towards the end of the book you need to suspend disbelief as all of a sudden Helen works everything out. The twist was quite obvious and the ending was a bit of a letdown, it seemed a bit implausible and too convenient.

Overall, this was an OK read but didn’t stand out for me.

A gripping, fast-paced read that hooks you from the very beginning. It’s thrilling, thought provoking & genuinely hard to put down! the kind that keeps you up until 3am because you have to know how it ends.

While I did figure out the plot just past the halfway point, the author does a great job of keeping you guessing early on with enough twists & misdirection to keep the tension high. I do wish the sister storyline had been explored more deeply rather than mentioned here & there as it felt like a missed opportunity for added emotional depth.
That said it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read that I’d definitely recommend to fans of clever, twisty thrillers.

★★★★

This is a great debut novel, a fast pace and a plot with several layers to keep the reader guessing.
Told via a dual POV, Natalie who has been living with a past trauma, her assailant was found innocent, she still suffers from blackouts 10 years later, and now her husband has been accused of the same crime. Natalie wants to believe the woman, but is torn by loyalty to her husband.
DI Stratton is the 2nd POV, she is investigating the case against Natalie’s husband, she is also navigating the loss of her missing sister, and to add to her stress she has a new side kick ‘Fastrack’ DC Bradley.
There are twists and turns, secrets, lies and suspense as the story unfolds, with short sharp chapters which keeps the reader turning the pages. Great read, look forward to more from this author , prrhaps there will be book 2 featuring DI Stratton.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Michael Josep & Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Was hooked on this story from page one. Telling the story from two points of view, Natalie, the wife who was rated 10 years ago but her attacker was found not guilty and Stratton, the detective. . As avdebut novel I thought it was excellent. So many twists andvturns you definitely don't see coming. A thoroughly good read.

**Listened to the audio book as well as reading the electronic copy**

This book was super gripping, and had me hooked from the start!
I really enjoyed the multiple narrators of the audiobook - definitely helped to get completely immersed.
The plot felt like it could be real - like something from a Netflix true crime documentary. And in this style, it would make a brilliant tv/film adaptation. Govett's writing style was spot on!

I was left a little disappointed by the ending, as it felt very far-fetched. (This is the reason I couldn't give the full 5*)

In Believe we follow a woman who has a traumatic past who is now faced with her husband being accused of perpetrating the same thing that happened to her. We also follow the police officer investigating this crime.

I have previously read a couple of Govett's YA books so was very intrigued to see how I would like her first adult title. I enjoyed reading from the two different perspectives. I was compelled to keep reading as I wanted to know the answer to the mystery. The outcome is not necessarily my favourite outcome but that is just a personal preference.

I cannot think of a better title for this book as I sit here and try to write my review.

Natalie lives a very enclosed life and has done so for the past 10 years since she was essentially not believed after going to court. Her rapist was believed over her and after the trial her life does not get any better. Her husband Ryan, has been supportive but the trust she has in him is challenged when her himself is accused of rape. Already living her life in a state of anxiety, blackouts and insecurity, her world is ripped apart again.

This is an amazing story. The author has created an awful background for Natalie, but she has twisted and turned her life around. Poor Natalie doesn't know what is real, whom to believe and lives in a sort of limbo.

There are police n the case and they are also part of the story. They have to work out what the truth is but when they get conflicting evidence, it soon becomes a mess. Not knowing who to believe is just the start, but when there is a death, things become critical!

This is such an addicitve story, while the subject matter of rape is not a nice one, the author does not go into any great detailing. What I took from the story and felt the main essence of it was the life of Natalie, how it had changed, who was important to her and how she ultimately lived her daily life. In building up her character, the author can then be conniving and devious with various others, but knowing that Natalie herself has memory lapses and blackouts, means she cannot be trusted either.

This is a story that looks at how someone's life can change, how their confidence can be diminished and how they struggle through daily life. Routines work, changes do not. It is a mix of crime, mystery, friendship, and family, but ultimately, who can be trusted and who can be believed!

Adored this book a huge amount, and it is one I would definitely recommend.

Thank you Netgalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House | Michael Josephand S.M. Lovett for the eArc of Believe ( The Audio Book is Belief me Now in some countries )

This is a fast paced police protocol and a psychological domestic thriller which will keep you engaged and wondering who you can trust. Told from a duel POV, Natalie and DI Helen Stratton which are both really interesting, well built characters. DI Helen heads a murder investigation of a women who accused Natalie's Husband Ryan of sexual assault. Natalie, after dealing with a sexual assault herself can't believe that her husband was ever capable of such a crime. Ryan has always been so supportive of her, her healing process and her black outs that appeared after her traumatic experience.

As the narrative progresses, these two POV's weave together seamlessly. We have a narrative that talks openly about trauma, sexual assault, rape culture, abuse and gaslighting. but also about speaking out and empowerment and how we need to keep speaking out. S M Govett writes about these possible triggers with dignity and is well balanced with the psychological elements and the character building.

I also had the pleasure in listening to the Audio. This book was narrated by Amy Noble and Helen Colby who brought both POV of Natalie and Helen out of the page and into my ears! Both ladies have a wonderful storytelling voices which kept with the pace and tone of the book. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author and narrators in the future.

5 stars

Wow! What a read!

Still suffering the trauma and anxiety from an even ten years ago, Natalie's already delicate life is thrown into turmoil when her husband, Ryan, is accused of the same crime that was committed against her. Narrated by Natalie and DI Stratton, who is a brilliant character, I was completely absorbed in this story and despite many, MANY theories spinning around in my head, I didn't guess the truth, so when it was revealed, I was genuinely stunned!

This book is so well written, with well developed characters, a multi-layered and well thought out plot, red herrings, twists and lies. I was surprised to discover this is a debut and I'm excited to see what S. M. Govett comes up with next, hopefully with some more DI Stratton on the case.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, S. M. Govett and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book.