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Dead to Me
You thought he was the one. You broke his heart. But now, he might be the only one who can save your life...
Anna and Reid weren't meant to be, apparently. She's a fiery American journalist; he's a stoic British detective - it was nice while it lasted, and then it really wasn't.
And Anna is over it now anyway. She's on the scent of a career-making story - a suspicious death amongst the cloistered elite world of Cambridge University, with a slice of police corruption too.
It's just, the more she investigates, the more there's only one person she wants to talk to about it. She starts writing Reid a long, sprawling email - it's not like she's ever planning to send it.
Until suddenly, she's in desperate trouble. The problem with chasing a killer is that sometimes, you run right into them.
And the only detective she can trust with her life is the one who broke her heart...
Anna and Reid weren't meant to be, apparently. She's a fiery American journalist; he's a stoic British detective - it was nice while it lasted, and then it really wasn't.
And Anna is over it now anyway. She's on the scent of a career-making story - a suspicious death amongst the cloistered elite world of Cambridge University, with a slice of police corruption too.
It's just, the more she investigates, the more there's only one person she wants to talk to about it. She starts writing Reid a long, sprawling email - it's not like she's ever planning to send it.
Until suddenly, she's in desperate trouble. The problem with chasing a killer is that sometimes, you run right into them.
And the only detective she can trust with her life is the one who broke her heart...
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
22 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Gytha Lodge
18 books1,033 followersGytha Lodge is a multi-award-winning playwright, novelist and writer for video games and screen. She is also a single parent who blogs about the ridiculousness of bringing up a mega-nerd small boy.
She has a profound addiction to tea, crosswords and awful puns. When not writing, she heads up a copywriting team at a global translation firm, where she generally tries to keep all the video-game writing to herself.
She studied English at Cambridge, where she became known quite quickly for her brand of twisty, dark yet entertaining drama. She later took the Creative Writing MA at UEA.
She has signed with Penguin Random House worldwide for the first three books in her crime series featuring DCI Jonah Sheens. She Lies in Wait will be released in January 2019 and can be preordered in the US and the UK here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/She-Lies-Wai...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/198...
Facebook
She has a profound addiction to tea, crosswords and awful puns. When not writing, she heads up a copywriting team at a global translation firm, where she generally tries to keep all the video-game writing to herself.
She studied English at Cambridge, where she became known quite quickly for her brand of twisty, dark yet entertaining drama. She later took the Creative Writing MA at UEA.
She has signed with Penguin Random House worldwide for the first three books in her crime series featuring DCI Jonah Sheens. She Lies in Wait will be released in January 2019 and can be preordered in the US and the UK here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/She-Lies-Wai...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/198...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
July 20, 2025
GASP! An immersive dark academia tale of murder, scandal, and intrigue, Dead to Me delivered a plot that far surpassed my expectations. A standalone novel that was packed with side-eye-inducing suspicion, the dual timelines and multiple POVs delivered a storyline that kept me on tenterhooks from beginning to end. One of the best pieces of all, though, was Anna’s perspective. Told via a long-draft email to her ex, it revealed a vivid story surrounding a tight-knit group of friends and an endearing love story that only added to the murder mystery’s suspense. After all, despite the fact that the plot began somewhat slowly, the foreboding kept me tied to the pages until the rip-roaring climax blew my mind over and over, and left me clutching my pearls.
As with this author’s police procedural series, the well-developed personas were what made this book sing. Compelling, complex, and startlingly true-to-life, they felt as real as could be and even came complete with genuine flaws. I actually became so deeply invested in each and every one that they brought me to tears more than once. You see, ALL of the characters had me in the palm of their hands and had me to connecting with each of them in some way. Then there were the flipped-script character shifts, which left my jaw hanging in the air. With deep backgrounds filled with logical motivations, the heart-stopping decisions in these “WTF?!” twists felt exceedingly well-drawn. To be frank, the entire book was complete and utter perfection in my humble opinion.
All said and done, it was clear why Gytha Lodge is my all-time favorite author. With complex group dynamics, a headstrong yet root-for-able protagonist, and plenty of slow-burning tension, there was no end to the reasons why this book was an utter slam dunk. After all, from the atmospheric university setting to the intoxicating mix of crime thriller, suspense, and drama, the layers of this intricate plot delivered in spades. But the reason for my undying love will always come back to the characters. Arousing empathy and suspicion in equal measures, I won’t be forgetting a single one of them any time soon. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena, this book was addictive, binge-worthy, and unforgettable in the extreme. Point blank, all I can say is WOW! Rating of 5+ stars.
NOTE: The only downside for those of you in the US is that this book is currently only available in the UK. Lucky for you, though, I will be hosting a giveaway on my Instagram page soon, so keep your eyes glued to @suspenseisthrillingme for your chance to win this phenomenal novel. You don’t want to miss this opportunity!
SYNOPSIS:
Anna and Reid weren't meant to be, apparently.
She's a fiery American journalist; he's a stoic British detective—it was nice while it lasted, and then it really wasn't.
And Anna is over it now anyway. She's on the scent of a career-making story—a suspicious death amongst the cloistered elite world of Cambridge University, with a slice of police corruption too.
It's just, the more she investigates, the more there's only one person she wants to talk to about it. She starts writing Reid a long sprawling email—it's not like she's ever planning to send it.
Until suddenly, she's in desperate trouble. The problem with chasing a killer is that sometimes, you run right into them.
And the only detective she can trust with her life, is the one who broke her heart...
Thank you to Gytha Lodge and Michael Joseph Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 3, 2025
Content warning: drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, severe concussion, drugging, mention of: death of a sibling, drug overdose
As with this author’s police procedural series, the well-developed personas were what made this book sing. Compelling, complex, and startlingly true-to-life, they felt as real as could be and even came complete with genuine flaws. I actually became so deeply invested in each and every one that they brought me to tears more than once. You see, ALL of the characters had me in the palm of their hands and had me to connecting with each of them in some way. Then there were the flipped-script character shifts, which left my jaw hanging in the air. With deep backgrounds filled with logical motivations, the heart-stopping decisions in these “WTF?!” twists felt exceedingly well-drawn. To be frank, the entire book was complete and utter perfection in my humble opinion.
All said and done, it was clear why Gytha Lodge is my all-time favorite author. With complex group dynamics, a headstrong yet root-for-able protagonist, and plenty of slow-burning tension, there was no end to the reasons why this book was an utter slam dunk. After all, from the atmospheric university setting to the intoxicating mix of crime thriller, suspense, and drama, the layers of this intricate plot delivered in spades. But the reason for my undying love will always come back to the characters. Arousing empathy and suspicion in equal measures, I won’t be forgetting a single one of them any time soon. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena, this book was addictive, binge-worthy, and unforgettable in the extreme. Point blank, all I can say is WOW! Rating of 5+ stars.
NOTE: The only downside for those of you in the US is that this book is currently only available in the UK. Lucky for you, though, I will be hosting a giveaway on my Instagram page soon, so keep your eyes glued to @suspenseisthrillingme for your chance to win this phenomenal novel. You don’t want to miss this opportunity!
SYNOPSIS:
Anna and Reid weren't meant to be, apparently.
She's a fiery American journalist; he's a stoic British detective—it was nice while it lasted, and then it really wasn't.
And Anna is over it now anyway. She's on the scent of a career-making story—a suspicious death amongst the cloistered elite world of Cambridge University, with a slice of police corruption too.
It's just, the more she investigates, the more there's only one person she wants to talk to about it. She starts writing Reid a long sprawling email—it's not like she's ever planning to send it.
Until suddenly, she's in desperate trouble. The problem with chasing a killer is that sometimes, you run right into them.
And the only detective she can trust with her life, is the one who broke her heart...
Thank you to Gytha Lodge and Michael Joseph Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 3, 2025
Content warning: drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, severe concussion, drugging, mention of: death of a sibling, drug overdose
April 25, 2025
4.5 rounded up
Anna Sousa is a young, driven American undercover journalist who deals in injustices and is currently on the trail of a huge story. This investigation centres around the rarified world of Cambridge University and suspicious deaths. She takes the name of Aria Lauder and dives into their world, ready to crash in and see what she can learn. During the process, she writes long emails to her ex, Detective Reid Murray who has a personal interest in this story although he is oblivious of what Anna/Aria is up to. Meanwhile, Anna’s father Seaton Laws awaits her arrival for a slap up lunch the day after the May Ball and she’s a no-show. Initially, he’s not worried as she’s notorious for being late and he knows what she’s been doing but he grows an increasingly anxious, anxious enough to call Reid for help.
What a cracking read. I’m a big fan of dark academia mystery/thrillers and this is a good one, capturing the atmosphere of the university and its surroundings, its traditions and those lucky enough to attend. I’m hooked from the start, enjoying the way the author tells the tale principally from the perspective of Seaton, Reid and Anna herself via the emails to Reid. They all shine a light on Anna herself, her personality, her bravery and dogged pursuit of a big story as well as illuminating the personalities in her life, especially Reid, his sister and the students whose orbit she’s trying to break into. I can picture them all from her champagne quaffing father ( I’ll have the Roederer please, thanks) to Esther, Ryan, Kit and James from whom she’s trying to elicit the truth. I have my fingers crossed that the guilty ones are not those I’ve grown to like, but they’re principally crossed for the welfare of Anna/Aria who is fantastic.
The plot is immersive, there are moments of absolute chill, who is trustworthy and who is the snake in the grass? There are so many twists and turns that my suspicion antenna nearly flies off because it’s gone back-and-forth so many times. These characters lives are complex as are their personalities, their relationships and dynamics and so it’s fascinating trying to figure the puzzle out.
I love the way it slowly builds and escalates as it reaches the May Ball. The ending is unexpected, it’s not left field at all, it’s one that I hadn’t foreseen but makes perfect sense. Well played.
Overall, this is an atmospheric and engrossing read from Gytha Lodge. She’s a terrific writer and I’ve never rated her books less than four stars so can therefore highly recommend her novels and if you’ve not read her books before, this one off is a good place to start.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Anna Sousa is a young, driven American undercover journalist who deals in injustices and is currently on the trail of a huge story. This investigation centres around the rarified world of Cambridge University and suspicious deaths. She takes the name of Aria Lauder and dives into their world, ready to crash in and see what she can learn. During the process, she writes long emails to her ex, Detective Reid Murray who has a personal interest in this story although he is oblivious of what Anna/Aria is up to. Meanwhile, Anna’s father Seaton Laws awaits her arrival for a slap up lunch the day after the May Ball and she’s a no-show. Initially, he’s not worried as she’s notorious for being late and he knows what she’s been doing but he grows an increasingly anxious, anxious enough to call Reid for help.
What a cracking read. I’m a big fan of dark academia mystery/thrillers and this is a good one, capturing the atmosphere of the university and its surroundings, its traditions and those lucky enough to attend. I’m hooked from the start, enjoying the way the author tells the tale principally from the perspective of Seaton, Reid and Anna herself via the emails to Reid. They all shine a light on Anna herself, her personality, her bravery and dogged pursuit of a big story as well as illuminating the personalities in her life, especially Reid, his sister and the students whose orbit she’s trying to break into. I can picture them all from her champagne quaffing father ( I’ll have the Roederer please, thanks) to Esther, Ryan, Kit and James from whom she’s trying to elicit the truth. I have my fingers crossed that the guilty ones are not those I’ve grown to like, but they’re principally crossed for the welfare of Anna/Aria who is fantastic.
The plot is immersive, there are moments of absolute chill, who is trustworthy and who is the snake in the grass? There are so many twists and turns that my suspicion antenna nearly flies off because it’s gone back-and-forth so many times. These characters lives are complex as are their personalities, their relationships and dynamics and so it’s fascinating trying to figure the puzzle out.
I love the way it slowly builds and escalates as it reaches the May Ball. The ending is unexpected, it’s not left field at all, it’s one that I hadn’t foreseen but makes perfect sense. Well played.
Overall, this is an atmospheric and engrossing read from Gytha Lodge. She’s a terrific writer and I’ve never rated her books less than four stars so can therefore highly recommend her novels and if you’ve not read her books before, this one off is a good place to start.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
June 15, 2025
Unfortunately I couldn't get into this book. There were to many characters dropped in to the plot with scant information about them which didn't make them memorable. The story told from two points of view made it to difficult for me to follow the plot and I gave up at 19%
August 7, 2025
This was an interesting story that is told in the past and the present and from different perspectives.
Anna and Reid used to be an item, in a relationship that ran its course. But when Reid gets a call from Anna's father, who is worried that her latest journalistic foray may have led her into danger, as she is potentially missing.
As Reid follows leads and clues, he does indeed become concerned, but he doesn't really know the full story. Anna worked as an undercover journalist, so she tells her tale after she starts looking into a suspicious death. Set in Cambridge Uni, Anna works her way into a group, becomes friends with them, but she is aware that they are not the most trustworthy of people.
This story flits back and forth between characters and tenses, some in the past, some in the present, they flow easily between all of them so there was no issue about wondering who or when you were reading.
While the story is about one suspicious death, it soon becomes obvious that there is more going on, or that has gone on before this newest event. The author brings in pasts and histories from both Reid and Anna to build a reason for the interest in this story. I did get a bit confused at times with this and had to remember that things from the past was about a different person, while the present was completely different. There are issues that both Reid and Anna have that come out and again, this is where the author adds more emphasis on the characters.
I did find this story a bit slow, but it was also very good and kept my attention. The story was about the mystery, but also about social norms in a prestigious university setting. I do think this played to the stereotype a lot of people have about Uni in the UK.
Interesting concept that I enjoyed, good for fans of crime, mystery and suspense stories. I would be happy to recommend this one.
Anna and Reid used to be an item, in a relationship that ran its course. But when Reid gets a call from Anna's father, who is worried that her latest journalistic foray may have led her into danger, as she is potentially missing.
As Reid follows leads and clues, he does indeed become concerned, but he doesn't really know the full story. Anna worked as an undercover journalist, so she tells her tale after she starts looking into a suspicious death. Set in Cambridge Uni, Anna works her way into a group, becomes friends with them, but she is aware that they are not the most trustworthy of people.
This story flits back and forth between characters and tenses, some in the past, some in the present, they flow easily between all of them so there was no issue about wondering who or when you were reading.
While the story is about one suspicious death, it soon becomes obvious that there is more going on, or that has gone on before this newest event. The author brings in pasts and histories from both Reid and Anna to build a reason for the interest in this story. I did get a bit confused at times with this and had to remember that things from the past was about a different person, while the present was completely different. There are issues that both Reid and Anna have that come out and again, this is where the author adds more emphasis on the characters.
I did find this story a bit slow, but it was also very good and kept my attention. The story was about the mystery, but also about social norms in a prestigious university setting. I do think this played to the stereotype a lot of people have about Uni in the UK.
Interesting concept that I enjoyed, good for fans of crime, mystery and suspense stories. I would be happy to recommend this one.
June 3, 2025
I really couldn't get into this book. The format of having the main character narrating most of the story as a very long, supposedly urgent email to her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a detective, just didn't work for me. Multiple characters are introduced early on with very little backstory. This making it difficult to remember anything about them when they crop up again. It may well have improved as the book progressed but I couldn't get past the first 25%. A shame as I've enjoyed Gytha Lodge's books previously.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
July 29, 2025
3.5 / 5.0
Before there is any confusion, I thought this was part of the DCI Jonah Sheens series but this is a completely different book which can only be read as a standalone (no link to any books of her series). It’s a weird concept where essentially as a reader you follow one story that just story telling, almost live breakdown of how things are going. And the second main POV is the detective Ex who is tasked with figuring out what the mission/ suspects are for the first POV (this is linked with other POVs as well, I.E the father. Mid way where there’s a turning point I found the information to be heavily overloaded, due to a physical time constraint which meant that names, and parents names weee mixed in- it’s very easy to get lost in this book purely due to the number of characters, parents and names attached. Progressively things start to become clear and the fog of confusion goes away but you have to have patience when reading this book as it goes into a circle of what ifs, he could have done this but then this other guy could have done this. There’s a lot of reactive happening and as a reader you’ve got to be on the ball to pick it all up. It takes a lot of concentration which at the time I’m reading (late into the night) probs didn’t really help. I like the premise of the book the way it’s presented and having two plots occurring at opposite ends of the time line but I found the plot to be a tad too much, too complex and having to add in all the details really didn’t help with understanding the plot as the pace had changed.
The plot follows Anna Sousa who is the ex girlfriend to Reid Murray who has completely blocked her off everything after a messy breakup. What doesn’t help is that Anna is a journalist whilst Reid is a detective, Anna who is uncover in Cambridge trying to figure out the death of a student during May ball goes missing after chasing a led. It’s up to Reid to figure it out and pick through all the clues of the puzzle. It’s an interesting premise, but the complexity of the plot was always a tad too much to execute well. It’s an ok read…
Before there is any confusion, I thought this was part of the DCI Jonah Sheens series but this is a completely different book which can only be read as a standalone (no link to any books of her series). It’s a weird concept where essentially as a reader you follow one story that just story telling, almost live breakdown of how things are going. And the second main POV is the detective Ex who is tasked with figuring out what the mission/ suspects are for the first POV (this is linked with other POVs as well, I.E the father. Mid way where there’s a turning point I found the information to be heavily overloaded, due to a physical time constraint which meant that names, and parents names weee mixed in- it’s very easy to get lost in this book purely due to the number of characters, parents and names attached. Progressively things start to become clear and the fog of confusion goes away but you have to have patience when reading this book as it goes into a circle of what ifs, he could have done this but then this other guy could have done this. There’s a lot of reactive happening and as a reader you’ve got to be on the ball to pick it all up. It takes a lot of concentration which at the time I’m reading (late into the night) probs didn’t really help. I like the premise of the book the way it’s presented and having two plots occurring at opposite ends of the time line but I found the plot to be a tad too much, too complex and having to add in all the details really didn’t help with understanding the plot as the pace had changed.
The plot follows Anna Sousa who is the ex girlfriend to Reid Murray who has completely blocked her off everything after a messy breakup. What doesn’t help is that Anna is a journalist whilst Reid is a detective, Anna who is uncover in Cambridge trying to figure out the death of a student during May ball goes missing after chasing a led. It’s up to Reid to figure it out and pick through all the clues of the puzzle. It’s an interesting premise, but the complexity of the plot was always a tad too much to execute well. It’s an ok read…
July 11, 2025
Dead To Me is an original thriller in that it's very character-driven, told through the lens of a female journalist who has gone undercover, who is writing to her ex-boyfriend, a detective, after realising she needs help and that he is the only person she can trust.
With a focus on the characters and this relationship being at the centre of it all, it's quite a slow-paced read but deeply engaging. Gytha has chosen not to focus on big twists and shocking revelations, but instead the emotional elements of an investigation, including the desperation to find the truth, the fear of putting yourself at risk, and the regrets as you are forced to look back at your life.
I read one reviewer describe this book as "neat", and that's exactly how I would describe it too. Everything feels so delicately woven and tied together, and it was a real joy to read.
There may not be an explosive finale, but the mystery that runs throughout still comes to a satisfying conclusion.
If you want to read something different this summer, then this is a book you need to pick up!
With a focus on the characters and this relationship being at the centre of it all, it's quite a slow-paced read but deeply engaging. Gytha has chosen not to focus on big twists and shocking revelations, but instead the emotional elements of an investigation, including the desperation to find the truth, the fear of putting yourself at risk, and the regrets as you are forced to look back at your life.
I read one reviewer describe this book as "neat", and that's exactly how I would describe it too. Everything feels so delicately woven and tied together, and it was a real joy to read.
There may not be an explosive finale, but the mystery that runs throughout still comes to a satisfying conclusion.
If you want to read something different this summer, then this is a book you need to pick up!
March 14, 2025
I loved this book! Such an original concept reading the story from Anna/Aria's point of view, as well as her email to Reid telling her story.
I was intrigued throughout the whole book and I absolutely loved Anna, and her stilted relationship with Seaton.
Undercover, Aria manages to infiltrate murdered Holly's group of friends, with each member being a suspect.
The continuation of the email to Reid builds the suspense and illustrates Aria's growing unease and the tangled web of university secrets.
The author masterfully presents us with multiple red herrings, keeping us guessing until the final, shocking twist. Dead to Me is a psychological thriller that explored the dark side of academia and the complexity of friendships, love and family.
I'd have liked the ending to have told us more about Anna's relationship with Seaton going forward but this is a fantastic book that I'd highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
I was intrigued throughout the whole book and I absolutely loved Anna, and her stilted relationship with Seaton.
Undercover, Aria manages to infiltrate murdered Holly's group of friends, with each member being a suspect.
The continuation of the email to Reid builds the suspense and illustrates Aria's growing unease and the tangled web of university secrets.
The author masterfully presents us with multiple red herrings, keeping us guessing until the final, shocking twist. Dead to Me is a psychological thriller that explored the dark side of academia and the complexity of friendships, love and family.
I'd have liked the ending to have told us more about Anna's relationship with Seaton going forward but this is a fantastic book that I'd highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
June 1, 2025
With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
I adored the Jonah Sheens series so super excited to be able to read this talented authors new standalone. A clever concept as the POV of Anna is told through an email to Detective Reid Murray and gives this dark academia story an edge from the off. It's wonderfully written and the build up to the climax is expertly and effortlessly executed. The story is rich in detail and full of twists and turns. The characters are sublime and none of them are to be trusted which just adds to the suspense- I suspected them all apart from the actual culprit resulting in a cracker of an ending. Perfection personified Ms Lodge and a massive 5⭐️
July 8, 2025
Intrigued by the description, I struggled to read this. The anticipated tension and conflict was somewhat flabby at times and the email from the possibly dead Anna to ex-lover, Reid, had a deal of padding. I would have liked some crisper action and more involvement by Reid, although the broken-hearted regret was perhaps overplayed. I wanted to say 'get on with it!'
Very taken with Anna’s father though! Champagne at every opportunity – want him in my life.
It is a good, solid read, but could have been better.
Very taken with Anna’s father though! Champagne at every opportunity – want him in my life.
It is a good, solid read, but could have been better.
July 13, 2025
really enjoyed this book there was so many twist and turns that I didn't see coming. I honestly thought I had it figured out and was way off the mark with the who it was!
I need to read more by this author a new favourite
I need to read more by this author a new favourite
June 12, 2025
2.5-3 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I have only read one Gytha Lodge book - Little Sister - and I own a copy of A Killer in the Family - so I had really high hopes for this one but it didn't live up to what I was hoping.
I found the opening quite good, and I'd read the first 15-20% really quickly, but then it fell quite quickly in quality for me.
It is a very slow burn, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I kept looking for that hook.
It was hard to get into. It's not written in the traditional format. Reid's sections are written in the normal third person narrative, while Alex's are written in the first person because she's writing an email to Reid. I prefer third person generally, but in thrillers I like the first person, and so this gives us a bit of both, but it wasn't as smooth to read as if it was just one type of narrative throughout.
Having finished it, I'm not sure the format worked with this story or vice versa. It lacked the urgency that thrillers - and Gytha's works - normally have, which was a bit disappointing. I enjoyed the story, it's not that it wasn't a good story, but it lacked that fast-paced thrill I was expecting.
I am all for a slow born but this was too slow. I know it's more of an investigative thriller than a blood and guts and murdery type of thriller, but I felt it dragged from about 1/4 through. I didn't feel on edge, I wasn't on the edge of my seat, I wasn't looking over my shoulder. It was a nice interesting story, but didn't quite hit the 'thriller' for me.
There's not much in the way of character interactions for me. Yes, in Anna's sections we do see her interacting with others, but it's all sort of done retrospectively. It's very much a two-character story, but it was difficult to actually figure out if I liked them or not because you don't get to know them very well so it was hard to have any opinion on them.
I also found the ending a bit too rushed and complicated and I can't say I was particularly satisfied by it.
As bizarre as this will sound, it was far too heavy on the detail and yet I realised I didn't actually know what was going on. It's simultaneously heavy and light on detail.
Overall, I'd say I still enjoyed it. Gytha does know how to create a story, weaving together lots of threads and bringing it to a conclusion, and her stories are unique, but this one fell flat. It didn't give me much thrill, it was too slow and I didn't feel anything for the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I have only read one Gytha Lodge book - Little Sister - and I own a copy of A Killer in the Family - so I had really high hopes for this one but it didn't live up to what I was hoping.
I found the opening quite good, and I'd read the first 15-20% really quickly, but then it fell quite quickly in quality for me.
It is a very slow burn, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I kept looking for that hook.
It was hard to get into. It's not written in the traditional format. Reid's sections are written in the normal third person narrative, while Alex's are written in the first person because she's writing an email to Reid. I prefer third person generally, but in thrillers I like the first person, and so this gives us a bit of both, but it wasn't as smooth to read as if it was just one type of narrative throughout.
Having finished it, I'm not sure the format worked with this story or vice versa. It lacked the urgency that thrillers - and Gytha's works - normally have, which was a bit disappointing. I enjoyed the story, it's not that it wasn't a good story, but it lacked that fast-paced thrill I was expecting.
I am all for a slow born but this was too slow. I know it's more of an investigative thriller than a blood and guts and murdery type of thriller, but I felt it dragged from about 1/4 through. I didn't feel on edge, I wasn't on the edge of my seat, I wasn't looking over my shoulder. It was a nice interesting story, but didn't quite hit the 'thriller' for me.
There's not much in the way of character interactions for me. Yes, in Anna's sections we do see her interacting with others, but it's all sort of done retrospectively. It's very much a two-character story, but it was difficult to actually figure out if I liked them or not because you don't get to know them very well so it was hard to have any opinion on them.
I also found the ending a bit too rushed and complicated and I can't say I was particularly satisfied by it.
As bizarre as this will sound, it was far too heavy on the detail and yet I realised I didn't actually know what was going on. It's simultaneously heavy and light on detail.
Overall, I'd say I still enjoyed it. Gytha does know how to create a story, weaving together lots of threads and bringing it to a conclusion, and her stories are unique, but this one fell flat. It didn't give me much thrill, it was too slow and I didn't feel anything for the characters.
June 28, 2025
Once I got used to the writing style this story became a tense gripping read. An investigative journalist goes undercover at Cambridge University to discover who killed student Holly Moore. The plot held my interest throughout. A heart pounding finale.
March 14, 2025
I've liked all Gytha Lodge's books - this one's a standalone, not featuring her usual police detective Jonah Sheen. The detective here is Reid Murray, ex-boyfriend of undercover journalist Anna Sousa, who seems very likely to have got herself into hot water infiltrating a group of wealthy students at Cambridge University.
Two young women students - one of them Reid's sister - have been found dead in drug-related incidents. There may be more to the deaths than meets the eye, and it's Anna's job - posing as an American postgrad and elite rower called Aria Lauder - to find out what. But befriending students James, Kit, Esther and Ryan may be a dangerous game, and the university's May Ball a dangerous night.
The story is told through the medium of a very long draft email from Anna to Reid, alongside the attempts of her father and ex-boyfriend to track her down after she doesn't return from the ball.
As always, a great read.
Two young women students - one of them Reid's sister - have been found dead in drug-related incidents. There may be more to the deaths than meets the eye, and it's Anna's job - posing as an American postgrad and elite rower called Aria Lauder - to find out what. But befriending students James, Kit, Esther and Ryan may be a dangerous game, and the university's May Ball a dangerous night.
The story is told through the medium of a very long draft email from Anna to Reid, alongside the attempts of her father and ex-boyfriend to track her down after she doesn't return from the ball.
As always, a great read.
July 1, 2025
Dead to Me is a stand-alone thriller, and it fizzes and crackles from the beginning. This is a story that fuses elite, entitled academic students and emotional entanglements with edge‑of‑the‑seat suspense. Lodge has written a propulsive and gripping thriller.
Taking the name and backstory of Aria Lauder, Anna Sousa sets out to capture the interest of a small group of Cambridge University friends, members of the privileged Pitt Club. Anna’s father Seaton, expected her for lunch the day after the May Ball, but she never arrived. As time passes and he has not heard from her, he grows increasingly anxious, knowing what she’s been investigating in Cambridge. So he phones Reid Murray and the story begins.
Anna is a fierce, driven American, with the uncompromising instincts of a journalist who can smell a good story a mile off. She’s still bereft over the loss of her relationship with Detective Reid Murray. But as she digs deeper into the twin Cambridge deaths of students Holly and Tanya, her tenacious spark flares into full‑blown obsession. Lodge sketches Anna/Aria with excellent psychological depth: she’s not just chasing clues, she’s wrestling with grief (her relationship collapse, unresolved emotions about her father) and the moral complexities of investigative journalism. Much of the information comes from a long e-mail she types, though never intends to send, to Reid. All of her character is poured into that e-mail: she is honest, raw, funny, and just a little bit broken.
Reid is phlegmatic, a detective who initially seems cold. But that’s what makes the tension between them so delicious. It’s clear Reid still cares deeply for Anna, despite his anger with her that caused their break-up. The unresolved chemistry underpins every risky move Anna makes. Their relationship is fractured, which is both a strength and a vulnerability in this story.
One of the most compelling parts of this novel is how Anna handles the investigation. She embeds herself in a privileged student circle using a carefully crafted backstory, uncovering whispered secrets, half-truths, and institutional arrogance. Cambridge’s elite world feels intensely charged and foreboding. The stakes increase dramatically; Anna isn’t just pursuing a story that could boost her career, she’s walking a thin line over a very real abyss. The friendship group Anna gains access to, comprising Esther, Ryan, Kit and James, all appear to have secrets of their own.
The pacing is intense, and I lost myself in this story as I flipped the pages faster and faster. Just when I thought I had figured it out, Gytha Lodge surprised me with an unexpected twist. The story turns into thriller mode, with violent acts and betrayals among friends. It’s cleverly written, and the entire story is gripping. I loved how each of the students had secrets. It was impossible to know who to trust, and when one turned out to be extremely untrustworthy, it was hard to tell if that meant they were also the killer.
Beyond Anna and Reid, there’s Anna’s relationship with her father. They’ve long been distant, but Anna needs her father’s help to get in to this exclusive circle. Anna’s father, Seaton, has his regrets. His past mistakes are at the heart of their fragile relationship, and he’s keen to make amends without knowing quite how to go about it. Their relationship enriches Anna’s story; she’s not just proving Reid right, she’s defining herself in contrast to her father’s more regret‑tinged life.
Cambridge’s cloistered grandeur makes the perfect backdrop for lurking malfeasance, and Lodge beautifully conveys the contrast between opulent tradition and sinister undercurrents. The tension between Anna’s career-driven ambition, her broken romance, the father‑daughter dynamics, and hair-raising danger feels heartfelt and resonates.
Verdict: Dead to Me is a well-crafted thriller. Anna is the kind of protagonist I love: vulnerable, relentless, human. Reid is the kind of detective‑love interest who’s as compelling for what he doesn’t say as for what he does. Lodge’s tight plotting, immersive setting, and piercing emotional stakes make this novel stand out from the crowd. Recommended.
Taking the name and backstory of Aria Lauder, Anna Sousa sets out to capture the interest of a small group of Cambridge University friends, members of the privileged Pitt Club. Anna’s father Seaton, expected her for lunch the day after the May Ball, but she never arrived. As time passes and he has not heard from her, he grows increasingly anxious, knowing what she’s been investigating in Cambridge. So he phones Reid Murray and the story begins.
Anna is a fierce, driven American, with the uncompromising instincts of a journalist who can smell a good story a mile off. She’s still bereft over the loss of her relationship with Detective Reid Murray. But as she digs deeper into the twin Cambridge deaths of students Holly and Tanya, her tenacious spark flares into full‑blown obsession. Lodge sketches Anna/Aria with excellent psychological depth: she’s not just chasing clues, she’s wrestling with grief (her relationship collapse, unresolved emotions about her father) and the moral complexities of investigative journalism. Much of the information comes from a long e-mail she types, though never intends to send, to Reid. All of her character is poured into that e-mail: she is honest, raw, funny, and just a little bit broken.
Reid is phlegmatic, a detective who initially seems cold. But that’s what makes the tension between them so delicious. It’s clear Reid still cares deeply for Anna, despite his anger with her that caused their break-up. The unresolved chemistry underpins every risky move Anna makes. Their relationship is fractured, which is both a strength and a vulnerability in this story.
One of the most compelling parts of this novel is how Anna handles the investigation. She embeds herself in a privileged student circle using a carefully crafted backstory, uncovering whispered secrets, half-truths, and institutional arrogance. Cambridge’s elite world feels intensely charged and foreboding. The stakes increase dramatically; Anna isn’t just pursuing a story that could boost her career, she’s walking a thin line over a very real abyss. The friendship group Anna gains access to, comprising Esther, Ryan, Kit and James, all appear to have secrets of their own.
The pacing is intense, and I lost myself in this story as I flipped the pages faster and faster. Just when I thought I had figured it out, Gytha Lodge surprised me with an unexpected twist. The story turns into thriller mode, with violent acts and betrayals among friends. It’s cleverly written, and the entire story is gripping. I loved how each of the students had secrets. It was impossible to know who to trust, and when one turned out to be extremely untrustworthy, it was hard to tell if that meant they were also the killer.
Beyond Anna and Reid, there’s Anna’s relationship with her father. They’ve long been distant, but Anna needs her father’s help to get in to this exclusive circle. Anna’s father, Seaton, has his regrets. His past mistakes are at the heart of their fragile relationship, and he’s keen to make amends without knowing quite how to go about it. Their relationship enriches Anna’s story; she’s not just proving Reid right, she’s defining herself in contrast to her father’s more regret‑tinged life.
Cambridge’s cloistered grandeur makes the perfect backdrop for lurking malfeasance, and Lodge beautifully conveys the contrast between opulent tradition and sinister undercurrents. The tension between Anna’s career-driven ambition, her broken romance, the father‑daughter dynamics, and hair-raising danger feels heartfelt and resonates.
Verdict: Dead to Me is a well-crafted thriller. Anna is the kind of protagonist I love: vulnerable, relentless, human. Reid is the kind of detective‑love interest who’s as compelling for what he doesn’t say as for what he does. Lodge’s tight plotting, immersive setting, and piercing emotional stakes make this novel stand out from the crowd. Recommended.
July 3, 2025
I really rather enjoyed this. Gytha Lodge's first standalone psychological thriller may be very different in tone and style from her brilliant Jonah Sheens series, but that is no bad thing. With two murders, or potential murders, at their core, and a missing journalist whose absence is of great concern to her father and her ex-partner, this is a book that is a heady mixture of mystery, suspense and intrigue, taking readers into the hallowed halls of Cambridge University. Well, hall adjacent at the very least. Posing as a postgrad student in order to investigate the untimely death of an undergraduate, Holly Moore, at the behest of Holly's old school friend, Anna may well have bitten off more than she could chew. And, having disappeared in the midst of the prestigious May Ball, it seems that both Anna and her client, Cordelia, may have reason to be suspicious.
I Like how Gytha Lodge has structured this book. Despite Anna's disappearance, we still get a lot of the story from her perspective, in a first person narrative, without learning a thing about where she may be. This is achieved by a kind if stream of consciousness email from Anna to her ex-partern, Police Detective, Reid Murray. Anna details her investigation into Holly's death and her close circle of friends, members of Cambridge's social elite. We gradually learn about their secrets, their personalities and their foibles, whilst also learning more about Anna's character too, a method which both endeared her to me and frustrated me at times.
There was no doubting her tenacity, but her determination to investigate often came at the expense of her own safety, something which was both signposted by the direction of the narrative, and also hidden by her own seeming naivety or perhaps indifference at times. As we re hearing her story in hindsight, almost like a diary entry, there is a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation at times, where the fear comes through but is tinged with a strengthening of her own convictions. She has al the brash quirks of her American upbringing, but a seemingly endless ability to draw those around her into her sphere, something replicated in the way in which I found myself drawn to Anna through the narrative and all the more invested in her fate.
In addition to Anna's testimony as it were, the other two perspectives we are privy to are that of Reid and of Anna's previously estranged father, Seaton Laws, a man of the stiff upper lip brigade, but whose curiosity, or concern, over Anna's failure to meet for lunch kicks off the whole story to begin with. I really quite liked Seaton, his strange behaviour and inability to quite connect with his daughter, using champagne as the catch all answer to all ills. Not my style but I'm sure it would work for some. Reid is a really different character to both Anna and her father, a straight by the book Detective whose outlook seems greatly at odds with Anna's but who, in the way Gytha Lodge gradually introduces him to us as readers, I can understand would be her perfect partner. The three make for very different narrators, but ones I was more than happy to spend time in the company of.
This book digs down into all that is right and wrong about Holly's friendship group. That looks beyond the superficial image that each of them portrays to the damaged and insecure young adults that lie within. Whilst on the surface they may project perfection, each is nursing a secret or two that could have bearing on Anna's investigation. Or not. And that is the beauty of the book in that it is packed with misdirection, drawing readers to challenge their own prejudices about the kind of privilege the group projects, casting suspicion on each in turn whilst hiding the truth in plain sight. There are some delicious twists and quirks in the story, and I will admit that it did not play out as I expected at all. There is a side story, a tragedy with links to the central characters, which may or may not play into what happens to Holly, but most certainly casts doubt upon Cordelia's assertions that Holly's death was no mere accident.
if you love a strong psychological thriller, that has a core of humour and heart in the central protagonists, people of dubious or, at the very least, duplicitous character, and perfect balance of jeopardy, mystery and suspense, as well as a long catalogue of various champagne brands (I really never knew there were so many varieties of fizzy French wine!), then this could well be the book for you. There are some dark themes in the book - attempted assault, suicide, drugs abuse - but the book itself is not gratuitous or overly dark in tone. The conversational style of Anna's narration keeps that at bay. I loved getting to know Anna, her personality was infectious and I found that once I started reading, I really didn't want to find the cure. Top stuff.
I Like how Gytha Lodge has structured this book. Despite Anna's disappearance, we still get a lot of the story from her perspective, in a first person narrative, without learning a thing about where she may be. This is achieved by a kind if stream of consciousness email from Anna to her ex-partern, Police Detective, Reid Murray. Anna details her investigation into Holly's death and her close circle of friends, members of Cambridge's social elite. We gradually learn about their secrets, their personalities and their foibles, whilst also learning more about Anna's character too, a method which both endeared her to me and frustrated me at times.
There was no doubting her tenacity, but her determination to investigate often came at the expense of her own safety, something which was both signposted by the direction of the narrative, and also hidden by her own seeming naivety or perhaps indifference at times. As we re hearing her story in hindsight, almost like a diary entry, there is a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation at times, where the fear comes through but is tinged with a strengthening of her own convictions. She has al the brash quirks of her American upbringing, but a seemingly endless ability to draw those around her into her sphere, something replicated in the way in which I found myself drawn to Anna through the narrative and all the more invested in her fate.
In addition to Anna's testimony as it were, the other two perspectives we are privy to are that of Reid and of Anna's previously estranged father, Seaton Laws, a man of the stiff upper lip brigade, but whose curiosity, or concern, over Anna's failure to meet for lunch kicks off the whole story to begin with. I really quite liked Seaton, his strange behaviour and inability to quite connect with his daughter, using champagne as the catch all answer to all ills. Not my style but I'm sure it would work for some. Reid is a really different character to both Anna and her father, a straight by the book Detective whose outlook seems greatly at odds with Anna's but who, in the way Gytha Lodge gradually introduces him to us as readers, I can understand would be her perfect partner. The three make for very different narrators, but ones I was more than happy to spend time in the company of.
This book digs down into all that is right and wrong about Holly's friendship group. That looks beyond the superficial image that each of them portrays to the damaged and insecure young adults that lie within. Whilst on the surface they may project perfection, each is nursing a secret or two that could have bearing on Anna's investigation. Or not. And that is the beauty of the book in that it is packed with misdirection, drawing readers to challenge their own prejudices about the kind of privilege the group projects, casting suspicion on each in turn whilst hiding the truth in plain sight. There are some delicious twists and quirks in the story, and I will admit that it did not play out as I expected at all. There is a side story, a tragedy with links to the central characters, which may or may not play into what happens to Holly, but most certainly casts doubt upon Cordelia's assertions that Holly's death was no mere accident.
if you love a strong psychological thriller, that has a core of humour and heart in the central protagonists, people of dubious or, at the very least, duplicitous character, and perfect balance of jeopardy, mystery and suspense, as well as a long catalogue of various champagne brands (I really never knew there were so many varieties of fizzy French wine!), then this could well be the book for you. There are some dark themes in the book - attempted assault, suicide, drugs abuse - but the book itself is not gratuitous or overly dark in tone. The conversational style of Anna's narration keeps that at bay. I loved getting to know Anna, her personality was infectious and I found that once I started reading, I really didn't want to find the cure. Top stuff.
April 8, 2025
Having been a fan of Gytha Lodge's Jonah Sheens series of books I was curious about the new world that "Dead To Me" would bring. Now, in truth it's not that different, but that's a good thing. We get to enjoy a similarly understated mystery that unfolds and then delivers a punchy finale. It's something Lodge does very well and I was glad to see that not lost. Same with the characters really - they're obviously new and different, but they have the author's fingerprints all over them so I felt like I had a headstart getting to know them.
But what's it all really about? Well, the interesting twist of this mystery appears in the opening chapters. Three people may have been murdered! Or possibly none of them have. You see, Anna is late for lunch with her dad. She's a journalist looking into the drug related deaths of two seemingly unconnected students at Cambridge. And although Anna is always late, this time she's not turning up at all. She's gone missing.
The story plays out from the perspectives of the various characters. Seaton, her father, contacts Reid, her ex, and they try to find her. Anna's story is told from the past though. Her part of the story is an email she was writing to Reid throughout her investigating to be read should anything happen to her. Which ya know, obviously has. Now, this is a little dry in the early chapters. She knows little and is just starting the backstory - which would work, but it's contrasted against her father quaffing champagne while reporting her missing to the police. The panic is just a bit more exciting and somewhat outshines the whole explaining how she created her fake identity. the contrast is just there. But the story delivers enough even in those early pages to keep the pages turning. And this is where Lodge's writing always seems to sneak up on me. There's nothing obvious about the characters that grips me. But there's a just point where I realise I'm invested in them. That moment where suddenly the extra pages start calling out and it gets harder to put down. I find myself wanting to read on for small details, so when the story reveals everything I'm fully hooked. And the reveal is infuriatingly obvious. With hindsight anyway. I neared the end ready to see half the characters arrested and when we find out what really happened I could see all the clues dropped throughout. How had I missed all the answers?
So yeah. I loved the book. Student debauchery with drink, drugs, and some sexual tension. A clever puzzle that delivered a great surprise. Characters I cared about. It really ticks all the boxes. A subtle mystery that delivered all I could've hoped for.
But what's it all really about? Well, the interesting twist of this mystery appears in the opening chapters. Three people may have been murdered! Or possibly none of them have. You see, Anna is late for lunch with her dad. She's a journalist looking into the drug related deaths of two seemingly unconnected students at Cambridge. And although Anna is always late, this time she's not turning up at all. She's gone missing.
The story plays out from the perspectives of the various characters. Seaton, her father, contacts Reid, her ex, and they try to find her. Anna's story is told from the past though. Her part of the story is an email she was writing to Reid throughout her investigating to be read should anything happen to her. Which ya know, obviously has. Now, this is a little dry in the early chapters. She knows little and is just starting the backstory - which would work, but it's contrasted against her father quaffing champagne while reporting her missing to the police. The panic is just a bit more exciting and somewhat outshines the whole explaining how she created her fake identity. the contrast is just there. But the story delivers enough even in those early pages to keep the pages turning. And this is where Lodge's writing always seems to sneak up on me. There's nothing obvious about the characters that grips me. But there's a just point where I realise I'm invested in them. That moment where suddenly the extra pages start calling out and it gets harder to put down. I find myself wanting to read on for small details, so when the story reveals everything I'm fully hooked. And the reveal is infuriatingly obvious. With hindsight anyway. I neared the end ready to see half the characters arrested and when we find out what really happened I could see all the clues dropped throughout. How had I missed all the answers?
So yeah. I loved the book. Student debauchery with drink, drugs, and some sexual tension. A clever puzzle that delivered a great surprise. Characters I cared about. It really ticks all the boxes. A subtle mystery that delivered all I could've hoped for.
July 16, 2025
Anna is an undercover journalist who is approached by Cordelia who asks her to look into the death of her friend Holly at (Cordelia claims) the hands of her group of rich entitled Cambridge student friends. This book operates under the assumption that all rich students are entitled, willing to overlook sexual assaults, and basically potential murderers.
Despite the fact that Cordelia's vague assertion is the total sum of the 'inside' information Anna has about Holly's death - the police determined it was an accidental overdose - Anna's employer the 'Ensign' agrees to fund an investigation. There is some suggestion Anna will infiltrate the Pitt Club, which turns out to be an entirely inoffensive dining club (apart from all the people in it being entitled and rich). With the help of her father Seaton, Anna assumes the identity of a member of the Lauder dynasty who is currently in rehab in the US, which seems to me unethical and bound to end in disaster. She poses as a PhD student and university rower, despite not having as tutor or a thesis and just trains on her own. Is this even possible? At a college-based university like Cambridge surely there is no way you would get away with this - someone would be bound to ask you who your supervisor is etc.
The structure of the novel involves Anna creating a diary of her investigation in the form of a draft email to her ex Reid, who happens to be a DI in the Met. When Anna goes missing, he discovers and reads this email and I thought this concept worked pretty well. I enjoyed this more than I am probably making it sound, but it did feel a bit overlong and Anna's methods were extremely time consuming and unproductive. She never really got to the bottom of whether for example Cordelia was controlling of Holly or whether Kit collected damaged people, although I suppose these weren't important for the 'story' she was meant to be putting together. I found the thread concerning Anna's relationship with Seaton touching, and the opening chapter where he waits for her to meet him for lunch was an effective set-up for the novel.
Despite the fact that Cordelia's vague assertion is the total sum of the 'inside' information Anna has about Holly's death - the police determined it was an accidental overdose - Anna's employer the 'Ensign' agrees to fund an investigation. There is some suggestion Anna will infiltrate the Pitt Club, which turns out to be an entirely inoffensive dining club (apart from all the people in it being entitled and rich). With the help of her father Seaton, Anna assumes the identity of a member of the Lauder dynasty who is currently in rehab in the US, which seems to me unethical and bound to end in disaster. She poses as a PhD student and university rower, despite not having as tutor or a thesis and just trains on her own. Is this even possible? At a college-based university like Cambridge surely there is no way you would get away with this - someone would be bound to ask you who your supervisor is etc.
The structure of the novel involves Anna creating a diary of her investigation in the form of a draft email to her ex Reid, who happens to be a DI in the Met. When Anna goes missing, he discovers and reads this email and I thought this concept worked pretty well. I enjoyed this more than I am probably making it sound, but it did feel a bit overlong and Anna's methods were extremely time consuming and unproductive. She never really got to the bottom of whether for example Cordelia was controlling of Holly or whether Kit collected damaged people, although I suppose these weren't important for the 'story' she was meant to be putting together. I found the thread concerning Anna's relationship with Seaton touching, and the opening chapter where he waits for her to meet him for lunch was an effective set-up for the novel.
July 2, 2025
In this book we meet Anna who is an American investigative journalist. Back in the day she was engaged to a British detective Reid and it is to him that she turns to, in an unsent email, when she starts to feel uneasy about her latest assignment. But I get ahead of things.
Anna is at a posh event when she is approached by someone who wants her help investigating the death of her best friend at a Cambridge College May Ball nearly a year ago, the police having ruled accident/misadventure. To do this, Anna has to go undercover and enrol into the college. She does this with the help of her semi-estranged father Seaton. She just has time to infiltrate the dead girl's group of friends and inveigle herself therein before this year's May Ball is held.
It is Seaton that raises the alarm when Anna fails to make a dinner arranged for the day after the Ball and it is, again, to Reid that he turns...
It's actually way more interesting, intriguing, and convoluted than that. But, to add much more would invariably start to hint at spoilers and, I'm not going there.
Characters are also interesting and intriguing, and I guess convoluted too! They are, as you would imagine, often larger than life and the majority hide behind expectation, if you get what I mean by that. Which was great as it allowed, and indeed. enabled the author to have a lot of fun wit obfuscation as to who to trust...
And the twists and turns came thick and fast, having me spinning around, chasing my tail pretty much all the way through. So much so that I really didn't know where we were going until, boom, there we are! But, looking back, in hindsight, yup... there were clues...
All in all, another definite winner from another of my favourite authors, to add to her already well impressive back catalogue which also contains her brilliant series featuring Jonah Sheens. Can we have another one of these soon please?
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Anna is at a posh event when she is approached by someone who wants her help investigating the death of her best friend at a Cambridge College May Ball nearly a year ago, the police having ruled accident/misadventure. To do this, Anna has to go undercover and enrol into the college. She does this with the help of her semi-estranged father Seaton. She just has time to infiltrate the dead girl's group of friends and inveigle herself therein before this year's May Ball is held.
It is Seaton that raises the alarm when Anna fails to make a dinner arranged for the day after the Ball and it is, again, to Reid that he turns...
It's actually way more interesting, intriguing, and convoluted than that. But, to add much more would invariably start to hint at spoilers and, I'm not going there.
Characters are also interesting and intriguing, and I guess convoluted too! They are, as you would imagine, often larger than life and the majority hide behind expectation, if you get what I mean by that. Which was great as it allowed, and indeed. enabled the author to have a lot of fun wit obfuscation as to who to trust...
And the twists and turns came thick and fast, having me spinning around, chasing my tail pretty much all the way through. So much so that I really didn't know where we were going until, boom, there we are! But, looking back, in hindsight, yup... there were clues...
All in all, another definite winner from another of my favourite authors, to add to her already well impressive back catalogue which also contains her brilliant series featuring Jonah Sheens. Can we have another one of these soon please?
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 12, 2025
After a party at Cambridge University, Holly drowned with a huge dose of ketamine in her system. Her friend Cordelia never believed it was an accident and encourages a journalist, the USA-born Anna, to investigate. Anna asks her estranged British father, Seaton, an emeritus professor, to get her into the university in the guise of a wealthy student. But Seaton is old friends with the father of victim Holly's boyfriend. The boyfriend is one of four possible suspects Cordelia and Anna have identified. Nevertheless, Seaton wants the truth for Holly's family, so he arranges for Anna to assume the persona of Aria, a real-life rich American, who has disappeared from social media to enter drug rehab.
Anna's experiences undercover among the rich, overprivileged student set are revealed in an extended email / request for help to her ex-boyfriend, Reid, a police detective. It took me a while to settle into this unusual approach as I’m not used to reading a slightly arm’s length narrative addressed to 'you'. However, as the story progresses, Anna’s email makes less use of ‘you’ and mostly describes her investigation in a conventional and suspenseful way. The second viewpoint character is Anna’s father, Seaton. His story takes off the day after Anna has disappeared from her undercover life and he tries to find out what’s happened to her. He summons support from Anna’s ex, the detective Reid, and we then get chapters from Reid’s perspective as the two men search for Anna. By chapter 5, I was fully invested and I’m glad I stuck with this intriguing mystery (even though the biggest conundrum might perhaps be how none of the students suffered liver failure given their copious consumption of alcohol and drugs…) All three viewpoint characters were engaging.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Anna's experiences undercover among the rich, overprivileged student set are revealed in an extended email / request for help to her ex-boyfriend, Reid, a police detective. It took me a while to settle into this unusual approach as I’m not used to reading a slightly arm’s length narrative addressed to 'you'. However, as the story progresses, Anna’s email makes less use of ‘you’ and mostly describes her investigation in a conventional and suspenseful way. The second viewpoint character is Anna’s father, Seaton. His story takes off the day after Anna has disappeared from her undercover life and he tries to find out what’s happened to her. He summons support from Anna’s ex, the detective Reid, and we then get chapters from Reid’s perspective as the two men search for Anna. By chapter 5, I was fully invested and I’m glad I stuck with this intriguing mystery (even though the biggest conundrum might perhaps be how none of the students suffered liver failure given their copious consumption of alcohol and drugs…) All three viewpoint characters were engaging.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
July 2, 2025
Double points for this one: not only is it the first standalone thriller from bestselling local author Gytha, but the action of this novel takes place in our city as well, during those last few exam-filled weeks of summer term before the colleges’ celebrations begin. Dead To Me follows two entwined protagonists: Anna – an American journalist pretending to be an elite rower while investigating the mysterious death of a student – and Reid, a local DI who also happens to be Anna’s ex. The two did not part well, but as Anna’s investigation starts to deepen, the only person who might be able to help her is Reid. She decides to reach out, and puts everything into a long email – but will Reid be too late to rescue her? Come for the perfectly-paced thriller, told through a combination of slowly-uncovered emails and gripping live action – it’s clear that this isn’t Lodge’s first rodeo – but stay for the pitch-perfect rendition of late summer life at Cambridge and the heady, intoxicating allure of the super-rich students, gliding through their frictionless world without a care – though like the swans that rowers scull past on the river, there’s a lot of paddling going on beneath the surface. The text is peppered with familiar landmarks: just try to stop yourself cheering when Midsummer House, Bould Brothers and Restaurant 22 appear in the action. Lodge’s detail-laden, shimmering descriptions of balmy summer life in our city, particularly the sections set out on the river as Anna trains, will leave you longing for the warmer months to come – and crossing your fingers that we get good weather this year. Pre-order this now ahead of its July release and you’re guaranteed a memorable summer read landing on your doorstep.
Featured in April issue of Cambridge Edition
Featured in April issue of Cambridge Edition
July 4, 2025
Anna and Reid weren't meant to be, apparently. She's a fiery American journalist; he's a stoic British detective - it was nice while it lasted, and then it really wasn't and Anna is over it now anyway. She's on the scent of a career-making story - a suspicious death amongst the cloistered elite world of Cambridge University, with a slice of police corruption too. The more she investigates though, the more there's only one person she wants to talk to about it. She starts writing Reid a long sprawling email - it's not like she's ever planning to send it. Until suddenly, she's in desperate trouble. The problem with chasing a killer is that sometimes, you run right into them. And the only detective she can trust with her life, is the one who broke her heart...
Always excited for a new release by Gytha Lodge, and whilst I was disappointed it wasn’t the next installment in the Jonah Sheens series, I was never not going to pick it up to read as love this authors writing style.
This standalone title took the unique approach of Anna’s POV chapters being told through an email she was writing to Reid, the conversational approach creating a familiarity of their relationship from the offset.
It is more of a slow burn than her usual books but the pace does pick up in the latter half of the book with a satisfying twist conclusion that to be fair, kept me guessing the whole way through. There were a lot of characters involved too, aside from Anna & Reid, and it did take a while to get my head round them all and how they all slotted in to the story.
Anna is a fabulous, tenacious, strong-willed character that you can’t help but root for, with her rugged determination powering the connection with the reader throughout. An enjoyable read and I’m already looking forward to what comes next from Gytha.
Always excited for a new release by Gytha Lodge, and whilst I was disappointed it wasn’t the next installment in the Jonah Sheens series, I was never not going to pick it up to read as love this authors writing style.
This standalone title took the unique approach of Anna’s POV chapters being told through an email she was writing to Reid, the conversational approach creating a familiarity of their relationship from the offset.
It is more of a slow burn than her usual books but the pace does pick up in the latter half of the book with a satisfying twist conclusion that to be fair, kept me guessing the whole way through. There were a lot of characters involved too, aside from Anna & Reid, and it did take a while to get my head round them all and how they all slotted in to the story.
Anna is a fabulous, tenacious, strong-willed character that you can’t help but root for, with her rugged determination powering the connection with the reader throughout. An enjoyable read and I’m already looking forward to what comes next from Gytha.
September 9, 2025
This is a gripping and engrossing story, steeped in murder, scandal, and suspense, all wrapped up in a deliciously dark academia setting. I had no idea what to expect going in, but I found myself completely immersed from the very start.
The story is told mainly from the perspectives of Anna, Reid, and Seaton. Anna, a journalist, is investigating the suspicious death of a young woman a year earlier. Her narrative is cleverly revealed through a long email to her ex, Reid, a detective with whom she had a messy breakup 18 months prior. As Anna digs deeper, she becomes entangled with a group of students who are all hiding secrets, and it soon becomes clear that she has no idea who she can trust. Meanwhile, Seaton, Anna’s father who, brings another fascinating layer to the story, despite not having been a major part of her life.
The pacing starts off slow, but once the tension builds, the novel becomes impossible to put down. Suspicion shifts constantly between the students, and just when you think you have it figured out, the plot twists in ways you won’t see coming. The ending, in particular, was brilliantly executed.
The characters are exceptionally well-developed, complex, flawed, and strikingly real. You can’t help but become attached to each of them for different reasons, even as you question whether you should be trusting them at all. It’s a true rollercoaster of emotions. The atmospheric university setting amplifies the suspense, while Anna’s determination to uncover the truth, despite the death being written off as an overdose, makes her a strong and compelling protagonist.
This story has it all: crime, suspense, drama, and the perfect amount of intricacy in its plotting.
Overall, an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read that will have you gripped from start to finish. The only question is—will you guess the ending?
The story is told mainly from the perspectives of Anna, Reid, and Seaton. Anna, a journalist, is investigating the suspicious death of a young woman a year earlier. Her narrative is cleverly revealed through a long email to her ex, Reid, a detective with whom she had a messy breakup 18 months prior. As Anna digs deeper, she becomes entangled with a group of students who are all hiding secrets, and it soon becomes clear that she has no idea who she can trust. Meanwhile, Seaton, Anna’s father who, brings another fascinating layer to the story, despite not having been a major part of her life.
The pacing starts off slow, but once the tension builds, the novel becomes impossible to put down. Suspicion shifts constantly between the students, and just when you think you have it figured out, the plot twists in ways you won’t see coming. The ending, in particular, was brilliantly executed.
The characters are exceptionally well-developed, complex, flawed, and strikingly real. You can’t help but become attached to each of them for different reasons, even as you question whether you should be trusting them at all. It’s a true rollercoaster of emotions. The atmospheric university setting amplifies the suspense, while Anna’s determination to uncover the truth, despite the death being written off as an overdose, makes her a strong and compelling protagonist.
This story has it all: crime, suspense, drama, and the perfect amount of intricacy in its plotting.
Overall, an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read that will have you gripped from start to finish. The only question is—will you guess the ending?
May 6, 2025
This is a dark academia thriller set in Cambridge and more specifically Cambridge University where American journalist Anna has gone undercover, as American heiress Aria Lauder, to investigate the seemingly accidental death of two female students both of whom were connected to the same group of wealthy students. Told from multiple perspectives, those of Anna’s father Seaton Laws, her former partner DI Reid Murray, and Anna herself, by way of a very long email she wrote to Reid, never intending to send it.
Briefly, with help from her father Anna has inveigled herself into the group of friends who knew the dead women, one of whom was Reid’s sister. They are a group of privileged individuals who live a champagne lifestyle but all are flawed characters and Anna is struggling to get to the bottom of the deaths. But then Anna herself goes missing and her father turns to the one person he trusts to help, Reid.
This unusual style of writing for Anna’s voice had me a little confused at first and I think had it maybe been written in italics it would help, it may be that it will be different in the final version as I was reading a proof copy. That said I did soon get behind it and actually quite liked this different perspective. The story is fairly complex and there are so many twists and turns, I didn’t know how many times I changed my mind about what had happened and who was involved. This is a gripping read full of interesting characters, not least feisty Anna, sometime a bit too headstrong for her own good, but with all the right intentions. A cracking read.
4.5⭐️
Briefly, with help from her father Anna has inveigled herself into the group of friends who knew the dead women, one of whom was Reid’s sister. They are a group of privileged individuals who live a champagne lifestyle but all are flawed characters and Anna is struggling to get to the bottom of the deaths. But then Anna herself goes missing and her father turns to the one person he trusts to help, Reid.
This unusual style of writing for Anna’s voice had me a little confused at first and I think had it maybe been written in italics it would help, it may be that it will be different in the final version as I was reading a proof copy. That said I did soon get behind it and actually quite liked this different perspective. The story is fairly complex and there are so many twists and turns, I didn’t know how many times I changed my mind about what had happened and who was involved. This is a gripping read full of interesting characters, not least feisty Anna, sometime a bit too headstrong for her own good, but with all the right intentions. A cracking read.
4.5⭐️
May 10, 2025
‘Dead to Me’ is Gytha Lodge’s latest psychological thriller and it is very likely to appeal to fans of ‘The Secret History’ or ‘Engleby’, or anyone who has a taste for looking in detail at the messed up lives of privileged youth.
Set in Cambridge university, Anna, an American journalist, infiltrates a close-knit sporty group of undergraduates, as Aria, a world-class rower. Why? Her paper has agreed to support her to investigate the as yet unsolved suspicious death of Holly, one of the student group. Unbeknown to her bosses, Anna is also keen to see if there are any connections with her ex-partner’s sister, Tanya, another promising undergraduate who dies of a drug overdose in similar circumstances.
Lodge presents the narrative through a number of third person points of view, including that of Reid, police officer and Anna’s ex. Their split, following Tanya’s death, was acrimonious but Anna decides that, if her life is under threat, there’s still no better person to have on her team. Hence, a draft email addressed to him that Reid finds when Anna goes missing. Unfortunately, this narrative device feels rather forced and spoils the overall effect of the novel for me.
However, Lodge does recreate Cambridge authentically. The various place names and descriptions of buildings and streets add an effective element of realism to her sometimes hard-to-believe motives for her characters behaving as they do. My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Set in Cambridge university, Anna, an American journalist, infiltrates a close-knit sporty group of undergraduates, as Aria, a world-class rower. Why? Her paper has agreed to support her to investigate the as yet unsolved suspicious death of Holly, one of the student group. Unbeknown to her bosses, Anna is also keen to see if there are any connections with her ex-partner’s sister, Tanya, another promising undergraduate who dies of a drug overdose in similar circumstances.
Lodge presents the narrative through a number of third person points of view, including that of Reid, police officer and Anna’s ex. Their split, following Tanya’s death, was acrimonious but Anna decides that, if her life is under threat, there’s still no better person to have on her team. Hence, a draft email addressed to him that Reid finds when Anna goes missing. Unfortunately, this narrative device feels rather forced and spoils the overall effect of the novel for me.
However, Lodge does recreate Cambridge authentically. The various place names and descriptions of buildings and streets add an effective element of realism to her sometimes hard-to-believe motives for her characters behaving as they do. My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
May 14, 2025
Gytha Lodge delivers a smart, suspenseful thriller with a layered blend of murder, emotion, and unresolved feelings. Dead to Me isn’t just about catching a killer—it’s about trust, betrayal, and the thin line between love and danger. Anna, a determined American journalist, has buried her heartbreak over Reid, a reserved British detective. When she stumbles on a high-profile death within the elite halls of Cambridge University—one that reeks of cover-ups and police corruption—she dives headfirst into the investigation. As the case turns darker and more dangerous, Anna starts writing Reid an unsent email to process her thoughts. But when her life is on the line, he’s the only one she can turn to—professionally and emotionally.
What I like :-
1 Strong Female Lead: Anna is sharp, bold, and relentlessly curious. Her voice is compelling, and her emotional vulnerability feels authentic.
2 Slow-Burn Tension: The romantic history between Anna and Reid adds a layer of tension that simmers throughout without overpowering the plot.
3 Atmospheric Setting: Cambridge University is a perfect backdrop—exclusive, secretive, and brimming with dark academia vibes.
Overall, Dead to Me is a gripping blend of crime and personal drama, driven by a fierce protagonist and a layered, dangerous mystery. With just the right amount of romance and suspense, it’s ideal for fans of thrillers that don’t shy away from the emotional side of danger.
What I like :-
1 Strong Female Lead: Anna is sharp, bold, and relentlessly curious. Her voice is compelling, and her emotional vulnerability feels authentic.
2 Slow-Burn Tension: The romantic history between Anna and Reid adds a layer of tension that simmers throughout without overpowering the plot.
3 Atmospheric Setting: Cambridge University is a perfect backdrop—exclusive, secretive, and brimming with dark academia vibes.
Overall, Dead to Me is a gripping blend of crime and personal drama, driven by a fierce protagonist and a layered, dangerous mystery. With just the right amount of romance and suspense, it’s ideal for fans of thrillers that don’t shy away from the emotional side of danger.
June 28, 2025
Anna Sousa is a journalist, who specialises in truly immersive investigations. She works undercover, to get to the heart of a story, details that would otherwise not come to light. Her current job involves looking in to, what has been deemed by authorities, a non suspicious death. Holly Moore was an athlete, with so much promise, until the night of the May Ball. To enter the elite Cambridge world, Anna takes on the persona of Aria Lauder, an American with a strong rowing pedigree.
We are introduced to a large cast quickly, the slow burn pace allows the reader to get to know the characters in detail, to understand their complex relationships. Initially I found most of the characters insufferable, as the story progressed, some revealed redeeming qualities, while one became more intolerable. Anna’s own history and complex relationships, make her investigation more personal and nuanced. With around a quarter of the book remaining, the pace increased, finishing at a gallop, with a good deal of action.
Dark academia thrillers seem to be a genre which is becoming increasingly popular. There are plenty of red herrings, to throw us off the scent, to have us questioning the motives of the characters.
I think fans of Engleby will thoroughly enjoy this tale of the moneyed, pampered youth, being very full of themselves and their own self importance; whilst coming to terms with the problems induced by their seemingly perfect, charming upbringings.
We are introduced to a large cast quickly, the slow burn pace allows the reader to get to know the characters in detail, to understand their complex relationships. Initially I found most of the characters insufferable, as the story progressed, some revealed redeeming qualities, while one became more intolerable. Anna’s own history and complex relationships, make her investigation more personal and nuanced. With around a quarter of the book remaining, the pace increased, finishing at a gallop, with a good deal of action.
Dark academia thrillers seem to be a genre which is becoming increasingly popular. There are plenty of red herrings, to throw us off the scent, to have us questioning the motives of the characters.
I think fans of Engleby will thoroughly enjoy this tale of the moneyed, pampered youth, being very full of themselves and their own self importance; whilst coming to terms with the problems induced by their seemingly perfect, charming upbringings.
July 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. I was completely invested from the very beginning.
What stood out to me most was how flawed and human the characters were, especially Anna and Reid. Their relationship was messy and complicated in the best way, and their personalities and choices felt real. The dynamic between them added a lot of emotional weight to the story, and I was hooked trying to untangle everything as it unfolded.
I especially loved the use of a single, unsent email to tell Anna's (Aria’s) side of the story. It was a smart and unique narrative choice that made the story feel more intimate and personal, while also keeping the tension high.
The writing was strong and the pacing kept things moving with plenty of twists and turns. If I had one small complaint, it was the ending. I was hoping for a big reveal that would completely surprise me, but instead the resolution felt a little too spelled out. I wanted to be more shocked by the conclusion.
That said, it was still a really enjoyable read overall. There are some darker themes, so it is worth checking content warnings, but the book is not overwhelmingly dark. It leans more into emotional complexity and suspense than graphic content.
This was my first Gytha Lodge book and it definitely will not be my last. A gripping, thoughtful mystery with well-drawn characters and a compelling structure.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. I was completely invested from the very beginning.
What stood out to me most was how flawed and human the characters were, especially Anna and Reid. Their relationship was messy and complicated in the best way, and their personalities and choices felt real. The dynamic between them added a lot of emotional weight to the story, and I was hooked trying to untangle everything as it unfolded.
I especially loved the use of a single, unsent email to tell Anna's (Aria’s) side of the story. It was a smart and unique narrative choice that made the story feel more intimate and personal, while also keeping the tension high.
The writing was strong and the pacing kept things moving with plenty of twists and turns. If I had one small complaint, it was the ending. I was hoping for a big reveal that would completely surprise me, but instead the resolution felt a little too spelled out. I wanted to be more shocked by the conclusion.
That said, it was still a really enjoyable read overall. There are some darker themes, so it is worth checking content warnings, but the book is not overwhelmingly dark. It leans more into emotional complexity and suspense than graphic content.
This was my first Gytha Lodge book and it definitely will not be my last. A gripping, thoughtful mystery with well-drawn characters and a compelling structure.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.
April 16, 2025
This was an enjoyable thriller, told from various povs to keep the story and tension going. Women are dying of drug overdoses in the elite halls of Cambridge University. Dismissed as accidents, our MFC is convinced there is more at play here. As she's a reporter used to undercover work, and has a personal stake in finding out the truth, it doesn't take long for Anna to get swept up in everything. It's more than just drugs however, she has to face who she is, choices she's made along the way and new choices that could hurt all the more.
The pace started to lag a little in the middle, once the first major reveal happened, and then picked up again about 100 pages later, which made it a little hard going at times, but I'm glad I carried on with it, as it was good to read all the strands come together.
The ending was a little lacklustre - after all these pages, it was great to get a conclusion to who was the killer (albeit it was obvious) but there was nothing after really. Nothing about the characters coming back together, nothing about how these relationships will work after. Most of all, I would have loved for the killer to be brought face to face with the true reality of what happened. No spoilers, but it felt as if it was building up to a lovely cathartic moment - which never happened.
~thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
The pace started to lag a little in the middle, once the first major reveal happened, and then picked up again about 100 pages later, which made it a little hard going at times, but I'm glad I carried on with it, as it was good to read all the strands come together.
The ending was a little lacklustre - after all these pages, it was great to get a conclusion to who was the killer (albeit it was obvious) but there was nothing after really. Nothing about the characters coming back together, nothing about how these relationships will work after. Most of all, I would have loved for the killer to be brought face to face with the true reality of what happened. No spoilers, but it felt as if it was building up to a lovely cathartic moment - which never happened.
~thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
June 26, 2025
Anna is a journalist investing a career making story; a suspicious death of a student amongst the Cambridge elite. The more she investigates the more she wants her ex partner Reid, a detective, there too.
Only they didn’t end on the best of terms. When she runs into trouble will it be Reid who is there to help despite their past?
I have read most of this author’s other books and have enjoyed them so was excited to see this standalone novel by her. This was an interesting premise and I liked the Cambridge setting. This started well and I found I was compelled to carry on reading as soon as I picked up the book, but sadly this didn’t last due to the pacing becoming slow fairly soon after starting. Although well written in a general sense, I found the writing format didn’t allow the story to flow easily and it was difficult to know whose character was speaking. This also made it hard to connect to the characters.
Although I enjoyed the mystery element, I found the overall story a bit predictable and didn’t have any major surprises. For me this was a mixed bag and not a favourite by this author, mainly due to the slow pace. However I still appreciated parts of the story and would most certainly pick up more books by this author, especially as I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous novels. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Only they didn’t end on the best of terms. When she runs into trouble will it be Reid who is there to help despite their past?
I have read most of this author’s other books and have enjoyed them so was excited to see this standalone novel by her. This was an interesting premise and I liked the Cambridge setting. This started well and I found I was compelled to carry on reading as soon as I picked up the book, but sadly this didn’t last due to the pacing becoming slow fairly soon after starting. Although well written in a general sense, I found the writing format didn’t allow the story to flow easily and it was difficult to know whose character was speaking. This also made it hard to connect to the characters.
Although I enjoyed the mystery element, I found the overall story a bit predictable and didn’t have any major surprises. For me this was a mixed bag and not a favourite by this author, mainly due to the slow pace. However I still appreciated parts of the story and would most certainly pick up more books by this author, especially as I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous novels. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
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