How I love a book that makes me doubt my own sanity and judgement. The uncertainty that seeps in gradually when at first I have been sure of what is real and imagined. 
Jo has had her share of trauma in her life, which has resulted in a number of conditions for her to over come on a daily basis.  Just as Jo is beginning to gain her feet and confidence to venture out to pick up her young daughter from nursery she is approached by a woman claiming to know people on the street where she lives. She eventually asks for a lift in Jo's car and although every nerve is telling Jo to refuse she gives in. Jo knows it is a mistake straight away and asks for the woman to leave the car but when she produces a glove belonging to Jo's little girl it sort of stops time while different scenarios raced through my mind of how she came to have this. She leaves Jo with a threat, either Jo's husband returns what is owed to this woman or it wont just be a glove she takes.
What follows is literally quite mind blowing as circumstances spiral out of control at an incredible speed, with Jo's ability to raise her daughter questioned by officials, even her husband is doubting his wife's mental state to look after their child.  Is she mad or set up? Well no one will believe the latter.  
There are two constant paces to this book, one a fast and edgy where I felt the need to keep looking over my shoulder and a second that was only two paces behind me. With the feeling of just sitting on the edge of fight or flight all of the time. Even how I judge people myself changed to the point of trusting no one. Fate can be wicked at times and it certainly comes calling in this story. C L Taylor always manages to give me the full emotional stress experience and this book was no exception.

There was a sense of unease from the beginning of this book. The tension remained throughout which resulted in an interesting story. There was always a sense of unanswered questions that affect the actions of the main character.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it was defiantly a good place to start. The plot was thick with clever ideas and twists. I felt a compulsion to carry on reading this book well into the night as I found it difficult to put down. I will certainly be searching out CL Taylor’s back catalogue and I look forward to reading them.

The Escape by C. L Taylor had an eerie atmosphere right from the start. A stranger gets into Jo’s car and starts telling her about herself and her family. She even has Jo daughter’s glove. There is something really creepy about this stranger. Well apart from this encounter. This is not the kind of person who fits the usual villain’s profile. However, you need to read this book to know what I mean. The uniqueness of the creepy stranger added to the spookiness of the encounter. After the weird incident, things start happening around Jo and they get creepier with each chapter.

Jo is an unreliable narrator. I couldn’t tell what was real and what wasn’t as far as she was concerned. There were certain things that made me doubt her but I still liked her as a character. She was portrayed as a bit weak at first but her love for her daughter proved that she was stronger than she appeared. Her issues with agoraphobia made me sympathize with her and its part of the reason why I was so drawn to her. She was brilliant despite everything. I can’t say much about the other characters without spoiling the book. However, I’ll just mention that the characterization is one of the best aspects of this book.

The story is narrated through alternating perspectives. Jo is the main narrator. Other narrators include Max and another character who readers meet later on in the story and whose identity I won’t reveal for now. In addition, there are shorter narrations by the villain throughout the book. As I have mentioned before, I have always liked the darker narrations in thrillers and this wasn’t any different. It was scary yet fascinating at the same time. The pacing of the story remains the same from the first to the last page hence mystery and eeriness is maintained throughout.

The ending of the story was satisfactory. The last chapters were very tense but in the end I was happy with the conflict resolution. This story had everything that I like in thrillers. It has secrets and lies, dark narrations, twists and memorable characters.. I also like how the author builtin the main story-line with other little connected story-line hence making it a complex yet addictive narrative. And I like the cover, I don’t know if it’s the ghostly, cloudy vibe going on with the deserted boat and the birds but I really like it. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys fast-paced, suspenseful thrillers.

Having read all of this authors books I am always eager to read the next, this newest book did not dissapoint with C.l.Taylor again at her best. The feeling of injustice for Joanne from start to finish made me eager to read on. Another must read!

Actually 4.5 stars.
Well, this book hit the ground running. The tension hit a high early on and didn't let up right until the end. But then, what more did I expect from this author having read and enjoyed her previous books very much. This is a classic psychological thriller. Jo reluctantly gives a stranger a lift and that small action swiftly snowballs as the stranger gives her a warning, backed up with presenting her with Jo's baby daughter's glove. So begins Jo's nightmare as no one believes her, not even Max, her husband. Her behaviour becomes questionable to everyone who should be on her side as both the police and social services get involved. With no one near by to help her, she does the only thing she can do, she runs back to her past to hide. Will she get anyone to understand the truth let alone believe her? And will she do this in time?
Apart from a few niggles I had with some of the things that happened, which I can't spell out here due to spoilers, I found this was a well plotted, high tension book. The niggles I had were easy for me to just swallow and move on as the rest of the book more than made up for them so I was happy to accept and crack on. The pace of the second part of the book was a little slower than the opening and I found that these parts complemented the high octane parts very well. I didn't get respite for long though as the pace soon picked up again towards the end as we reached the conclusion.
Jo is a rather complex character but very believable. She has her issues which don't really help her case but, underneath them, it is obvious that she is just trying to do her best and, even though I did spend a lot of the book screaming at her, I couldn't help but sympathise with her and did get a bit emotionally involved in her plight. I really did go through the wringer with her every step of the way, making this a very hard book for me to put down.
What started off, for me anyway, as a bit of what could be a predictable plot soon spiralled as layers were uncovered and the twists and turns along the way left me pretty much breathless at the end. There is definitely more to quite a few of the characters than what is initially presented which kept me guessing. Especially the "why", let alone the "who". Hints are presented and facts uncovered at appropriate moments which both kept me on my toes as well as assisting me to come to some of my own ideas about what was really going on. I was mostly wrong though!
All in all, this was a good solid read, tight, interesting plot, placed well and played out by interesting characters. Another cracking book to add to this author's already impressive back catalogue.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I was unbelievably excited for this new book from CL Taylor and as such wanted to allow myself time to read as much of this as possible in one sitting. I ended up reading all but the first few pages all at once and I am glad that I did. The storyline of a CL Taylor book is so tense and so gripping that I strongly believe all of her novels are best read in one sitting so that you can fully immerse yourself in the action and get the proper reaction to every moment in the book. That being said, I feel sure that this storyline will sick with you so much when you put the put down that you will absolutely be ready to dive right back into again upon picking it back up.

One of the reasons I love CL Taylor's Psychological thrillers so much is because they generally have a slightly more domestic setting than other psychological thrillers I have read, meaning that there is a story that I can relate to going on alongside the action. The events take place in a normal household in a normal street or with a normal group of friends and I think because they are so relatable I find them so easy to read. This particular storyline surround a mother and her need to protect her daughter. There are a few issues with her anxiety and a few other issues in her home and work life but aside from that this is essentially what the storyline surrounds.

I really liked getting to know the character or Jo, we experience the very first moments that this fear grips her, the need to escape is there right from the beginning and so we get to know what Jo is like and how she handles things very quickly. Husband max and their daughter are also in the action right from the word go and then we have the mystery situation for which Jo is trying to escape. I think Jo is like every other mother but also experiences the anxieties that a lot of us experience whether or not we are mothers and so we get a very clear picture of Jo right from the beginning.

A lot of this story is set in Bristol, with escapes to other cities which actually exist. The setting means that the story gets under your skin a lot more easily because we can picture the scenes taking place and imagine them happening just down the street from us, in our neighbourhoods and workplaces. I also loved the link with the title and the need for escape in the book. I loved the way the escape was interpreted throughout the story and without giving any spoilers away, I'm sure you will too.

If you're not usually a psychological thriller fan, as I am not normally, then CL Taylor is a great place to start because her novels are so very easy to relate to but at the same time so compelling. I read this basically in one sitting, just like her previous 3 novels, which speaks for itself really. Her writing and her ability to twist and weave plots and characters just astounds me and I highly recommend picking up her latest novel right now!

A twisty, dark psychological thriller. Who would you believe. A mother with one thing on her mind, to protect her daughter at all costs. She feels that she is being watched, but who by? The police and social services are after her...but why....who do you turn to when you feel everything is against you?
I read this on a rainy Sunday, the writing is excellent ....just remember to breathe.

I've read three of CL Taylor's books now and while each one is different, one thing that can be relied on is that this author knows how to write realistic and believable relationships .I couldn't work out what was going on with this book, it was scary and twisty and the pace was good and kept me page turning.I can't say too much,I don't want to spoil it for others but this was a cracking read that had me stumped and wanting to read as fast as I could and that is all I can ask for.I like her writing style it is easy to read and she spins a good tale.Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Escape by C. L. Taylor was tense and full of surprises from the start.
The book begins with an anxious Jo hurriedly leaving work to pick up her daughter, Elsie, from nursery. As she is walking to her car Jo becomes aware of a woman keeping pace behind her, a woman who speeds up when she does. Jo begins to panic and cries out when the woman grabs her coat. The woman asks her if she knows where she can get a bus to Brecknock Road. Jo is surprised as this is where she lives and begrudgingly she offers the stranger, Paula, a lift.
Once in the car Jo realises she has made a horrible mistake when this woman she has never met before calls her by name when she hasn’t introduced herself. She also comments on what a pretty girl Elsie is. Paula then goes on to explain she knows Jo’s husband Max and that he has something that belongs to her. Then she digs around in her pocket and produces one of Elsie’s socks and tells her, You should keep an eye on your daughter’s things…and your daughter.
Shortly after this we learn that Jo is agoraphobic to the extent that it is a wonder she can bare to leave the house for work and pick up her daughter from nursery. Max discusses with a colleague the fact that Jo has never taken Elsie to the park or the Zoo and doesn’t like him to take her out when she isn’t there. Privately he reminisces on the fact that he thought she was getting better before Elsie was born but Elsie’s birth appeared to escalate her condition and now she is calling him constantly and they haven’t had sex in months.
He comments to his colleague that Jo is unable to even go grocery shopping now since she suspects someone was watching her last time she went. It is clear the extent of her agoraphobia, and his reactions to it, are putting a strain on their marriage.
With the addition of Paula’s threat it soon becomes clear that their problems are set to escalate and Jo is unsure if she even wants to continue in a marriage where she clearly isn’t believed or supported. Particularly when Max downplays and is dismissive of her fears.
As the book progresses, and it looks like there is a real possibility that Jo might lose Elsie, it becomes clear that the only way of keeping them together is to run.
I love the way C. L. Taylor develops the characters. Initially I had little patience with Jo believing that a lot of her behaviour, like not talking to the police, was ridiculous. As the book developed though I grew to like her more.
Max as a character annoyed me for the lack of support he gave to his wife but I also felt a bit sorry for him when it looked like things were falling apart between him and Jo.
I highly recommend this book.

A real page turner which keeps you involved to the end. Brilliant descriptive language throughout paints very clear images.

I've always been a fan of Cally Taylor and find each book is better than the last. The Escape is by far my favourite so I'm very happy to award this 5 stars.

From the very first chapter you are drawn into a tense psychological thriller that you simply can't put down.

The main characters all work perfectly with the plot line. First there's Jo, an over protective mother to Elise but can you blame her after what happened before. Max the doting dad to his beautiful daughter, but is everything as it seems. Would he turn against his own wife?

This book is absorbing and gripping and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Worth every one of its 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Cally Taylor for the chance to review.

I found this to be a slow burner but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Jo is threatened by someone called Paula. But jJo's husband doesn't believe her. Is she going mad? Who can she trust? Exciting and well written. Highly recommended.

A fabulous suspense thriller! The underlying mental health issues suffered by Joanne, along with the sinister presence of Paula really make for thriller of twists. I loved how the story moved locations but managed to retain the same level of tension. All the characters had many layers that were slowly revealed as the story unfolded. An excellent read all round.

"The Escape" by C.L. Taylor is one scary book! And I don't mean scary in a Stephen King sort of way. What I find the most terrifying here is the fact that every single affair that the main character - Joanne Blackmore - got involved in, could happen to any of us. Haven't we all made mistakes in life? How well do we actually know our loved ones? Those are the questions I've been asking myself throughout this whole book.
"The Escape" is divided into two parts. To me they could almost be two separate stories and yet they fit together so well. The first is most definitely a psychological thriller where nothing seems real and where, at some point, I started doubting every single character's truthfulness and motives.
The second part reminds me of Rosamunde Pilcher's novels in a way... only it's so much scarier!
This book kept me awake at night. I just had to keep reading. And I must admit, I could not fall asleep long after I finished it. It was frightening, disturbing and thought provoking. I loved it so much I am definitely going to read other works of C.L Taylor.
All in all, "The Escape" is a fantastic book! I cannot praise it enough. Thank you so much to the wonderful author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

A fast paced page-turner! Twists and turns, lies, fear and anger! The first book that I have read by C L Taylor, and I like his writing style Immensley. A thoroughly good read.

I love psychological thrillers and have read a spate of very good and not so good ones recently. This one is up there with the best of them. I've never read this author before but I've gone and downloaded all her other ones and am looking forward to losing myself in those too.

I don't really go over the plot in my reviews as it's there in the blurb. I really liked the character descriptions and narratives. It was very easy to relate to the main character, Jo, as the author described her thoughts very well and it helped me understand agoraphobia a little better. The plot was very well set up and it was so easy to see both sides of the story from Jo's and her husband, Max's. perspectives and how bad things can look without knowing the full story. Perhaps because I read so many thrillers, I could see the clues leading towards the full storyline and the culprit (s). Plural, because there are actually two stories in the book.

I also liked the Irish setting and the Irish landlady and her background and how this intertwined with Jo's story (albeit very coincidental). The first part of the book was a little more tense and suspenseful than the second part, especially whilst the second story was being told in full. Nonetheless, it was a book I didn't want to leave (but household chores DO have to be done!) and I really looked forward to getting back to it. Read it in about 3 sittings but one have been in one, but for those chores!

I was slightly disappointed with the ending as I thought it could have been projected even further forward in time although the ground was laid for what the future held. I also thought the very end could have been a little more ...... menacing!!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review and for introducing me to an author whom I'm sure will become a favourite of mine.

The Escape

I love unreliable narrator stories; it's difficult to know where they're going. The Escape is the first book I've read by C L Taylor and I had no idea whose narrative to believe. It's fast paced, cleverly constructed in layers which build bit by bit, with a twisted back story behind the central character.

Jo and Max are married, but their relationship is unhappy. Jo has some anxiety issues which affect her day to day life with her child and husband and she's tipped to breaking point when a mysterious woman presents an ultimatum. Her life and world spiral out of control and her husband struggles to provide support. Right from the outset, there's an almost palpable sense of fear and threat. I found it difficult to judge who was the most disturbed and why as facts emerged and the plot thickened. There's an excellent escape story as one of the characters goes on the run with the child. Whether or not the child was at risk kept me guessing and was cleverly woven into a fresh story which revolved around Ireland during the troubles. There was a real sense of small town Ireland; one where everyone knows everyone else's business and the truth was sure to come out. But even in the latter stages of the book, I was kept guessing as to what the truth was. Powerful at times, convincing characters and occasionally disturbing, this is a great psychological thriller. I really enjoyed it and will certainly be looking for other books by C L Taylor.

My thanks to the publisher for an advance review copy via Netgalley.

I'd read The Missing by the same author and, though I couldn't recall it, I checked my review here and it was fairly positive so I opted to read The Escape as well. However, I should have gone with the realisation that if you can't recall anything at all about a book months after you read it, it was probably weak, and so, I'm afraid, was The Escape.
I persisted because I really try to finish books I get from Netgalley, as a matter of gratitude for being allowed access, but I found the central character so unlikeable that I was actually rooting for her to fail, which is kind of crazy, no? I wonder if starting the novel 'in media res' was an issue for me - I'd been dropped into the middle of this marriage which was pretty much over on page one, with no reason to support either party or care if they were put in harm's way. Make me care what happens to a character before they are terrorised in the opening lines, otherwise I'm unmoved really.
Spoilers in next section - beware!
It also seemed far too glib that one woman can go from respectable professional, wife and mother to being believed responsible for at least half a dozen separate crimes in a matter of days, or that one middle-class woman can be the semi-orphan of a criminal father, suffering from mental health issues, dealing with a dying step-parent, married to a criminal abuser, stalked by another criminal, suspected by doctors, lawyers, social workers and police, fleeing in disguise with false passports, accidentally moving in with the victim of her dead father's crime... why not also have her attacked by a tiger while we are piling on the drama? Not for me - particularly when the ending is so neatly resolved with the trite inevitability of bonus potential new husband thrown in for good measure...because ultimately the women in this story have no purpose once they have lost either child or husband. The only single, childless character is a Botoxed, bleached blonde, hard-faced, tobacco-stained, promiscuous, violent thief. #feministgoals

I've loved all Cally Taylor' previous books and this was no disappointment.