What a journey this read was, I kept sneaking time to read as I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. It is certinly an indepth psychological thriller wih many twists and turns that I could not keep up with trying to guess who was the murderer and why. A fantastic well paced read with so many suspects to Alice's murder but they all kept being dismissed.Although the book is centred upon the murder of Alice there is another plot and story in the background, both are extremely well intertwined. The characters were so realistic and indeed all were complex in the story which added to all the intrigue. I cannot wait for another book by this extremely talented author.. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for letting me read this amazing book.

S.M. Govett’s Believe is an addictive and twisty psychological thriller that grips you from the start and keeps you guessing until the final page. With a well-crafted narrative that shifts between the perspectives of Natalie and Detective Stratton, the book explores themes of trauma, trust, and the shadow of doubt.

Natalie’s life was shattered a decade ago when her boss assaulted her and a jury deemed her a liar. Haunted by this injustice, she struggles to move forward, her attempts to escape the past often leaving her with alarming memory gaps. Her fragile world is rocked once more when her husband, Ryan, is accused of the same crime. Natalie is torn between her instinct to defend him and her growing suspicions, particularly when the accuser’s body is discovered in the woods near their home.

The story’s brilliance lies in its constant ambiguity. As the investigation unfolds, every character seems a potential culprit, and even Natalie begins to doubt her own actions and memories. Govett’s writing weaves tension with precision, keeping the reader in a state of unease. The pacing is excellent, balancing the procedural elements of Stratton’s investigation with Natalie’s emotional turmoil.

The final reveal is both shocking and satisfying, offering a resolution that many readers will not see coming. Believe is a well-written debut with a smooth flow and compelling characterisation, making it a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. S.M. Govett has delivered a solid and entertaining story that will leave readers eagerly anticipating their next book.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A good fast paced read that made me second guess a few times. Just what you need in a psychological thriller. Thank you netgalley & S M Govett for an advanced copy of this.

I really enjoyed this. The dual narrative worked well and the plot was twisty enough to keep me guessing. I particularly loved the clever way the author kept me second guessing and changing my mind about who I could trust. The plot centres around Natalie, a woman suffering long-term trauma after an attack. When her husband is accused of a similar assault on a work colleague, Natalie's world falls apart. The is a secondary storyline with the lead detective and her sister, Helen, who went missing years earlier. The plot unfolds gradually and with great skill. And, although it's a much over-used phrase these days, there is an absolutely cracking twist you most certainly will not see coming!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. A fantastically fast paced edge of your seat psychological thriller. Great detailing in the story and a good set of characters. A brilliant twist at the end that I didn’t see coming at all. Overall a fabulous read that I will definitely recommend.

Wow! I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked! This book was an absolute fantastic, suspense-filled, unputdownable page turner with a wild unexpected twist! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

The perfect example of a psychological thriller I had no idea who to trust and believe until the last few chapters.

This book masterfully weaves suspense, intrigue, and complex characters into a story that keeps you guessing until the very end i’d highly recommend!

If you're a thriller fan in any capacity, I would recommend grabbing this one immediately! This author is definitely one to watch and I can’t wait to read more of her books! 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

Wow, what a great read! Believe is a fast-paced psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns. I read it quickly as I couldn’t put it down. It’s very well-written and cleverly structured. We meet two protagonists: Natalie who is happily married to Ryan but has PTSD from a shocking incident in her past and DI Stratton who can not rest until she finds out what happened to her sister Karen who disappeared. I was equally interested in both women’s stories and the plot is intriguing. The book has one of the best endings I have read!

This was an engaging read with an intriguing premise. I loved the author’s writing style and the first 3/4 of the book galloped along at a great pace. The plot did seem to get a bit shaky towards the end - Natalie’s reactions to some pretty major events seemed a little muted and unrealistic, and indeed there were quite a few aspects that were a little far fetched, which made the last part of the book a bit disappointing.

Overall though I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read the author’s next offering!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

#Believe #NetGalley
Mind blowing.
Natalie Campbell loses time. She’ll wake up in different places with no memory of how she got there. The blackouts are a symptom of her PTSD, which began after she was sexually assaulted by her boss, who was found not guilty. But she found ways to cope by setting up routines and relying on her supportive husband, Ryan. Then one day, her husband is accused of committing the same crime that ruined her life.
Natalie desperately wants to believe he is innocent, but when Alice Lytton, the young woman who accused him, is found murdered in the woods near their house, she begins to doubt the man she married.
DI Helen Stratton is also healing from old wounds. Her older sister disappeared when she was 16, and the police didn’t bother to investigate. Vowing to help other lost and vulnerable girls, she joined the force. Stratton is ready to do whatever it takes to catch the killer and bring justice to her sister and Alice.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy.

Amazing, this book grabbed me instantly. So lucky to have been approved for this. So many times I i actually said out loud " I did not see that coming" if you like something easy to read yet capturing this is for you.

I really enjoyed this book. Told from different characters points of view and stories it was engaging, well written and with a few good twists. I’d definitely look out for the next book by this author.

I really liked this book and am glad that it seems to be hopefully the start of a new series, I had my suspicions about one of the characters but while they were guilty of something, it wasn’t for murder, I felt the ending was a real twist and one I didn’t even consider. A great debut from this author and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

An amazing read. Gripping from the first page. Really felt for Natalie, the main character. Surviving with such a horrific trauma. I loved the story and the twists.

I was excited to receive an ARC of this book, a debut adult thriller by this author, a first time read for me. This novel had me hooked from page one with a wonderful writing style that was punchy, pacey and full of humour. Also fabulous quotes, which I enjoyed and lots of great characters to love and hate. The two protagonists created a range of emotions: suspicion, fear, lies, suspense as well as interesting character development.

A really entertaining read which was full of twists and turns which keep you guessing and the pages turning.

I loved this book. I give it a 5 star rating.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND MICHAEL JOSEPH PUBLISHING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ARC IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. ALL MY OPINIONS ARE MY OWN

This is a good story with a twist at the end, but for me it is spoiled by the bad language. You expect drug dealers etc to use bad language but not the police detective. She has a dreadful potty mouth and is very critical of the way middle class people live. I couldn’t warm to her. I will not be reading anymore from this author.

Found this a very hard book to get into. To start with it was just about the psychological problems of 2 women. However it did improve

A woman in a loving marriage survives the attack of a sexual predator at work only to find herself targeted by the man's wife after the subsequent court case.

Several years after the assault, her own husband is accused of rape by a co-worker - who is found dead shortly thereafter.

After years of believing that women do not lie in such instances, who will she believe now?

If her husband is guilty of rape and murder, does she not want him to go to jail? If he is not guilty, can she forgive him for his infidelity?

This is a gripping story that starts a little slow but picks up pace quickly and does not let go thereafter. An reallyinteresting domestic thriller with well-drawn characters and a good twist. It gets 3.5 stars, do take a look!

An incredible psychological thriller with a gripping storyline and authentic characters.

Natalie was a fabulous character, her vulnerability made her so endearing and Stratton was formidable.

I thoroughly enjoyed following their stories and the mystery of who was guilty had me changing my mind constantly - which is exactly what you want in a thriller.

Adored the ending but to avoid spoilers I won't explain why in this review - suffice to say it's poignant, satisfying and and life affirming.

Told through the eyes of two characters, Natalie and FI Helen Stratton comes this formidable police procedural debut novel which I had the pleasure of reading and an arc for NetGalley.
Fast paced, keep you on your toes action from start to finish and guessing all the way through made this an incredible read for me. I couldn’t put it down and read it all in one sitting while convalescing!!
A murder a conflicting story and an officer being fast tracked through the ranks bring together this excellent twisty plot thriller which is not to be missed if this is your genre.