The Anniversary

by Cole Baxter

I gaze across the candlelit table into the eyes of the man I love. It’s our anniversary dinner, a celebration of our marriage, of how far we’ve come. But within hours our romantic date has ended in murder…

When I wake in a hospital bed, blinking under the blinding white lights, I hear someone saying there has been an accident. My heart misses a beat when I recognize my husband’s voice. He says I was driving the car. He says I’ve killed someone.

I can’t breathe. I know I wasn’t the one behind the wheel. Tom was.

The love of my life — the handsome, clever man I’ve been married to for five years — has betrayed me. But why? And on the anniversary of our wedding day…

I need to uncover the secrets he’s been keeping. Before I lose my freedom — or my life…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists. For fans of The Doctor’s Wife, The Marriage and The Housemaid.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller Suspense

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2024

About the author

Cole Baxter loves writing psychological suspense thrillers. It's all about that last reveal that he loves shocking readers with.
He grew up in New York, where there crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.
His stories will have you reading through the night--they are very addictive!

Sign up for Cole's VIP Reader Club and find out about his latest releases, giveaways, and more. Copy and paste this link to sign up: http://eepurl.com/dqL8yT

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Happy publication day!
2⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ Ohio
Publication date ~ April 19, 2024
Page Count ~ 320 (37 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 17 minutes
Narrator ~ Stephanie Cannon
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ drinking and driving, murder, gaslighting, manipulation, corruption, mentions of infidelity

Catherine (23) is married to Tom, who is 15 years older than her. They got together, with her father's blessing, when she was 17 (huh?). Now it's their 5 year anniversary, they've had an expensive meal, including $100 for 6oz of champagne (huh again?), and are on the way home when there's an accident and a woman is killed. Thus sets forth this tale of major gaslighting and small town corruption.

Wow, I was not feeling this one at all. There are maybe 3 or 4 good characters out of quite a few. Catherine is so young and naive, and doesn't make the best choices. The plot is quite implausible and crazy, or maybe not and it's true to things that really go on in small towns were there's influential corruption. There were some action packed moments, but Tom was just awful and needed a good throat punch, as did most of the men, expect one.

Narration notes:
She did a fine job differing her voices. When she did the dialogue for Catherine she made her sound young and naive, which fit the story well.

*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*


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[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secrets and lies are the name of the game in Cole Baxter's twist filled book, The Anniversary. This proved to be a fast, dramatic, and dark twisted read.

People celebrate their anniversaries in many ways: some prefer to celebrate them at home and some, like Tom and Catherine, prefer to indulge in a lavish meal at a restaurant. But most make it home safely, but not Tom and Catherine. On the way home, there was a horrible tragic crash. When Catherine wakes up in the hospital, she learns she has been charged with being the driver in an accident which resulted in a fatality. But she wasn't driving and has the bruises to prove it. This is only the beginning as Catherine learns more about her husband, things become more dire, more dangerous, and more twisted.

This book started strongly with a horrible accident, disbelief, blame, lies, secrets, and then with revelations which left Catherine reeling. Cole Baxter knows how to write controlling and despicable characters! I mean seriously, Tom was the worst. Try reading this book and not feeling some strong feelings about his character. Catherine was very young when she first met Tom who is 15 years her senior. She is naive, has little life experience, and is a little too trusting. I felt for her for most of the book, while also wanting to tell her to run for the hills.

This book (and characters) has a lot going on in a short amount of time. There are secrets, gaslighting, lying, manipulation and drama galore in this book. It's entertaining and had me thinking of the show Desperate Housewives while reading due to the involvement of the neighbors in this book.

I had both the audiobook and kindle version of this book. I thought the narrator of the audiobook did a great job bringing the book to life.

*If you have not read Cole Baxter before, I would recommend reading Finding The Other Woman. I found that to be more enjoyable. I can't say that I loved this one, but I enjoyed the drama and twists.

Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Tonya · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the things I dislike most in life is giving an unfavorable review. With that being said, it is with a heavy heart that I say this book wasn't for me, and I can not recommend it. I can’t remember when I disliked a character more than one of the characters in this book. The other main character frustrated me beyond belief. The feeling I felt when I finished it was a relief that it was finally over. This would have been a DNF if it wouldn't have been for the audiobook. The narrator did a great job, bringing the characters to life and made the experience bearable. I have read other books by this author that I enjoyed, but this wasn’t one of them, unfortunately. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Anniversary" begins with a bang:
A husband and wife celebrating their 5th anniversary are in a fatal car accident.

The wife wakes up in a hospital, accused of driving the car that resulted in a fatality.

The wife is confused because she knows her husband was the car's driver.

Although the book's "charming husband of five years has a secret life " premise was strong, the book's dialogue was stilted and unrealistic.

WHY?
Nobody communicates with each other like the characters in this book.

I listened to the audiobook read by Stephanie Cannon, who did an outstanding job with the narration.

Narrator Stephanie Cannon kept me engaged while wincing; elevating my rating of this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I took a break between finishing this book and writing the review because I wanted my review to be…kinder. It’s still a tough road.

This isn’t a good book.

I’m rarely this discouraging, but it’s not even an ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ thing. It’s just not well written.

Rather than a book, it reads like an extended plot description. It’s over 300 pages, yet feels weirdly anemic when it comes to anything that actually builds a book – characterization, plot development, anything at all.

The story is illogical. It literally makes no sense and the author occasionally throws in some unbelievable action movie scenes which, unfortunately, make you laugh rather than gasp. None of the characters behave with any believability. There’s also no suspense. The book is literally like: Here is our heroine. Here is our bad guy. Here are our bad guy's minions. Bad guy is going to bad. Good girl is going to good. Let us have villain’s villainous moment where he gets to crow about being a villain. Okay, the end.

I mean…I hope you like it and I’m sure some people will. But, I kind of want the time I spent on this one returned to me.

• ARC via Publisher

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an action fulled listen. You are thrown into the sction straight away. Some of the dualogue is distracting and does not sit well with the characters. Totally unrealistic and inappropriate more likely to be foubd in a movie. I did find this distracting. At time it felt like an over the top film. I enjoy the tension and this would make a good film. It dealt with important issues such as grooming and gaslighting and was enjoyable and farfetched .
This is a good solid rounded up to 4 stars. The narration is compelling. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator

[Mandy K · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Anniversary (audio)
2⭐️

Gaslighting, isolation, grooming, deception, and control are just some of the words describing the marriage of our main characters. Katherine realizes she can no longer trust her husband and she needs to get out before it’s too late.

I can’t begin to imagine how hard it is to write a thriller novel. I give immense credit to writers and surely couldn’t do it myself. Making sure the plot and flow are exciting while remaining realistic. Adding in tough topics, like abuse, which are complicated and unique in each situation and that’s a lot of moving pieces to get just right. Unfortunately The Anniversary didn’t hit the mark for me. It felt like bits and pieces were there but it wasn’t fully executed in a cohesive enjoyable way.

Wonderful narrating across all characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date 19 Apr 2024

[Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was painful. I skimmed so much of it because it was full of unnecessary, filler detail. The dialogue was nowhere near how any humans would ever communicate; there are so many unbelievable plot points that I genuinely thought I must be reading a parody; the characters are tropes; the descriptions are truly dull.

It was so linear and uninteresting that even at the 82% mark I was still hoping for a giant sweeping plot twist that just never came.

It’s a great book for people who like stories of coercive, abusive spouses facing their comeuppance in a really long, boring, painfully obvious way.

Had this not been an ARC from NetGalley, I’d have DNF.

[April · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started off ok but I quickly realized it was going nowhere. The story was so far fetched, none of it made any real sense. It was a struggle to finish, the writing and dialogue between characters was so poorly written. I had to skim through the ending of the book so I can’t really even say I finished it. Let me save you the aggravation, pass on this one.

[Eryn Reads Everything · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consistently read Cole Baxter's books in one sitting and this was no exception. I really enjoyed this story and some of the characters. There were moments where we teetered into the unbelievable, but I still think this was just one of those books with great vibes.

[Alley Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is…not a good book. At all. I finished it because it was an ARC and because I was interested in how Tom would finally get taken down. Instead of a traditional review, I’m just going to list my thoughts while reading, because I had A LOT and none of them were good.

⁃ The author does a great job of making me hate Tom within just two chapters

⁃ Why are they speaking so formally to each other??? It’s WEIRD

⁃ If Jessica was going to kill Catherine, why didn’t she kill Tom once she realized he was the one driving? (This was sorta answered later but it was a dumb answer)

⁃ Elaine what the fuck? As someone in healthcare, if a patient told me they don’t feel safe at home, the very last thing I would do is leave them alone there??

⁃ What the fuck does Tom have on these people to make them just sit around and literally beat the shit out of his wife for 2-3 days straight??

⁃ Why doesn’t Catherine go to a women’s shelter in Cincinnati?

⁃ You’re telling me a shoot out happened with the state police like this is the Wild West?? Why?? Are all of these townspeople high on drugs?? Being mind controlled?? Truly I cannot think of any other reason for going through with this

⁃ How can detective adams just say nothing is wrong with all the evidence??

⁃ Jessica’s back story is so dumb. What do you mean you just deserted your post in the middle of Iraq after your entire military unit was blown apart?? Why would you do that?? And then secretly come back to the states and act like nothing ever happened??

⁃ Girly you really didn’t see that Tom murdered your father? After everything he’s put you through??

⁃ I can’t even describe how unrealistic and stupid this stand off is. What the fuck are the townspeople gaining from it?? Absolutely nothing. They have zero good reasons for doing this.

⁃ And Catherine actually feeling bad for the townspeople, after they literally beat the shit out of her, for dying when the state police shot them. Girl who cares about them. They sure as hell didn’t care about you??

⁃ So why did everything just magically fall into place after Catherine shot Tom?? This is dumb

⁃ What is she talking about, putting the house on the market?? I thought it caught fire?? Why is there no mention of even a little bit of fire damage???

⁃ Thank god that’s over

[Tish Caldwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

First off, thank you so much, Netgalley, for sending me this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly, I just couldn't even with this book. It just felt like too much and not enough at the same time. I didn't like any of the characters, and there was a ton of repeating moments and dialog in the book.

It didn't really seem like a thriller to me because everyone was so naive and gullible as adults that I was flabbergasted, and the closer it got to the end, the more ridiculous it all became. I couldn't wait for this book to end.

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 rounded. The Anniversary is a thriller with twists and turns and tons of corruption and mystery. We have a five year wedding anniversary gone horribly wrong.

We start off so strong when there is a car accident that leads to how deeply woven lies within their marriage are. I was hooked for the first half of this book! However, the dialogue and story really declined for me in the second half. I just found the story to be completely unbelievable as well as the conversations that were taking place. They just seemed so unrealistic and I lost interest in what the outcome would be. It felt like two different books.

This audiobook was narrated by Stephanie Cannon. She did fantastic with her portrayals of all characters!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Cole Baxter, and Bookouture Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This will be available for everyone on April 19th.

[Shauntelle (myglamorousreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romantic anniversary dinner to celebrate 5 years married ends in a car crash. A woman is dead, and her husband is saying she was driving. Yet she is certain her husband was the one driving. Why is he lying?

This book starts off with a bang, and is so action packed! This one kept me engaged from the first page. The story was not what I expected, but I loved it. Did I have to suspend a touch of reality for some of the action? Yes, but that did not take away from the story at all. This book was fast paced, thrilling, entertaining, beautiful, anxiety inducing, and intense. As you can see, this book made me feel a gamut of emotions. The characters were very well developed, and the plot was masterfully written. It flowed in a way that kept you reeled into the drama and twists while anticipating what was to come.

Stephanie Cannon is a wonderful narrator. She moved effortlessly between characters, genders, and emotions. She really brought this story to life!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for this excellent ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Theo’s books! He has different narratives and not cliche like so many other authors. While I felt the beginning was slow at times, the action ratchets up quite a bit. There’s murder, domestic abuse (which I grew weary of) but then lots of action. I loved the protagonist’s secret helper. She is probably the best character in the whole book!

[Sylvia Clark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every time I thought... it's going to get better.. it, in fact, did not get better
The repetition of making her admit to be the driver. Made me want to admit to being the driver so the book could end
Sheesh!

Katherine and Tom are married. They are celebrating their 5-year anniversary. There's champagne, the best money can buy. Katherine doesn't want it, but Tom insists. On the way home, Tom is going way too fast. There's a crash. A woman is killed. Katherine is found in the drivers seat, although Tom was the one driving.
Tom picks out her clothes for her. She doesn't get to choose her attire for the day. He gives her chores to do while at home
No one sees the narcissist that Tom is
His friends praise him. Katherine has no friends who would believe that she wasn't the one driving. Tom has even taken account to have the neighbors side with him. He tells them Katherine is an alcoholic. They believe Tom and rally up against Katherine. They are trying to make her admit that she was the one driving instead of Tom
The more she relentless, the more they try to punish her and force her into saying she was the one driving
😴😴

[Tina B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Catherine and her husband Tom’s fifth wedding anniversary. To celebrate, he’s taken her to a posh restaurant for a romantic dinner, an extravagance he never bestows on her despite his wealth. As usual, he’s planned every aspect of their evening, making all her choices for her including the dress she’s wearing, what she’ll eat, and even what she’ll drink. Tom’s a man who demands absolute control, especially when it comes to his wife. Yet, as he plies her with terms of endearment and expensive champagne, Catherine senses something off about him. She can’t help but be suspicious.

Even though their night has been magical, their marriage has been anything but. Thinking that maybe he’s cheating on her again, she checks his phone when he steps away from the table. However, who he is texting is the least of the secrets her husband is keeping. On the way home that night, Tom’s erratic driving causes a high-speed collision and the death of a woman in the other car. As the paramedics tend to Catherine, she hears her husband tell the police she’d been the one behind the wheel instead of him. Tom says she’d been drinking, and she caused the death of the woman. Catherine knows he’s lying. But why? What is he hiding?

Fast moving, gripping, and completely unsettling, “The Anniversary” by Cole Baxter is a domestic thriller that explores the terrifying progression of abuse within a marriage. Accurately replicating both physical and psychological abuse, it can be difficult to read at times if you’ve ever been through something similar. Tom’s gaslighting of Catherine is all too realistic. Even though she recognizes his lies, he still manipulates her into second-guessing herself and questioning her memories — to the point that it could cost her her life. In the world of psychological thrillers where nothing is as it seems to be, it’s easy for the reader to be gaslit by Tom too. He repeats his lies so much and so consistently that it’s easy to doubt Catherine’s version of the truth. At least for a little while

“The Anniversary” by Cole Baxter is action-packed and loaded with suspense. Tom’s the monster you expect to jump out from around a corner when he’s not in a scene with Catherine. He’s the psychotic abuser who you wish that you could save Catherine from (either physically or psychologically) whenever he is. This isn’t the twisty, shocking thriller you’re used to. This is a heart-in-your-throat, white-knuckled-at-times story with a heroine you’ll think about for a while after you finish the book. As for Tom? You won’t believe what he’s hiding or all the lies he’s told… and why.

Thank you to author Cole Baxter and Bookouture for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will say one thing about this book, the action and anxiety started from the very first chapter. My heart was in my throat a lot, not knowing what was going to happen to Catherine next. The amount of gaslighting in this book was insane. I wonder if that's what it's really like being with a narcissist. It just seemed... too much.

That is where my problem lies with this book and why I couldn't give it 4 stars, as much as I wanted to. Everything in this book is too much, too far-fetched. How Tom had such a hold on everyone was crazy. I understand small towns, influence, and secrets, but this went beyond that. The way everyone was acting, you would think the town was a secret cult, and Tom was the leader. However, it never gave you enough back story to determine what was going on. The town and the power Tom had over it were made to be such an important and central part of the storyline, but we never figured out why. The only explanation we got was "they're all related" and "everyone is his cousin." That in itself was a little too much to believe. Then it goes on to imply that his reach goes farther into the much larger town of Cincinnati and even the entire state because, guess what, the governor is his cousin too 🙄. Give me a break. Give me something just a bit more plausible or at least more of a back story as to why almost everyone is willing to do literally anything for this man. If the author wanted me to believe that they were all cousins close enough to do this much shady stuff for each other, it should have at least been set in backwoods West Virginia. Then it MIGHT have been a little more plausible.

Also, what kind of person basically gives their 14 year old daughter to a 30 year old man to be groomed 🤢. This just screams "cult," not "cousins," and I think I would have enjoyed it more if that had been the case.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed certain things in this book. Jessica was a badass. Catherine was a badass. The detective was a badass (even if I was expected to believe that he wouldn't check seatbelt bruising patterns as soon as the question arose of who was in the driver's seat).

I know this is "ficton". Maybe it's just me, but I do like my thrillers to have a little more realism in them. At the very least, give a little back story where it's warranted.

Thank you to the publishing company and NetGalley for providing this book for review. All opinions are my own

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the book The Anniversary by Cole Baxter we meet Tom and Catherine after celebrating their anniversary while leaving Cincinnati they got in a car wreck killing a young woman. Tom was driving but told the police it was Catherine and it will be her contradicting him that will change everything. Tom gaslight Catherine at every turn telling her she drinks too much something she barely does and when she finds out he does have siblings and parents again tells her he told her this already something she knows isn’t true. Tom is a big fish in the town of Eldon and he has many secrets he needs to stay hidden along with his corrupt family and Catherine denying responsibility for the wreck will put him on the hot seat unfortunately it seems everything Tom does Catherine gets blamed for it. All their friends agree even trying to beat her into submission to say she did it but Catherine is slowly gaining allies and people willing to stand by her. Unfortunately it seems Tom has friends in high places can Catherine get out of this unscathed and show the world who Tom really is or will it end in disaster? Let me just say Cole Baxter is talented enough that it keeps you wanting to turn the pages but no book ever ends without some eye rolling in a lot of suspending of belief involved. I listen to this one on audio and thought the narrator did a pretty good job although Catherine almost came off babyish but having said that this is still a book I definitely recommend it was a fun way to pass the afternoon and it’s just good enough to keep your attention I want to thank Bookoucher audio for my free arc copy via NetGalley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

High 2 ⭐️.

The most straightforward book I’ve ever read, I think. You know exactly what is going to happen in regards to the main plot.
Catherine is being pursued as the main suspect in the death of a woman in a car crash, except she wasn’t the one driving, and her husband is the only one who insists that she was. You can figure out his motivations in the very first chapters, as well as the structure of how the book is going to develop.

The book doesn’t exactly go bonkers like a standard popcorn thriller, but it does have many unbelievable aspects that did make me lower my rating, despite the book having been written well technically.
I think this is standard for this author because I read I Won’t Let You Go earlier this year, and the plot was also quite simple and straightforward, so you get what you “order.” Going in with this mindset will make your reading experience much more enjoyable, I believe!

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest book by Cole Baxter kept me engaged from the very first page. A charming husband has a secret life that his wife has no idea he has. A great thriller for all. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 2024.

[Krista (Mrs K Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book despite some parts being far fetched..

Many twists and turns made this an excellent domestic thriller. One I recommend

Thanks Bookouture and netgalley.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst book I have read in a long time! I really don't know where to start it's so bad! Catherine, the main character is so nieve and gullible! Tom, her older and controlling husband is crazy. The whole town of Eldon, have lost their minds as well. They have shoot out with the state police because Tom won't surrender. Tom is guilty of a car wreck that left one person dead. Tom blames Catherine and this is where the whole book goes off the rails! Don't waste your time on this one unless you like reading outlandish books!!

[Andrea Pole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Anniversary by Cole Baxter is a fast-paced read that had me speeding through the pages.

Tom and Catherine are celebrating their fifth anniversary with a lavish dinner out. But a car crash on the way home from the restaurant will shatter not only the celebratory evening, but a five year marriage. Catherine comes to in the hospital asking for Tom, but is shocked to learn that someone has died, and she was the one behind the wheel. But that can't be. Tom was definitely driving, so why is he also accusing her of being responsible for the accident? Just who is this man whom Catherine has loved and thought she knew so well through five loving years of marriage?

This was twisty, thrilling ride, and I was caught up in the momentum from beginning to end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

[Holly Jolene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book and felt it had an engaging storyline, and was a quick read. Part of this enjoyment came from the novels’ polarizing characters - some quite likeable while others were easy to root against. I felt that the beginning was very captivating, with a lag in the middle, but I appreciated the twist at the end.

I plan on reading other books by this author!

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Name of Book: The Anniversary
Author: Cole Baxter
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: April 19, 2022
My Rating: 3.2 Stars
Pages: 320


Tom and Catherine Morris are celebrating their fifth anniversary with a romantic dinner. As they sit across the candlelit table their eyes are full of love ~ Well one of them anyway.

The next thing Catherine knows she is in waking up in the hospital. She and Tom have been in a car accident on their home from the restaurant. She is shocked to learn that someone has died. She is even more shocked as she is reported as being the driver.
Catherine knows that isn’t correct- Tom was driving but Tom is accusing her of being responsible for the accident. He goes on to say she has a violent history of mixing her meds with alcohol.
.Catherine cannot believe that the love of her life is telling such terrible lies. She thought they were celebrating five loving years of marriage!

I read a lot of psychological thrillers and I am confused that this is described by some readers as such. It didn't have the typical 'twists and turns'- that I love as they keep me guessing. This story was rather clear to me what was going.

Sweet Catherine was young and yes! I did feel sorry for how gullible she was; Jessica, of course, was completely different and added to what might have been a boring story.

This is only my second Cole Baster novel. One thing I can say is he knows how to create an unlikable psychopath. He states in his “Letter from Cole” this story was based on an idea he had regarding a big ‘what if” scenario.
Hmmm

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 19, 2024.

[Sara Demler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this fast-paced and emotional domestic thriller. I truly didn't want to put this one down and flew through it.

Catherine and Tom are celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary at a lovely, expensive restaurant in Cincinnati. Tom's behavior seems a little "off", but she figures he was just in the mood to make the night special. But as they are driving home, things become fatal and Catherine's world is completely flipped upside down.

She's recovering from the accident when she soon realizes she's being painted as the driver. She is so confused and disoriented from the accident, but as time goes on, reality about the danger she is in continues to become apparent.

Soon, she realizes that maybe the lies and manipulation don't end with her marriage. Maybe there's more she doesn't know. Could other's be in danger too? How far does the manipulation go?

This story was truly terrifying when it comes to how far someone will go to gaslight and manipulate not just their partner, but the people around them. My favorite character was Jessica, loved how badass she was and supportive.

My blood was boiling for Tom. The audacity of this man and how far his manipulation goes. Wanted to yell at him!

Loved how helpful and encouraging Detective Sheldon was.

I highly recommend this thriller, especially if you love domestic thrillers like the Housemaid, for example. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review.

[Marnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A gaslighting thriller with small town corruption thrown in. An accident after a celebratory dinner leaves Catherine in the hospital accused of causing an accident where a woman is killed. Her husband (Tom) tells the authorities she was driving and everyone believes him.

A fun premise that I was excited to dive into until…

My first issue was the over the top dialogue. It seemed almost campy and I had to check if this was satire.

The mystery of who was driving is too easy to prove which made the story fall apart. A BAC would definitely be taken at the hospital. Injuries would be noted and many professionals would have to go against their oaths for this story to play out. It was all too much

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy


I also listened to this book.
Stephanie Cannon did a good job with the narration. She made it easy to the listener to distinguish characters and kept it verbally interesting

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy.

[Readerbydawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts off with the first sign of Tom and what is to come of his character, In some ways I liked how this was written but felt we didn't need the detail. For me, this book was a heavy read because I have read about the similar psychopathic characteristics Tom had shown throughout the book in other books. An affair, politics and grooming is highlighted across the story but I wasn't fan of the writing style overall. A lot of the story I could see coming and this takes away the mystery of the book. Tom's character is a walking talking warning sign and I did feel for Catherine reading along as to how cunning someone can be to get what he/she wants. I did feel uneasy with parts where the behaviour was repeatedly mentioned. Which I can see why the author was presenting that to us but I just didn't like how I felt reading it.

Plot was similar to other reads and characters apart from three of them were good however the rest was a let-down. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me, but it may be a great read for you.

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3ish stars

This one was all over the place. The pacing felt kind of off to me; the first part was action-packed and dramatic, and while the second half was tense, it largely felt slow in comparison. Much of the story also felt unrealistic, but in drastically different ways- it fluctuated from things going unbelievably badly to unimaginably well at a dizzying speed. It might just be me, but some of the descriptions of the violence felt rather gratuitous, the depictions of the gaslighting were a bit heavy-handed, and I felt my attention wandering by the time I got to the conclusion. Although I usually feel like I know what to expect from this writer (and will still request their books when I’m in the mood for a quick, fun, so-called popcorn thriller), this one just wasn’t my favourite.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.