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The Opposite of Murder
What if the only way you could prevent a murder was by confessing to it?
Jemma Stelling has confessed to a murder.
She is the police's lead suspect.
She couldn't have committed the crime.
She has an unshakeable at the time of Marianne Cass's brutal murder, Jemma was at the police station, confessing to a murderous obsession with Marianne.
Is Jemma Stelling innocent? Or is she an ingenious, cold-blooded killer?
Can you be guilty of the opposite of murder?
Jemma Stelling has confessed to a murder.
She is the police's lead suspect.
She couldn't have committed the crime.
She has an unshakeable at the time of Marianne Cass's brutal murder, Jemma was at the police station, confessing to a murderous obsession with Marianne.
Is Jemma Stelling innocent? Or is she an ingenious, cold-blooded killer?
Can you be guilty of the opposite of murder?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2026
About the author
Sophie Hannah
115 books4,693 followersSophie Hannah is an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in 27 countries. In 2013, her latest novel, The Carrier, won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards. Two of Sophie’s crime novels, The Point of Rescue and The Other Half Lives, have been adapted for television and appeared on ITV1 under the series title Case Sensitive in 2011 and 2012. In 2004, Sophie won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her suspense story The Octopus Nest, which is now published in her first collection of short stories, The Fantastic Book of Everybody’s Secrets.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
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August 8, 2026
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 rounded up.
I... Hmmm. Well, okay... Respectfully, this book was kind of a hot mess, but like, in a way that I was super invested in? It was like I couldn't look away and I just had to see how everything was going to play out.
What drew me to this book was its fascinating premise. A woman goes into the police station to confess to a murder she's planned, yet while she's there, the person she planned to kill is actually murdered, in the exact way she planned? Hell yes! Sign me up! Gone Girl was the book that got me into thrillers and it's behind my love of the possibility of having an unreliable narrator. So, yeah, this was right up my alley!
In terms of making me question if the female main character, Jemma, is reliable or not, this book absolutely delivered. Between Jemma's account, paired with dairy entries written 17 years prior and events told from other characters, things aren't always clear as to whose the villain and whose the victim. I was constantly questioning whether Jemma could be trusted, whether she was the victim of super unfortunate circumstances where someone is trying to frame her, or if she's really some criminal mastermind that is 10 steps ahead of everyone else. I mean, she does claim to the detective in the beginning that her plan is foolproof. So, is it really and she's fooling us all?
One thing I did love about this book, but can absolutely see others not enjoying, is there are a lot of characters and there are several POVs. For example, at one point, there are 5-6 police officers involved. I really enjoyed this because I think they all brought different information and perspectives throughout the story, which often further added to the questions and confusion surrounding the murder. I also really enjoyed all of the detectives weighing in and reading their different theories as they all chatted together. To me, this added an extra layer of fun and allowed me to speculate along with them. I personally didn't have a hard time keeping track of everyone, but, for some, this may feel overwhelming or make the story harder to follow.
In terms of how everything unfolded at the end, my only critique is that I felt a little confused at times. Without spoiling anything, halfway through the story, another prior event is disclosed, which adds more complexity to the situation. While both of these mysteries are fully explained at the end, in a way that I thought was very satisfying, there were parts I struggled to understand and follow. A few times I did have to reread some sentences or read them out loud to my husband and ask if he was understanding what I was.
Outside of that, I did think that explanation of the murder and how things occurred was pretty well done. I didn't think that the killer was obvious and I didn't guess anything about it correctly. Now for the secondary mystery, I did guess that one correctly and felt it was more obvious. Nonetheless, I enjoyed how both were wrapped up and the explanations were something I could believe. Now, in terms of HOW the killer did it, I can see some feeling like it's a little far fetched. However, knowing what I know about the killer, I think it made things feel more realistic and believable, so I wasn't too bothered by it.
My other major critique for this story, going back to the hot mess comment, is that it felt all over the place at times. I felt like things kept jumping around and there were a couple times where I was pretty confused as to what was going on. While this confusion never lasted for long, I did find it slightly frustrating at times.
Additionally, as a minor complaint, I found myself very confused in regards to Jemma's daughter, Lottie. A few times Jemma questions Lottie and is fearful that she has done something terrible. However, why she's worried about this is never really explained. Instead, it just felt like it came out of left field for no apparent reason.
Lastly, I don't necessarily feel this is a critique, but I did feel like one of the detectives, Simon, was a little unbelievable at times. While I applauded some of his actions (I'm all for sticking it to the man, which in this case is the new Sargent 😉😜), I did raise an eyebrow at some of his other choices that just felt overly unrealistic to me. Like I said, I don't really feel this negatively impacted the story, just something I wanted to flag for other potential readers.
Overall, I think this one is worth checking out if you want something that's gonna mess with your mind a little! Just be prepared that there are a lot of characters and things do get confusing at a few points. This book comes out Tuesday, August 25th, 2026!
3.5 rounded up.
I... Hmmm. Well, okay... Respectfully, this book was kind of a hot mess, but like, in a way that I was super invested in? It was like I couldn't look away and I just had to see how everything was going to play out.
What drew me to this book was its fascinating premise. A woman goes into the police station to confess to a murder she's planned, yet while she's there, the person she planned to kill is actually murdered, in the exact way she planned? Hell yes! Sign me up! Gone Girl was the book that got me into thrillers and it's behind my love of the possibility of having an unreliable narrator. So, yeah, this was right up my alley!
In terms of making me question if the female main character, Jemma, is reliable or not, this book absolutely delivered. Between Jemma's account, paired with dairy entries written 17 years prior and events told from other characters, things aren't always clear as to whose the villain and whose the victim. I was constantly questioning whether Jemma could be trusted, whether she was the victim of super unfortunate circumstances where someone is trying to frame her, or if she's really some criminal mastermind that is 10 steps ahead of everyone else. I mean, she does claim to the detective in the beginning that her plan is foolproof. So, is it really and she's fooling us all?
One thing I did love about this book, but can absolutely see others not enjoying, is there are a lot of characters and there are several POVs. For example, at one point, there are 5-6 police officers involved. I really enjoyed this because I think they all brought different information and perspectives throughout the story, which often further added to the questions and confusion surrounding the murder. I also really enjoyed all of the detectives weighing in and reading their different theories as they all chatted together. To me, this added an extra layer of fun and allowed me to speculate along with them. I personally didn't have a hard time keeping track of everyone, but, for some, this may feel overwhelming or make the story harder to follow.
In terms of how everything unfolded at the end, my only critique is that I felt a little confused at times. Without spoiling anything, halfway through the story, another prior event is disclosed, which adds more complexity to the situation. While both of these mysteries are fully explained at the end, in a way that I thought was very satisfying, there were parts I struggled to understand and follow. A few times I did have to reread some sentences or read them out loud to my husband and ask if he was understanding what I was.
Outside of that, I did think that explanation of the murder and how things occurred was pretty well done. I didn't think that the killer was obvious and I didn't guess anything about it correctly. Now for the secondary mystery, I did guess that one correctly and felt it was more obvious. Nonetheless, I enjoyed how both were wrapped up and the explanations were something I could believe. Now, in terms of HOW the killer did it, I can see some feeling like it's a little far fetched. However, knowing what I know about the killer, I think it made things feel more realistic and believable, so I wasn't too bothered by it.
My other major critique for this story, going back to the hot mess comment, is that it felt all over the place at times. I felt like things kept jumping around and there were a couple times where I was pretty confused as to what was going on. While this confusion never lasted for long, I did find it slightly frustrating at times.
Additionally, as a minor complaint, I found myself very confused in regards to Jemma's daughter, Lottie. A few times Jemma questions Lottie and is fearful that she has done something terrible. However, why she's worried about this is never really explained. Instead, it just felt like it came out of left field for no apparent reason.
Lastly, I don't necessarily feel this is a critique, but I did feel like one of the detectives, Simon, was a little unbelievable at times. While I applauded some of his actions (I'm all for sticking it to the man, which in this case is the new Sargent 😉😜), I did raise an eyebrow at some of his other choices that just felt overly unrealistic to me. Like I said, I don't really feel this negatively impacted the story, just something I wanted to flag for other potential readers.
Overall, I think this one is worth checking out if you want something that's gonna mess with your mind a little! Just be prepared that there are a lot of characters and things do get confusing at a few points. This book comes out Tuesday, August 25th, 2026!
February 13, 2026
The Opposite of Murder by Sophie Hannah. This was such a mess I don't know where to start. The story has multiple points of view over several time periods. Some of the points of view are first person accounts, others are third person plus we also have diary entries. With every new chapter you need to be aware of the time and date, and who we are following.
There are too many police officers to deal with. Towards the end of the book it makes a point that six are gathered together. How did we get to six?! Three of them were completely unnecessary and added nothing to the story. There's also stuff going on in the background with the police officers. Two are being sent off to Lincolnshire for some reason by the superintendent (who they all hate) and another isn't happy about it. This one is also a maverick, says inappropriate things, and goes off by themselves miles away to do some investigations.
After the murder victim is found the best friend of the step daughter goes around to the house they have been murdered outside of. She goes to the kitchen and proceeds to cook lasagna everyone, including the police officers. Why would you this? How would this be allowed?
The whole Ollie/Olly thing is a big part of the plot but gets so confusing about which is the right one/wrong one, who writes which one.
The plot and who did it, how and why? It was obvious on all accounts. There was also a previous incident and I was awaiting why this person was so taken with one of the other characters. The reason? I was left baffled.
In the acknowledgements section the author says they rewrote the book five times and spent a year wondering if they had 'accidentally produced something that made no sense'. I'll say no more.
There are too many police officers to deal with. Towards the end of the book it makes a point that six are gathered together. How did we get to six?! Three of them were completely unnecessary and added nothing to the story. There's also stuff going on in the background with the police officers. Two are being sent off to Lincolnshire for some reason by the superintendent (who they all hate) and another isn't happy about it. This one is also a maverick, says inappropriate things, and goes off by themselves miles away to do some investigations.
After the murder victim is found the best friend of the step daughter goes around to the house they have been murdered outside of. She goes to the kitchen and proceeds to cook lasagna everyone, including the police officers. Why would you this? How would this be allowed?
The whole Ollie/Olly thing is a big part of the plot but gets so confusing about which is the right one/wrong one, who writes which one.
The plot and who did it, how and why? It was obvious on all accounts. There was also a previous incident and I was awaiting why this person was so taken with one of the other characters. The reason? I was left baffled.
In the acknowledgements section the author says they rewrote the book five times and spent a year wondering if they had 'accidentally produced something that made no sense'. I'll say no more.
June 1, 2026
I received a free copy of, The Opposite of murder, by Sophie Hannah, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jemma Sterling said she is a murderer, but is she? This book had a good premise, but there was too many characters to keep track of.
December 4, 2025
I adore Sophie Hannah's novels and The Opposite of Murder was another winner for me. I sometimes feel that Sophie is criminally underrated and for some reason however I do understand why some people may not love her the way I do.
In TOOM, we meet Jemma Stelling in a police station confessing to a murderous desire to kill Marianne Upton. Jemma is hoping that confessing to the desire to kill Marianne will mean she will never carry out the act - knowing that should she ever do it, the Police would know right away it was her.
However, at the very time Jemma is confessing to this desire, Marianne is actually murdered. Whilst we know it could not have been Jemma who carried out the fateful act, Marianne's murder leads to a number of questions and unravels a lifetime of secrets, desires, jealousy and much more.
Like I say, I am a massive fan of Sophie and especially the Spilling CID series of which I think this is book 12. Simon, Charlie and the team work tirelessly and frustratingly to try and unravel this mystery and, as usual, it is the brilliant Simon Waterhouse who finally figures it out....and you'll be glad he did....cause there is no way you will!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
In TOOM, we meet Jemma Stelling in a police station confessing to a murderous desire to kill Marianne Upton. Jemma is hoping that confessing to the desire to kill Marianne will mean she will never carry out the act - knowing that should she ever do it, the Police would know right away it was her.
However, at the very time Jemma is confessing to this desire, Marianne is actually murdered. Whilst we know it could not have been Jemma who carried out the fateful act, Marianne's murder leads to a number of questions and unravels a lifetime of secrets, desires, jealousy and much more.
Like I say, I am a massive fan of Sophie and especially the Spilling CID series of which I think this is book 12. Simon, Charlie and the team work tirelessly and frustratingly to try and unravel this mystery and, as usual, it is the brilliant Simon Waterhouse who finally figures it out....and you'll be glad he did....cause there is no way you will!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 19, 2026
I'm giving up on Sophie Hannah, I think. I loved the early Culver Valley books but this was just completely ridiculous.
October 21, 2024
A Mind-Bending Psychological Thriller That Challenges Reality
In the realm of psychological thrillers, few authors can match Sophie Hannah's ability to craft intricate puzzles of the human psyche. Her latest offering, The Opposite of Murder, is a masterclass in misdirection and unreliable narration that will leave readers questioning everything they think they know until the very last page. With her trademark blend of razor-sharp wit and psychological insight, Hannah has crafted a novel that is both a gripping page-turner and a profound exploration of the nature of truth, guilt, and the sometimes blurry line between victim and perpetrator.
A Confession Without a Crime
At the heart of this labyrinthine tale is Jemma Stelling, a woman who walks into a police station to confess to a murder she hasn't committed yet. It's a premise that immediately hooks the reader, raising a host of intriguing questions. Is Jemma genuinely planning to kill someone? Is she mentally unstable? Or is there something far more complex at play?
Hannah expertly peels back the layers of this onion-like plot, revealing new twists and turns with each chapter. As we delve deeper into Jemma's psyche and her complicated relationships with her family, particularly her domineering stepmother Marianne, the lines between reality and perception become increasingly blurred.
The Art of Misdirection
One of Hannah's greatest strengths as a writer is her ability to lead readers down one path, only to pull the rug out from under them just when they think they've figured things out. In The Opposite of Murder, she employs this skill to great effect, crafting a narrative that is as much about the unreliability of memory and perception as it is about the central mystery.
The novel's structure, which alternates between present-day events and diary entries from the past, adds another layer of complexity to the story. These glimpses into the past not only provide crucial backstory but also serve to muddy the waters further, as the reader is forced to question the reliability of these accounts.
A Cast of Complex Characters
While Jemma is undoubtedly the central figure of the novel, Hannah populates her story with a rich cast of supporting characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. Particularly noteworthy is the character of Marianne, Jemma's stepmother, whose manipulative and controlling nature is gradually revealed through both present-day interactions and past diary entries.
The relationship between Jemma and Marianne is the beating heart of the novel, a toxic dance of love, hate, and mutual dependence that drives much of the story's conflict. Hannah's nuanced portrayal of this complex dynamic is one of the book's greatest strengths, offering a painfully realistic depiction of a dysfunctional family relationship.
Themes of Truth, Guilt, and Perception
Beyond its gripping plot, The Opposite of Murder grapples with weighty themes that elevate it above the typical thriller. Hannah explores the nature of truth and how it can be twisted and manipulated, both by others and by our own minds. The novel also delves into the psychology of guilt and the ways in which past traumas can shape our present actions.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Hannah plays with the concept of perception and how our understanding of reality can be influenced by those around us. The novel's title itself is a puzzle, inviting readers to consider what the opposite of murder might be and how such a concept relates to the story at hand.
A Master of the Psychological Thriller
Fans of Sophie Hannah's previous works, such as Little Face and The Monogram Murders, will find much to love in The Opposite of Murder. The author's signature style - a blend of psychological depth, clever plotting, and dark humor - is on full display here, refined to near perfection.
For those new to Hannah's work, this novel serves as an excellent introduction to her unique brand of psychological thriller. While it shares some DNA with other giants of the genre like Gillian Flynn or Paula Hawkins, Hannah's voice is distinctly her own, characterized by its sharp wit and psychological acuity.
Strengths and Potential Weaknesses
The Opposite of Murder is a novel that rewards close attention and rereading. Hannah's intricate plotting ensures that even seemingly throwaway details can take on new significance in light of later revelations. This complexity is both a strength and a potential weakness; while many readers will relish the challenge of unraveling the mystery, some may find the twists and turns overwhelming.
Similarly, Hannah's use of unreliable narration and shifting perspectives, while brilliantly executed, may frustrate readers who prefer more straightforward storytelling. However, for those willing to embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty, the payoff is immensely satisfying.
A Thrilling Psychological Puzzle
In The Opposite of Murder, Sophie Hannah has crafted a psychological thriller that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally gripping. With its intricate plot, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes, this novel is sure to linger in readers' minds long after they've turned the final page.
Hannah's skill in manipulating reader expectations and challenging our perceptions of reality is on full display here, resulting in a reading experience that is both exhilarating and unsettling. Like the best psychological thrillers, The Opposite of Murder forces us to question not only the reliability of the characters but also our own ability to discern truth from fiction.
In Conclusion: A Must-Read for Thriller Fans
For fans of psychological thrillers that challenge the mind as much as they quicken the pulse, The Possibility of of Murder is an absolute must-read. Sophie Hannah has once again proven herself to be a master of the genre, delivering a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
With its clever premise, intricate plotting, and deep psychological insights, this book is sure to satisfy both longtime Hannah fans and newcomers to her work. It's a novel that demands to be discussed, debated, and revisited, making it an ideal choice for book clubs and thriller enthusiasts alike.
In a genre that can sometimes feel oversaturated, The Opposite of Murder stands out as a shining example of what a psychological thriller can be when crafted by a true master of the form. It's a testament to Hannah's skill as a writer and her unique ability to get inside the heads of her characters - and her readers.
In the realm of psychological thrillers, few authors can match Sophie Hannah's ability to craft intricate puzzles of the human psyche. Her latest offering, The Opposite of Murder, is a masterclass in misdirection and unreliable narration that will leave readers questioning everything they think they know until the very last page. With her trademark blend of razor-sharp wit and psychological insight, Hannah has crafted a novel that is both a gripping page-turner and a profound exploration of the nature of truth, guilt, and the sometimes blurry line between victim and perpetrator.
A Confession Without a Crime
At the heart of this labyrinthine tale is Jemma Stelling, a woman who walks into a police station to confess to a murder she hasn't committed yet. It's a premise that immediately hooks the reader, raising a host of intriguing questions. Is Jemma genuinely planning to kill someone? Is she mentally unstable? Or is there something far more complex at play?
Hannah expertly peels back the layers of this onion-like plot, revealing new twists and turns with each chapter. As we delve deeper into Jemma's psyche and her complicated relationships with her family, particularly her domineering stepmother Marianne, the lines between reality and perception become increasingly blurred.
The Art of Misdirection
One of Hannah's greatest strengths as a writer is her ability to lead readers down one path, only to pull the rug out from under them just when they think they've figured things out. In The Opposite of Murder, she employs this skill to great effect, crafting a narrative that is as much about the unreliability of memory and perception as it is about the central mystery.
The novel's structure, which alternates between present-day events and diary entries from the past, adds another layer of complexity to the story. These glimpses into the past not only provide crucial backstory but also serve to muddy the waters further, as the reader is forced to question the reliability of these accounts.
A Cast of Complex Characters
While Jemma is undoubtedly the central figure of the novel, Hannah populates her story with a rich cast of supporting characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. Particularly noteworthy is the character of Marianne, Jemma's stepmother, whose manipulative and controlling nature is gradually revealed through both present-day interactions and past diary entries.
The relationship between Jemma and Marianne is the beating heart of the novel, a toxic dance of love, hate, and mutual dependence that drives much of the story's conflict. Hannah's nuanced portrayal of this complex dynamic is one of the book's greatest strengths, offering a painfully realistic depiction of a dysfunctional family relationship.
Themes of Truth, Guilt, and Perception
Beyond its gripping plot, The Opposite of Murder grapples with weighty themes that elevate it above the typical thriller. Hannah explores the nature of truth and how it can be twisted and manipulated, both by others and by our own minds. The novel also delves into the psychology of guilt and the ways in which past traumas can shape our present actions.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Hannah plays with the concept of perception and how our understanding of reality can be influenced by those around us. The novel's title itself is a puzzle, inviting readers to consider what the opposite of murder might be and how such a concept relates to the story at hand.
A Master of the Psychological Thriller
Fans of Sophie Hannah's previous works, such as Little Face and The Monogram Murders, will find much to love in The Opposite of Murder. The author's signature style - a blend of psychological depth, clever plotting, and dark humor - is on full display here, refined to near perfection.
For those new to Hannah's work, this novel serves as an excellent introduction to her unique brand of psychological thriller. While it shares some DNA with other giants of the genre like Gillian Flynn or Paula Hawkins, Hannah's voice is distinctly her own, characterized by its sharp wit and psychological acuity.
Strengths and Potential Weaknesses
The Opposite of Murder is a novel that rewards close attention and rereading. Hannah's intricate plotting ensures that even seemingly throwaway details can take on new significance in light of later revelations. This complexity is both a strength and a potential weakness; while many readers will relish the challenge of unraveling the mystery, some may find the twists and turns overwhelming.
Similarly, Hannah's use of unreliable narration and shifting perspectives, while brilliantly executed, may frustrate readers who prefer more straightforward storytelling. However, for those willing to embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty, the payoff is immensely satisfying.
A Thrilling Psychological Puzzle
In The Opposite of Murder, Sophie Hannah has crafted a psychological thriller that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally gripping. With its intricate plot, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes, this novel is sure to linger in readers' minds long after they've turned the final page.
Hannah's skill in manipulating reader expectations and challenging our perceptions of reality is on full display here, resulting in a reading experience that is both exhilarating and unsettling. Like the best psychological thrillers, The Opposite of Murder forces us to question not only the reliability of the characters but also our own ability to discern truth from fiction.
In Conclusion: A Must-Read for Thriller Fans
For fans of psychological thrillers that challenge the mind as much as they quicken the pulse, The Possibility of of Murder is an absolute must-read. Sophie Hannah has once again proven herself to be a master of the genre, delivering a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
With its clever premise, intricate plotting, and deep psychological insights, this book is sure to satisfy both longtime Hannah fans and newcomers to her work. It's a novel that demands to be discussed, debated, and revisited, making it an ideal choice for book clubs and thriller enthusiasts alike.
In a genre that can sometimes feel oversaturated, The Opposite of Murder stands out as a shining example of what a psychological thriller can be when crafted by a true master of the form. It's a testament to Hannah's skill as a writer and her unique ability to get inside the heads of her characters - and her readers.
March 8, 2026
I’ve been wanting to read this once since I saw it in the Waterstones app in early 2025… Unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations, I wasn’t a fan of this one really. The premise sounded so interesting but it just wasn’t for me.
The pacing felt slow at times, the characters were all so very unlikeable and the twist so incredibly predictable. For a thriller I wasn’t very thrilled. We are supposed to dislike Marianne but honestly it didn’t feel like it gave you enough background to why. She didn’t seem like a very nice person but I felt like something about that was missing. Maybe we could have had less chapters with the officers and some chapters from the past.
The change of POV’s, especially for the police officers got incredibly confusing for me, I was getting mixed up on who’s who. I found it hard getting an image of what that character looked like.
Apparently this is part of a series (kinda) one of the officers (Simon) had a series… From what I’ve seen and it doesn’t say it’s part of a series on Goodreads.
The reading slump is real! Hopefully my next thriller will be a good one! 🤞🏻
Book Title: The Opposite of Murder
Author: Sophie Hannah
Pages: 358
Rating:📔📔.25
Started: 4th March
Finished 7th March
The pacing felt slow at times, the characters were all so very unlikeable and the twist so incredibly predictable. For a thriller I wasn’t very thrilled. We are supposed to dislike Marianne but honestly it didn’t feel like it gave you enough background to why. She didn’t seem like a very nice person but I felt like something about that was missing. Maybe we could have had less chapters with the officers and some chapters from the past.
The change of POV’s, especially for the police officers got incredibly confusing for me, I was getting mixed up on who’s who. I found it hard getting an image of what that character looked like.
Apparently this is part of a series (kinda) one of the officers (Simon) had a series… From what I’ve seen and it doesn’t say it’s part of a series on Goodreads.
The reading slump is real! Hopefully my next thriller will be a good one! 🤞🏻
Book Title: The Opposite of Murder
Author: Sophie Hannah
Pages: 358
Rating:📔📔.25
Started: 4th March
Finished 7th March
August 22, 2026
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted copy. All opinions are voluntarily given and honest.
I hate to say that this one was such a disappointment to me. I was really intrigued by the premise - a woman goes to the police station to confess to a murder she hasn’t yet committed in order to stop herself from doing it. While she’s there, the victim is killed in the exact manner she has planned.
It really fell apart in the execution. The writing meanders through POVs, timelines and tenses in a way that makes it difficult to follow and also feel that it’s not worth the effort to try. Some POVs are first person, some are third and there’s also diary entries. And did we really NEED all those police officer POVs? They didn’t really add much to the narrative that couldn’t have been accomplished with a lot less, with tighter writing and a strong edit.
I hate to say that this one was such a disappointment to me. I was really intrigued by the premise - a woman goes to the police station to confess to a murder she hasn’t yet committed in order to stop herself from doing it. While she’s there, the victim is killed in the exact manner she has planned.
It really fell apart in the execution. The writing meanders through POVs, timelines and tenses in a way that makes it difficult to follow and also feel that it’s not worth the effort to try. Some POVs are first person, some are third and there’s also diary entries. And did we really NEED all those police officer POVs? They didn’t really add much to the narrative that couldn’t have been accomplished with a lot less, with tighter writing and a strong edit.
August 18, 2026
This was a pretty quick read — and I definitely wouldn't call it boring. Quite the opposite, actually. The premise is immediately intriguing: a woman walks into a police station and confesses that she intends to kill her stepmother. The police are understandably skeptical, but then, at the very moment of her confession, the murder actually happens.
From there, we get an investigation, plenty of conversations, and gradually more insight into Marianne and Jenna. However, I struggled to fully believe some of the characters and their motivations. The whole Ollie and Marianne storyline, in particular, felt almost absurd to me. I kept wondering: how could this actually happen, and did Ollie have absolutely no common sense?
The circle of suspects isn't particularly large, so figuring out the murderer didn't feel all that difficult. What bothered me more was the logic of the investigation itself — some of the interrogations and investigative decisions didn't feel entirely convincing, and I also found it strange that there were so few clear threads connecting the investigation to the 2012 attempt on Marianne's life.
That said, the narrative itself is not boring at all. I was actually surprised to see some reviews describing the book as slow. It's relatively short, the POVs change, and the inclusion of letters and diary entries gives the story some variety and keeps the pacing moving.
Perhaps my biggest disadvantage as a reader here is that I have a pretty extensive background in thrillers, mysteries, and crime fiction. I may simply have been asking for a little more complexity and a more convincing investigative process than this book was trying to provide.
But if you're looking for an easy, reasonably twisty mystery with a strong family-drama element, I'd say give it a try. It's an entertaining and very accessible read.
From there, we get an investigation, plenty of conversations, and gradually more insight into Marianne and Jenna. However, I struggled to fully believe some of the characters and their motivations. The whole Ollie and Marianne storyline, in particular, felt almost absurd to me. I kept wondering: how could this actually happen, and did Ollie have absolutely no common sense?
The circle of suspects isn't particularly large, so figuring out the murderer didn't feel all that difficult. What bothered me more was the logic of the investigation itself — some of the interrogations and investigative decisions didn't feel entirely convincing, and I also found it strange that there were so few clear threads connecting the investigation to the 2012 attempt on Marianne's life.
That said, the narrative itself is not boring at all. I was actually surprised to see some reviews describing the book as slow. It's relatively short, the POVs change, and the inclusion of letters and diary entries gives the story some variety and keeps the pacing moving.
Perhaps my biggest disadvantage as a reader here is that I have a pretty extensive background in thrillers, mysteries, and crime fiction. I may simply have been asking for a little more complexity and a more convincing investigative process than this book was trying to provide.
But if you're looking for an easy, reasonably twisty mystery with a strong family-drama element, I'd say give it a try. It's an entertaining and very accessible read.
June 21, 2026
I was intrigued at first with its earliest chapter following Jemma’s scene sitting at the police station confessing on her obsession and murder plan towards her stepmom; Marianne. A solid alibi for Jemma when at the same time, Marianne was actually stabbed and murdered in front of her house leaving a puzzling mystery for the police on the timeline when their prime suspect, Jemma (as she claimed) was absent at the crime scene. A familial secret soon surfaced unfolding the prolonged resentment and dissatisfaction with a twist of victim vs the murderer motives, of one’s desire, perception as well guilt.
Told in multiple POVs with intricate and dialogue-heavy premise, so full of familial drama that at times it felt too tedious to devour on the tension and conflict as it gets so convoluted and overdone with unnecessary details and repetitive arguments esp with Jemma-Ollie chapters. I did not favour the characterisation that much even the investigators too felt quite amateur-ish for me despite having their own gripping procedural mess in between themselves.
The thrilled of its whodunnit crime was lacking even with those mysterious hints and red herrings, so easy to predict yet too long to wait. Loved the revelation part nevertheless as well how its emotional impact was resolved but the excitement of reading a crime and murder thriller left me bit underwhelmed and too tiresome. A clever hook on how the incident and its mystery started but not really a fav on how the overall idea was explored.
**review copy courtesy of Pansing Distribution
Told in multiple POVs with intricate and dialogue-heavy premise, so full of familial drama that at times it felt too tedious to devour on the tension and conflict as it gets so convoluted and overdone with unnecessary details and repetitive arguments esp with Jemma-Ollie chapters. I did not favour the characterisation that much even the investigators too felt quite amateur-ish for me despite having their own gripping procedural mess in between themselves.
The thrilled of its whodunnit crime was lacking even with those mysterious hints and red herrings, so easy to predict yet too long to wait. Loved the revelation part nevertheless as well how its emotional impact was resolved but the excitement of reading a crime and murder thriller left me bit underwhelmed and too tiresome. A clever hook on how the incident and its mystery started but not really a fav on how the overall idea was explored.
**review copy courtesy of Pansing Distribution
March 22, 2026
When Jemma walks into the police station to confess to a murder - saying she needs to tell them the details so she won’t be tempted to follow her plan through - they think she’s crazy. However, when the person she says she planned to murder - her stepmother, Marianne - is found murdered while she’s at the station nobody is quite sure what to think.
The book follows the investigation and also unfolds the dynamics of the relationships the murdered woman had. She’s not a particularly pleasant person, and as the truth about the situation unfolds you can’t help but side with the police officer who decides to go off the book in his approach.
Yes, this requires some serious suspension of disbelief but it’s an entertaining read.
The book follows the investigation and also unfolds the dynamics of the relationships the murdered woman had. She’s not a particularly pleasant person, and as the truth about the situation unfolds you can’t help but side with the police officer who decides to go off the book in his approach.
Yes, this requires some serious suspension of disbelief but it’s an entertaining read.
April 14, 2026
The plot was a big pull with this but there was too much filler , I can't suspend massive disbelief for all the police antics , and I'm just a bit mad when you're told 'no it couldn't possibly be this person' when it absolutely was . also , who puts this many writing styles in a book?!
June 10, 2026
Sjukt messy & så tråkigt slut
March 16, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
this was a really unique murder mystery and i was thoroughly intrigued the whole time.
i enjoyed the diary entries, the split narration, following the police in some chapters and our main character Jemma in others. it played out well, it felt like we were getting information trickled out at the perfect pace, nothing revealed too fast but not too slow that i grew bored. i really enjoyed the way it wrapped up and the twists that came to be. a very interesting and unique mystery.
this was a really unique murder mystery and i was thoroughly intrigued the whole time.
i enjoyed the diary entries, the split narration, following the police in some chapters and our main character Jemma in others. it played out well, it felt like we were getting information trickled out at the perfect pace, nothing revealed too fast but not too slow that i grew bored. i really enjoyed the way it wrapped up and the twists that came to be. a very interesting and unique mystery.
March 19, 2026
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. Yes it does have a bit of cleverness but I feel like this is oversold as a crime thriller when it’s really a domestic drama. It’s fairly repetitive and dull for the better portion of the story. Frustratingly, more than a few times a character has untangled part of the mystery but the information is not passed on to the reader until the final chapters. It’s a tease, this bait and switch as you return to yet another nonprogressing conversation.
April 20, 2026
when you read the summary of this book it sounds great in theory. very very intriguing one might say even.
That is why I, in my infinite wisdom, purchased this book without a second thought, convinced that it would get me out of my reading slump with some thrilling murderous escapades. This was not that. It was kind of bland. kind of stale in fact.
First. You could not pay me to care about the main girl. She's boring. The police officers are more interesting (esp the main guy whose name I can't remember), but difficult to distinguish from each other because they're not particularly memorable.
The villain woman is evil. Like cartoonishly evil. I don't get it. I mean I get it, cartoonishly evil villains/murder victims can be fun, but also she's cartoonishly evil and NO ONE REALLY CARES? Like in my head she's just the step-mother from Fleabag and the dad is the dad from Fleabag, but also like without the charm and like entertainment value that the step-mother brings. This woman is just literally demented and no one gives a shit other than the occasional 'oh gosh she is a bit manipulative isn't she?' LIKE SHE WAS PLANTING DRUGS ON HER SIL + BRAINWASHING HER STEP-GRANDDAUGHTER?????
um
right
ok
I know no one knew this - but saying 'oh Marianne has some control issues when she is CLEARLY MENTALLY ILL AND POTENTIALLY SOCIOPATHIC? (which they never reallyyyyy say, but is kind of the undercurrent of the book). Like the main girl is SO WEAK. This 38 year old GROWN ASS ADULT is like completely weak and useless. I mean she makes a murder plan. But like. She's useless she cannot take control of her life to save it (LITERALLY) - um. All I could think in relation to this main character is WHY DOES SHE STILL ALLOW THIS EVIL WOMAN INTO HER LIFE??? SHE'S PUSHING 40 AT THIS RATE JUST CUT THE WOMAN OUT????
its all kind of poorly justified and just doesn't make for the most logical story progression idk. It's also very like heavy on the police officers POV and the suspects POV (which I feel like is too many POVS for a mystery/thriller novel like this? Like I can't really think of another like this because what they end up having to do is basically recompile everything together - like we have to hear about what we already know is being repeated to the police officer because he didn't know and yada yada yada ...) I fear it would've saved time to just have it in 1 POV, and then also there was the weird POVS which only came up once which didn't matter and REALLY did not help with confusing the two (or three) unmemorable police officers.
The twist is fine. It's pretty good honestly (Im talking abt the emails not the dad I don't like that - because how is your limit for your daughter's emotional abuse well into her late 30s her potential murder???? How and why is that where we must draw the line?) Mai Tai tyrant is fun and tbh that part where they figure it out is the best part, because I don't need to hear once more how unreliable Paddy is or how much Jemma loves Oliver and her child (if she loved her child so damn much she wouldn't gallivant off with this man first thing before sorting her shit out but ok sure whatever.)
also there's like A LOT of build up for things which are just not deserving of the build up? like ok her office had photoshopped images in it. BUT LIKE, her husband knew? AND IT IS PSYCHOTIC BUT LIKE NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT HER BEING FUCKING PSYCHOTIC SO WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE NOW???? NO ONE HAD A GODDAMN ISSUE WITH HER ERASING HER STEP-DAUGHTER'S MOTHER'S EXISTENCE AND LIKE DOING A MILLION OTHER SHITTY THINGS SO LIKE WHY DO WE CARE? THIS WOMAN IS CAPABLE OF MUCH WORSE WHY SHOULD I BE SHOCKED OVER SOME SHITTY PHOTOSHOPPED PHOTOS????? same for the 'reason why Oliver left' - it was SO SO BUILT UP to be something (and I know its part of the dramatic irony, but the actual reason should've also been something more than OH JEMMA'S IN A WEIRD WILL THEY WON'T THEY WITH PADDY AND SHE PICKS HIM ) like wtf? why? do? I? care?
I feel like it doesn't build up tension on the right things. Like the damn room. The damn room was built up to be sooooo weird and shit but like in the end all that was in it was photoshopped photos? Genuinely not half as psychotic as some of the other shit she does so like eh?
anyways, justice for Paddy. He didn't smoke the weed.
That is why I, in my infinite wisdom, purchased this book without a second thought, convinced that it would get me out of my reading slump with some thrilling murderous escapades. This was not that. It was kind of bland. kind of stale in fact.
First. You could not pay me to care about the main girl. She's boring. The police officers are more interesting (esp the main guy whose name I can't remember), but difficult to distinguish from each other because they're not particularly memorable.
The villain woman is evil. Like cartoonishly evil. I don't get it. I mean I get it, cartoonishly evil villains/murder victims can be fun, but also she's cartoonishly evil and NO ONE REALLY CARES? Like in my head she's just the step-mother from Fleabag and the dad is the dad from Fleabag, but also like without the charm and like entertainment value that the step-mother brings. This woman is just literally demented and no one gives a shit other than the occasional 'oh gosh she is a bit manipulative isn't she?' LIKE SHE WAS PLANTING DRUGS ON HER SIL + BRAINWASHING HER STEP-GRANDDAUGHTER?????
um
right
ok
I know no one knew this - but saying 'oh Marianne has some control issues when she is CLEARLY MENTALLY ILL AND POTENTIALLY SOCIOPATHIC? (which they never reallyyyyy say, but is kind of the undercurrent of the book). Like the main girl is SO WEAK. This 38 year old GROWN ASS ADULT is like completely weak and useless. I mean she makes a murder plan. But like. She's useless she cannot take control of her life to save it (LITERALLY) - um. All I could think in relation to this main character is WHY DOES SHE STILL ALLOW THIS EVIL WOMAN INTO HER LIFE??? SHE'S PUSHING 40 AT THIS RATE JUST CUT THE WOMAN OUT????
its all kind of poorly justified and just doesn't make for the most logical story progression idk. It's also very like heavy on the police officers POV and the suspects POV (which I feel like is too many POVS for a mystery/thriller novel like this? Like I can't really think of another like this because what they end up having to do is basically recompile everything together - like we have to hear about what we already know is being repeated to the police officer because he didn't know and yada yada yada ...) I fear it would've saved time to just have it in 1 POV, and then also there was the weird POVS which only came up once which didn't matter and REALLY did not help with confusing the two (or three) unmemorable police officers.
The twist is fine. It's pretty good honestly (Im talking abt the emails not the dad I don't like that - because how is your limit for your daughter's emotional abuse well into her late 30s her potential murder???? How and why is that where we must draw the line?) Mai Tai tyrant is fun and tbh that part where they figure it out is the best part, because I don't need to hear once more how unreliable Paddy is or how much Jemma loves Oliver and her child (if she loved her child so damn much she wouldn't gallivant off with this man first thing before sorting her shit out but ok sure whatever.)
also there's like A LOT of build up for things which are just not deserving of the build up? like ok her office had photoshopped images in it. BUT LIKE, her husband knew? AND IT IS PSYCHOTIC BUT LIKE NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT HER BEING FUCKING PSYCHOTIC SO WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE NOW???? NO ONE HAD A GODDAMN ISSUE WITH HER ERASING HER STEP-DAUGHTER'S MOTHER'S EXISTENCE AND LIKE DOING A MILLION OTHER SHITTY THINGS SO LIKE WHY DO WE CARE? THIS WOMAN IS CAPABLE OF MUCH WORSE WHY SHOULD I BE SHOCKED OVER SOME SHITTY PHOTOSHOPPED PHOTOS????? same for the 'reason why Oliver left' - it was SO SO BUILT UP to be something (and I know its part of the dramatic irony, but the actual reason should've also been something more than OH JEMMA'S IN A WEIRD WILL THEY WON'T THEY WITH PADDY AND SHE PICKS HIM ) like wtf? why? do? I? care?
I feel like it doesn't build up tension on the right things. Like the damn room. The damn room was built up to be sooooo weird and shit but like in the end all that was in it was photoshopped photos? Genuinely not half as psychotic as some of the other shit she does so like eh?
anyways, justice for Paddy. He didn't smoke the weed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2026
A boring, irritating book about boring, irritating characters. Half the stuff that happened was unprofessional and weird, the main detective was incredibly strange and just decided to not tell anyone who did the murder because he just didn’t feel like it?
One police officer yelled at her boss and the only result was the boss disappearing? There was a weird sub plot about two of the police officers being moved to a different location which turned the main detective into a whiny, melodramatic baby who acted like his family was being murdered instead of two of his colleagues being reassigned. Most of the characters were unnecessary, the victim was downright insane which no one really addressed, and the ending went on and on about how they were a crack team of detectives who couldn’t be broken up when really they had done basically nothing.
The writing was juvenile and the tone was wrong for a murder mystery with lots of lame jokes and weird tangents, and everyone was so unlikeable. The plot was so unnecessary too, because without leaning into the victim having severe delusions and psychiatric problems, then it was just a bunch of bored people rehashing the decision one of them made seventeen years ago. I really wanted to tell the main lady that this could have all been avoided if she’d realised there were more then two men in the world to choose from, especially since she didn’t even like one of them.
Something that really annoyed me too was the friend of the main lady going off to make lasagna for everyone (including the police officers!) right after they discover the victim. That’s such a labour intensive meal to make and you really need the right ingredients, you don’t just make it on a whim, especially in someone else’s house right after someone has been murdered!
This has become a bit ranty…
TL:DR I didn’t like this book and I’m still mad about the lasagna
One police officer yelled at her boss and the only result was the boss disappearing? There was a weird sub plot about two of the police officers being moved to a different location which turned the main detective into a whiny, melodramatic baby who acted like his family was being murdered instead of two of his colleagues being reassigned. Most of the characters were unnecessary, the victim was downright insane which no one really addressed, and the ending went on and on about how they were a crack team of detectives who couldn’t be broken up when really they had done basically nothing.
The writing was juvenile and the tone was wrong for a murder mystery with lots of lame jokes and weird tangents, and everyone was so unlikeable. The plot was so unnecessary too, because without leaning into the victim having severe delusions and psychiatric problems, then it was just a bunch of bored people rehashing the decision one of them made seventeen years ago. I really wanted to tell the main lady that this could have all been avoided if she’d realised there were more then two men in the world to choose from, especially since she didn’t even like one of them.
Something that really annoyed me too was the friend of the main lady going off to make lasagna for everyone (including the police officers!) right after they discover the victim. That’s such a labour intensive meal to make and you really need the right ingredients, you don’t just make it on a whim, especially in someone else’s house right after someone has been murdered!
This has become a bit ranty…
TL:DR I didn’t like this book and I’m still mad about the lasagna
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I found this book quite hard to get through. The first two-thirds of this book were very waffly, with not a huge amount to actually keep you gripped. This book is so dialogue-driven that it's almost written like a script. I don't think this helped with the flow of the story or the ease of reading it. The final third got a lot better, as the story starts to unravel and you find out what's going on, but again this is basically all done through dialogue and no real story telling. It also seemed a bit far fetched and strange, not the real jaw dropping or shocking twist that I was expecting. Not sure how to feel about this one really!
January 7, 2026
I really couldn’t get into this book. It was confusing in its style, jumping about every few pages. I didn’t like the characters. I have tried to get into this author’s books before but I find her very difficult to understand.
August 1, 2026
The Opposite of Murder had all the ingredients for a thriller I should’ve loved, but it never quite came together for me.
The opening hooked me immediately, and I was excited to see where the story would go. Unfortunately, as the book went on, I found myself waiting for it to end.
My biggest issue was the motive behind Marianne’s murder. She’s portrayed as an unpleasant, meddling stepmother, but I never felt like the story gave enough background to justify the level of hatred directed toward her. Because of that, the central mystery lacked the emotional weight I was expecting.
The investigation also stretched my suspension of disbelief a little too far. A detective with a perfect homicide solve rate refusing to solve a case because he doesn’t like his new boss, and a supervisor accepting that without demanding answers, just didn’t feel believable. It made it difficult for me to stay invested in the mystery.
The characters themselves were also hard to connect with, and I found many of them more frustrating than compelling.
Overall, I think The Opposite of Murder had a really interesting premise, but the execution didn’t quite live up to its potential. While it wasn’t the book for me, I could still see it working better for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with unconventional investigations.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
⚖️ T W I S T E D T U E S D A Y review ⚖️ featuring “The Opposite of Murder” by Sophie Hannah!
Jemma Stelling walks into a police station confessing to the opposite of murder. She has NOT committed a murder YET, but she is afraid that she might very soon. Jemma has the entire murder planned out for her evil stepmother Marianne Upton and is driving herself crazy with thoughts about executing her plan.
While Jemma is at the police station trying to explain all of this to the police and give her statement, shocking word gets out that Marianne was found stabbed to death on her driveway. To make matters worse, Marianne was killed in the exact same way that Jemma’s plan described!
The timing confirms that there is no way Jemma committed the crime as it happened at the same time she was at the police station. Now Jemma is in a tricky position: confessing to a murder while it happens AND still being considered the number one suspect!
💭 Such a cool idea for a murder mystery because the opposite nature made things very messy! Jemma always seems to be 10 steps ahead of everyone which made it hard to trust her. Is she innocent? Is she THAT good at masterfully setting up a murder. Or is she getting framed? All of these thoughts will bounce back and forth in your brain as you try to solve the puzzle! This book is full of twists and turns, blurred lines, diary entries and traumatic memories.
Thank you kindly to @sophiehannahwriter @poisonedpenpress @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on August 25, 2026!
Jemma Stelling walks into a police station confessing to the opposite of murder. She has NOT committed a murder YET, but she is afraid that she might very soon. Jemma has the entire murder planned out for her evil stepmother Marianne Upton and is driving herself crazy with thoughts about executing her plan.
While Jemma is at the police station trying to explain all of this to the police and give her statement, shocking word gets out that Marianne was found stabbed to death on her driveway. To make matters worse, Marianne was killed in the exact same way that Jemma’s plan described!
The timing confirms that there is no way Jemma committed the crime as it happened at the same time she was at the police station. Now Jemma is in a tricky position: confessing to a murder while it happens AND still being considered the number one suspect!
💭 Such a cool idea for a murder mystery because the opposite nature made things very messy! Jemma always seems to be 10 steps ahead of everyone which made it hard to trust her. Is she innocent? Is she THAT good at masterfully setting up a murder. Or is she getting framed? All of these thoughts will bounce back and forth in your brain as you try to solve the puzzle! This book is full of twists and turns, blurred lines, diary entries and traumatic memories.
Thank you kindly to @sophiehannahwriter @poisonedpenpress @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on August 25, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is such a twisted thriller, and I adored it. What happens when someone admits to plotting a murder in detail and then confesses to it at a police station before the actual murder takes place?
This is exactly what Jemma Sterling does. There is, however, a problem: a murder has taken place! It was committed at the same time as Jemma was at the police station and in the way she had planned to do it. But, obviously, it cannot be Jemma as she was talking to a detective a the time.
Details of the plan, Jemma's life with her husband, Paddy and their daughter, Lottie, her relationship with her stepmother, Marianne, who was the murder victim, a past romance, and how a mysterious locked room has suddenly been cleared of all the items contained within it.
The author spends time allowing the reader to understand the people in this story, but there is always something that is being held back. There is a police investigation, but the main focus is on Detective Simon Waterhouse and his "off the books" investigation. There are reasons behind this line of enquiry, and while there may be some readers who disagree with this happening, it does actually add to the thriller and suspenseful nature of the plot. It is, after all, a story and a work of fiction.
The plots are numerous, and you are expertly led through them. I did go through a few guesses, and while I can say I was correct at one point or another, I was nowhere near the real reasons. In truth, the perpetrator could be any one of the characters, so in essence, I didn't correctly choose.
This is a character-led story that has depth and drew me in from the beginning. It is complex, and at times far-fetched, but again, this is something that I didn't mind, and it added to the feel of the story. A crime thriller, based firmly within a family, with secrets and a whole lot more. I would definitely recommend this one.
This is exactly what Jemma Sterling does. There is, however, a problem: a murder has taken place! It was committed at the same time as Jemma was at the police station and in the way she had planned to do it. But, obviously, it cannot be Jemma as she was talking to a detective a the time.
Details of the plan, Jemma's life with her husband, Paddy and their daughter, Lottie, her relationship with her stepmother, Marianne, who was the murder victim, a past romance, and how a mysterious locked room has suddenly been cleared of all the items contained within it.
The author spends time allowing the reader to understand the people in this story, but there is always something that is being held back. There is a police investigation, but the main focus is on Detective Simon Waterhouse and his "off the books" investigation. There are reasons behind this line of enquiry, and while there may be some readers who disagree with this happening, it does actually add to the thriller and suspenseful nature of the plot. It is, after all, a story and a work of fiction.
The plots are numerous, and you are expertly led through them. I did go through a few guesses, and while I can say I was correct at one point or another, I was nowhere near the real reasons. In truth, the perpetrator could be any one of the characters, so in essence, I didn't correctly choose.
This is a character-led story that has depth and drew me in from the beginning. It is complex, and at times far-fetched, but again, this is something that I didn't mind, and it added to the feel of the story. A crime thriller, based firmly within a family, with secrets and a whole lot more. I would definitely recommend this one.
August 20, 2026
thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
another Sophie Hannah book with bad reviews that I thought was great ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I feel like you need to go into her books accepting that there is going to be a certain level of absurdity and just roll with it. as the kids would say, you need some joy and whimsy. normally British humor does not do it for me at all but her version of it does.
anyway I thought this book was a very good mystery. the plot is actually original, which feels pretty rare for me and thrillers at this point! loved getting to know that family and all its weirdness. Hannah's books so far have been fun because her characters are full of, again, let's just say idiosyncrasies. I cared way less about the inter-office drama with the cops and I thought there was way too much time spent on it, but apparently this is part of a series, which explains why the drama existed in the first place.
if you're willing to deal with, or even think you would enjoy, a certain level of absurdity that goes uncommented on in your thrillers... please try out Sophie Hannah? because we need to raise her overall star average on here lol
another Sophie Hannah book with bad reviews that I thought was great ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I feel like you need to go into her books accepting that there is going to be a certain level of absurdity and just roll with it. as the kids would say, you need some joy and whimsy. normally British humor does not do it for me at all but her version of it does.
anyway I thought this book was a very good mystery. the plot is actually original, which feels pretty rare for me and thrillers at this point! loved getting to know that family and all its weirdness. Hannah's books so far have been fun because her characters are full of, again, let's just say idiosyncrasies. I cared way less about the inter-office drama with the cops and I thought there was way too much time spent on it, but apparently this is part of a series, which explains why the drama existed in the first place.
if you're willing to deal with, or even think you would enjoy, a certain level of absurdity that goes uncommented on in your thrillers... please try out Sophie Hannah? because we need to raise her overall star average on here lol
August 17, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted ARC!
It always bums me out to write a less than stellar review, but this one just wasn't great. It had some moments of being super engaging and gripping but for the most part it was just confusing and had way too much going on. I'm giving this a 2.5 star but rounding up to 3 stars here because of Goodreads.
This has an interesting premise in the beginning, a woman who confesses to a murder she wants to commit, to keep herself from actually committing it. She doesn't want to leave her daughter without a mother if she were caught and sent to prison, and knowing that the police would suspect her and she wouldn't get away with it, she thinks it will cure her desire to do it. The beginning was interesting, we get diary entries of her from events in the past, and what leads to her hatred of the person. But it just gets so incredibly messy.
Between feeling like this had way too many characters for what it was and the jumping around of revelations and things, it just wasn't satisfying for me. This is releasing on August 25th.
*This ARC was given by Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.*
It always bums me out to write a less than stellar review, but this one just wasn't great. It had some moments of being super engaging and gripping but for the most part it was just confusing and had way too much going on. I'm giving this a 2.5 star but rounding up to 3 stars here because of Goodreads.
This has an interesting premise in the beginning, a woman who confesses to a murder she wants to commit, to keep herself from actually committing it. She doesn't want to leave her daughter without a mother if she were caught and sent to prison, and knowing that the police would suspect her and she wouldn't get away with it, she thinks it will cure her desire to do it. The beginning was interesting, we get diary entries of her from events in the past, and what leads to her hatred of the person. But it just gets so incredibly messy.
Between feeling like this had way too many characters for what it was and the jumping around of revelations and things, it just wasn't satisfying for me. This is releasing on August 25th.
*This ARC was given by Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.*
July 5, 2026
ARC review
This book has great potential to be a good thriller leaving you guessing til the end. But it gets caught up in itself so many times you feel inundated with plot and characters and backstory. It’s all a bit overwhelming. There are so many names and nicknames that you have to suspend remembering which cop is which just to make yourself continue the story. The base family is well done, the parents, Paddy, Ollie, Lottie and Jemma. I feel like if the author had stuck more to just this group the story would have worked much better. It is the influence of so many cops and detectives that gets you jumbled. It feels like the book is trying too hard. With so many words and ideas and plot twists and lies and truths. It took away from the story completely.
I’m guessing you could skip chapters at a time and still get the same out of the book. You’d miss nothing and get just as much enjoyment. Which means all that added filler brings nothing to the table.
This book has great potential to be a good thriller leaving you guessing til the end. But it gets caught up in itself so many times you feel inundated with plot and characters and backstory. It’s all a bit overwhelming. There are so many names and nicknames that you have to suspend remembering which cop is which just to make yourself continue the story. The base family is well done, the parents, Paddy, Ollie, Lottie and Jemma. I feel like if the author had stuck more to just this group the story would have worked much better. It is the influence of so many cops and detectives that gets you jumbled. It feels like the book is trying too hard. With so many words and ideas and plot twists and lies and truths. It took away from the story completely.
I’m guessing you could skip chapters at a time and still get the same out of the book. You’d miss nothing and get just as much enjoyment. Which means all that added filler brings nothing to the table.
July 21, 2026
That was a total mess. Way too many POV’s and way too many characters who added nothing. It was such a slow burn, really confusing to the point some of the characters actions made no sense and the dialogue was completely unrealistic. When the motivations were all revealed it was like “yeh that’s just silly.” I’m usually a fan of this author but that was a chore.
Did Not Finish
June 27, 2026Skipped to the end because I couldn't take the changing of perspective every 5 minutes and the nonsensical guff about the detectives being reallocated. Thankful I got this book from the library, as even 99p would have been a waste.
May 2, 2026
I do love Sophie Hannah's writing although this one seemed so tedious to start with. No matter, that was just the groundwork and the story became more interesting as it went along and it was really quite clever.
August 1, 2026
A nice murder mystery. The beginning could have done with another round of editing, found it to be a bit muddy. The narration took a little bit of getting used to, going back and forth between several persons perspectives in the present and diary entries from the past. But as soon as you get to know the characters a bit better, that sorts itself out. Enjoyed it, a quick read!
August 7, 2026
What a great read . Devilishly witty writing had me giggling out loud... an out of the ordinary story that keeps you wondering where the hell its even going which just makes you want to read more .. il be reading more of sophie hannah.
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