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Fifteen years ago, Chelsea was convicted for the murder of her university roommate, Isabella.
Now, she’s being released early, and she just has one thing on her mind – clearing her name.
Chelsea has always maintained that she was wrongfully accused. Now’s her chance to prove her innocence, once and for all.
But as Chelsea starts digging into the past, new details – and suspects – start coming to light. And the closer Chelsea gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become.
She’s waited years to uncover the truth. But will the real murderer find her first - and silence her forever?
Why readers LOVE Annie Taylor 'A compulsive and propulsive I would give it ten stars if I could' 5***** reader review 'A thrilling read. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant!' 5***** reader review 'Read it, read it, READ it - a first class psych-thriller' 5***** reader review 'Gripping from start to finish - highly recommend this to any thriller lover' 5***** reader review
Chelsea killed her close friend Isabella 16 years ago and has just been released on licence….and is on a mission….because she didn’t kill her ( not a spoiler as we know this immediately ) it’s just most people believe she did
What follows is a pleasantly paced for the type of book whodidit and whocovereditup story that really describes Chelsea’s frustration and anguish at her wasted 16 years but also her dogged determination to get to the truth
There are many possibilities and we are led down many garden paths but Chelsea ( and the reader ) get there and I was thrilled for her, it is written really well and I 100% believed I was in this story and was willing her to get to the truth
Set in Brum it was a nice surprise to read about ‘Snobs’ nightclub a real blast from the past
An excellent powerful read that cant say a bad word about
Chelsea has just been released from prison. Incarcerated for 16 long years, for murdering her best friend. Refusing to put the past behind her, she embarks on a mission to find the real killer.
This thriller dives in to the dysfunctional family of the Dunwoodys. Rich, opulent and tainted by greed and jealousy.
The characters are well developed and I really felt like I understood them.
The suspense was good, but there wasn’t really any “jaw dropping” moments and I felt it was maybe a little bit longer than it needed to be.
I enjoyed it though. Easy to pick up and put down, not one you need to binge read to stay tuned in to the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my advanced copy.
This books begins with a transcript of a police interview into an investigation flashing back to 2007. This instantly gripped me and I thought it was an excellent way to start the book as it jumped straight into the story rather than taking a while to pull the reader in. The book then jumps forward to 2022 where Chelsea is released early from serving a long prison sentence and the start of her new life on the outside begins.
The way the book alternated between past and present time as each chapter went on added a lot of depth to the book. I felt this provided a perfect amount of background into the character’s and really built a picture of how their lives had intertwined as certain events had happened. The amount of main characters within the book contributed towards adding suspense and mystery to the “who done it”edge of the plot whilst also being easy to follow who was who.
This was a fast paced book that kept me thoroughly invested throughout. The story progressed at a good pace, never leaving me feeling bored whilst reading it. I constantly questioned throughout what involvement each character could have had in the events that were unfolding, and the ending did not feel predictable in my opinion. Overall I think this was a great read and I would definitely recommend. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.
The premise of this book has potential, how the blurb is structured to make this so enticing- yet ultimately too predictable. I had an inkling on who I thought was responsible for the wrongful crimes committed of which Chelsea was wrong convicted. The reason for the low rating is how predictable I found this book to be, maybe it’s the way it’s written or how ‘university centric written’ this book is. I can’t fault the book on the writing, two storylines one in the past and one present of Chelsea - but I found the book to be incredibly slow in build up. It’s a slow burn which you have to invest your time into.
Overall, this book is definitely one that I will forget. I tend to give lower ratings to book that are too predictable.
How are the reviews so bad?! I love Annie’s books. I always think they’re super unique and not the everyday norm of plot. This one was more of the one that could be considered a “don’t before” but I still really liked it. The ending was predictable but again still really liked.
Chelsea has just been paroled, having been in prison for 16 years, convicted of killing her best friend, Izzy, at university 17 years earlier. Chelsea knows she's innocent, but nobody else believes her, until a chance meeting with Izzy's mother reveals that somebody does believe her.
I really felt for Chelsea. Imagine how your life, at 19 years old feels; your whole future ahead of you, good friends and loving life. 16 years later, you're 35 years old, fresh out of jail, controlled by your probation officer, shunned by everyone who recognises you and you've missed out on so much. So many opportunities that have passed you by - your career, maybe marriage and children. Your mum died while you were behind bars. Heartbreaking. So I completely understood why Chelsea was absolutely not willing to leave it alone - neither would I!
There were so many possibilities as the story unfolded, I really was kept guessing until the very end and I had many inklings along the way!
A really great read, well written and captivating.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Annie Taylor and Michael Joseph, Penguin for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Gosh. I felt like I was holding my breath throughout the entirety of this book. I am 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥! What a stunningly written thriller to really get your teeth into! It completely absorbed me and had me questioning everything. I can’t wait for more people to read this. As well as a complex emotional thriller, it's also balanced with the fun, chaotic side of university life. It's quite the contrast!
𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫 combines gripping dual timelines, a brilliant cast of characters and plot that is instantly intriguing to create an intense, memorable thriller. After Chelsea is released from prison for the murder of her friend and roommate Izzy, a crime she did not commit, we explore the lengths people will go to hide their secret, and also to clear their name. It’s such an all-consuming read, the timelines so beautifully organised and the ending as satisfying as they come. A must read and an author to watch out for!
Told over two periods of time with Chelsea being accused of the murder of her friend Izzy in 2007. 15 years later when she is released from prison she attempts to clear her name
Enjoyable audio. I guessed the real killer but a couple of little twists at the end made for a good read
Chelsea Keogh has just been released from prison, on license, for a crime that she is adamant she did not commit and she's determined to clear her name and find out who really did murder her best friend, Isabella Dunwoody fifteen years ago, back in 2007. She's struggling to adapt to life on the outside again, living with her auntie in Scotland and knowing that some people still believe she did it, but as she starts to uncover new evidence it's clear someone doesn't want the truth to come out and will try anything to stop her digging deeper.
If You Didn't Kill Her is a dual timeline story, alternating between 2006/2007 leading up to, and following Izzy's murder and then 2022 after Chelsea is released from prison. The story begins in 2007 with a transcript of an interview between the police and Chelsea Keogh following Izzy's death and these transcripts appear regularly throughout the book. The story is well crafted, with short chapters and I really liked the depth in which the author delivered her characters to the readers, starting with their university days and then to their lives in the present day and how the death of Izzy had affected each of them. The alternating between chapters keeps up the momentum and the suspense of who was responsible and I was second guessing throughout, although I did eventually figure out who was involved before the big reveal. This is the first book I've read by this author but it certainly won't be the last.
I'd like to thank Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
Chelsea is released from prison after spending years locked up for the murder of her best friend. She has always maintained that she is innocent and once released she starts digging into the past to try and uncover the truth.
This was a well written thriller which draws you into the past and has creates a nostalgic atmosphere at times. The past timeline works well with the present and helps the reader understand the backstory. The characters are well developed and I kept changing my mind on who to trust, although when it came down to it, I didn’t get any major surprises. Even though the story flowed well, I found it not to be the fastest paced book. Overall though, this is a good read and I would certainly read more by this author. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
This is a classic whodunit, and I love the title. Chelsea has just spent 15 years inside for a murder she didn't commit. Now she's out she needs to know who killed her best friend Izzy! Chelsea, who starts university, quickly becomes best friends with Izzy along with Hannah and Ayesha. Their all close, but friends do keep things from each other. Izzy is a shareholder is her Dad's Empire, and she's close to her parents . She was devasted when her dad died. Her stepbrother comes across as quite vulgar and a desirous person. Joe is who Chelseas boyfriend breaks up with her via email and says his inlove with Izzy! However, we're not sure, but their could be something going on with Izzy and her tutor! Izzys life is messy, and one late night, she is murdered, and sadly, Chelsea was the fall-out girl, but who did this and why? The chapters are quick and short. There are different POVS and timelines. The characters were all suspects, which made this dramatic and thrilling to read. I really enjoyed this book and the way it escalated to clear Chelseas' name !
If You Didn’t Kill Her by Annie Taylor is a gripping read that jumps between 2006/2007 and 2022, slowly unravelling a mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. The story focuses on Chelsea, who’s just been released from prison after serving 14 years for a murder she says she didn’t commit. You can really feel her anxiety and unease as she tries to adjust to life outside, but all she wants is to find proof of who really killed her best friend Izzy.
I liked how the book was structured with short, snappy chapters that kept the pace up. The interviews woven in between added a nice touch, giving the book a real sense of suspense, almost like you’re trying to solve the case alongside the characters.
As the story goes on, we get snippets of Izzy's last night and learn more about the other characters and how the events of that night unfolded.
This is the first book I’ve read by Annie Taylor, and I really enjoyed it. The mix of timelines, perspectives, and the suspenseful build-up worked well, and I’d definitely pick up another book by her in the future.
A slow burn to start with that I expected to move through the gears, but sadly for me it seemed to get stuck in second. It’s well written and descriptive with some good characters that are portrayed really well, with a nice flow to the story. However it lacked pace and seemed to take an age to get to the conclusion. No great surprises in this and although I didn’t enjoy it as much as The Truth about Her, Annie Taylor will be an author I will continue to read.
Wasn't sure whether to give 3 or 4 stars, as I did really enjoy this. However some parts do get very repetitive, the author really likes to drum a point into you by saying the same thing over and over in various ways. Almost comes across as condescending to the reader. Certain points made are written very directly, rather than being subtle and letting the reader infer into it themselves. Things that didn't need to be directly said, as they are quite obvious to the reader already. Some of it at the end seemed a bit unrealistic and far fetched. I did however really enjoyed this.
This book was too wordy! At 1/2 way i started skipping the flash back chapters because who cared? It took the story too long to progress and was too slow! Could have easily been 100 pages shorter.
This is a cleverly plotted mystery thriller which succeeded in holding my attention from the very first page. When Chelsea is released from prison after 17 years, having been convicted of a murder she didn’t commit, she is determined to prove her innocence and find the real culprit who has gone free whilst she has been languishing in gaol. She cannot believe her best friend, Izzy, is dead and she certainly knows she did not murder her-however very few people believe Chelsea. There are a number of suspects and old friends who Chelsea believes , know more than they are letting on. Of her closest friends only one has stood by her and trusted in her innocence. As she gradually adapts to life on the outside , staying with her aunt in Scotland, Chelsea begins her investigations. It soon becomes apparent that she is getting too close when she receives threatening messages and as she looks into the case, it seems several people have a reason to have wanted Izzy dead. Written in two time frames covering the present investigation and the time leading up to the murder,, the tension builds gradually which makes for a compelling read. The characters are well rounded, particularly Chelsea, who has retained a belief in the truth despite being wrongfully convicted and losing a large part of her life. It certainly made me think about the possibility of a wrongful conviction and how it could affect the person falsely accused. Even after release the thought that everyone considers you guilty of a horrific act, would be very hard to live with. I was really hoping Chelsea would be able to clear her name and was keen to finish the book to discover how her life would pan out and whether she’d ever be able to move on from her past. I definitely recommend this as an interesting and compelling read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy,
If You Disnt Kill Her is a great thriller that really keeps you guessing. Chelsea has just been released from prison, she has been there for sixteen years for a crime she didn’t do so now she’s out and she’s going to find out who the real killer is. This is a dual timeline thriller that works well. It goes from 2007 when the crime is committed to 2022 when Chelsea is released. Chelsea was imprisoned for killing her best friend at university, Izzy, al, the evidence pointed to her but she wasn’t there at the time. They say she did it out of jealousy as her ex boyfriend had feelings for Izzy. Izzy was wealthy and came from a family that was trying to get over the sudden death of Izzy’s father a few weeks beforehand. Izzy’s mother has a chance meeting with Chelsea and puts done fire under her to find the real culprit. This was a book that kept you guessing, it had a good pace and the characters were relatable making them easy to understand their dynamics. There wasn’t really a wow moment for me and I do feel the book could have been a couple of chapters shorter but nevertheless a decent thriller. I would like to thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Chelsea has just served 16 years in prison for the murder of her best friend Izzy, a murder she didn’t commit. Despite her license conditions Chelsea is determined to find the real killer and uncover what really happened that night in October 2007.
Told on two timelines we have then which is the run up to the night of the murder, and now as Chelsea begins to investigate, aswell as some transcripts of police interviews following the discovery of Izzy’s body.
This was a great mystery and I enjoyed Chelsea uncovering the truths of the night of the murder. The four friends Chelsea, Izzy, Hannah and Ayesha met on the first day at uni and the ‘then’ chapters give their characters a lot of depth. Family relationships and tensions and also touched upon and how Chelsea copes being integrated into normal life after her release.
Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC.
Aged eighteen, Chelsea embarks on her studies at Birmingham University and falls into the orbit of Izzy. Izzy is her antithesis, confident and rich, but the two become friends. However, when Izzy is found dead, Chelsea is convicted of the crime and sent to prison. Now released, Chelsea is determined to find out what happened to Izzy but someone still wants the truth hidden. I was rather surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's quite a breathless read with two timelines and a plot with massive holes in it but it was gripping enough to make me want to finish it in one day. If you just read it for pure entertainment it works really well.
This was SO close to being a 5-star review; a well-written page turner from the off, and it kept the momentum right up to the penultimate few pages. No spoilers here but the final reveal made me scratch my head and wonder how on earth the original court case could ever have happened. I suspect the editor must have said the same, as behold - in a mere couple of sentences, a convenient throwaway ‘explanation’ appeared which only made it worse. Still a great read overall but a bit of a frustrating denouement.
A girl, barely an adult, barely began to live life. She started studying at college where she met some friends. Though she struggled to define exactly where she fit in among this group, she soon found herself behind bars and found guilty of killing her best friend. She stays true to her claim of innocence and is released on parole early 14 later. She's determined to find the truth and shocked to find where the answers end up.
A story of justice. I'd say it's written for older teens, but some of it may be on topics they don't understand yet.
4.5 stars! WOW, that was GOOD!! I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent!! It was a tiny bit long, and I was starting to lose a bit of interest, but then it picked back up and wow did it impress me!! I had my suspect list…and YES! I was wrong!! 😂 what a pleasant surprise!!! This is my first time reading this author, but I already have her other book!! I was so angry the last quarter or so of the book! And yep, I admit I was crying at the end. Great book!!!
Slow paced at times this was an intriguing story that became quite predictable at times switching between the two time frames. Very much a who done it theme... It was quite easy to narrow it down as the story evolved. The injustice of the story felt unfair, although the protagonist portrayal felt so matter of fact and not lead by emotion. The premise of the story was a great concept... but I do feel that the main character perhaps could have been more emotionally invested.
Chelsea Keogh has spent the last 15 years in jail for the murder of her best friend. She has lost everything but still one question drives her on, what really happened to Izzy?
Full of twists and turns it kept me interested all the way through even if i did manage a few little bits out before the end.
It isnt fast paced and there is jumping between different timescales but it was good to slowly unpick more of the story and learn a bit more about each character.