Burn This

by Sophie McKenzie

They were meant to be best friends forever. But forever doesn’t last long if one of you is dead. Bella Wilkins is clearing out her mother Barbara’s house when she finds a hidden diary. On the cover, two words are

BURN THIS.

According to the diary, thirty years earlier, Barbara witnessed the murder of Bella’s childhood friend, Vicky.

The diary is quickly dismissed by the police as fiction – Barbara’s attempt at creative writing – but Bella is convinced they are wrong. As she uncovers a series of dark connections, it is clear Vicky’s killer is still at large. And they weren’t just someone familiar to Barbara, but a person Bella herself knows well…

A compulsive, twisty psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister, Lisa Jewell and Alice Feeney.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2025

About the author

Hey there! Welcome to my Goodreads page where you can keep up with all my stories - both the ones that are already published and the works in progress!!

I write mostly teen thrillers - plus some teen romance, books for younger children and four adult psychological thrillers.

I'm really excited right now because of...

Boy, Missing, my £1 book for World Book Day and Truth or Dare, my new teen thriller. (UK)


For more info on these and my other books, check out my website: www.sophiemckenziebooks.com

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was fantastic! A fast read that had twist after twist. And an ending that just 🤯🤯🤯 another thriller that kept me up way too late because I had to know.

Bella’s best friend Vicky was murdered when she was just 10 years old, the killer never found. Now Bella is returning to her childhood home and finds a notebook of her mother’s writing while cleaning the house out. The front of the book reads Burn This.. but inside is the start of the story of Vicky’s death. The ending is missing. Bella sets out to find out once and for all who murdered her friend.

Bella was quite frustrating at times, rushing in and getting herself into trouble with her questions and actions. It is a story of family secrets and drama and I loved it!!

Thanks so much to Canelo for another fabulous thriller. Pub on July 24th and definitely worth a read. 4.5⭐️

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have followed the title’s advice.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a really exciting premise which immediately drew me in. Bella is sorting through her dead mother's personal belongings when she comes across a notebook with the words BURN THIS on the cover.

Unable to resist (and who could??), Bella reads through the book which is full of her mum's poetry and other general musings until Bella stumbles across an entry which suggests that Bella's mum witnessed the murder of Bella's childhood best friend, Vicky.

Full of regret over the circumstances of Vicky's death, Bella takes the notebook to the Police who are uninterested - as are her friends and family who dismiss the entry as a fictional account. Bella disagrees and digs deeper and when she starts to receive threatening messages, she knows that someone is determined to keep what happened 30 years ago a secret.

Like I say, this was a brilliant premise and was executed well. There are so many suspects and dodgy characters, you will be changing your mind time and time again throughout this book and whilst I was able to guess the main part of the ending, there were a number of smaller twists and turns which had me gasping.

A really good page turner and thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that is easily devoured in one or two sittings. It’s easy to read, the plot is interesting and there’s some suspenseful moments that keep you turning the page.

All in all though, this book is just . . . Fine. I think it’s a shame, really, because this book started off great — we meet our main character as a child, at the catalytic event, and then we shoot to the present with lots of unanswered questions . . .

But then we meet about 100 more characters who all blend together and the mystery begins to, somehow, lose its intrigue after one too many false starts and red herrings! The book just sadly did not live up to its potential. Unlikeable characters, a romance that was pretty much fine until one part in the book where he’s accused. I mean, how do you ever come back from that, really? But apparently you do.

It all led up to, frankly, an unremarkable and unshocking reveal with a conclusion that makes you think well, this was all for nothing really. I get why Bella made the decision to keep the secret, for much the same reason her mother did, but I didn’t like it and in someways it felt a betrayal of Bella’s character. Yet when we met her determined to find the truth, the book concludes the truth was just for herself, and not for her friend after all…

So I would say this read achieves the purpose of a few hours entertainment and it wasn’t all bad! It just, overall, was fine.

Thank you to Canelo for this e-arc

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

When she is ten, Bella’s best friend is murdered. Bella blames herself, because she should have been the one to go into the woods that day. After Vicky’s body is discovered, life changes for Bella. As soon as she is able she leaves her home town. She doesn’t go back until her brother, Frank, asks for her help in selling their parents’ home.
When Bella and her daughter head back to her childhood home she starts to receive unusual messages. Her sorting of her parents’ belongings turns up some unusual things. Things which suggest someone knew more about Vicky’s murder than was shared at the time, and things which strongly suggest someone has a motive for keeping this information quiet.
Before we know it the secrets are tumbling out. Few people come out of this well, and I was rather surprised that things ended as they did.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.

[Cassandra Larsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

Bella is clearing out stuff from her parent’s house after her mother dies. In a box with her name she finds a notebook hidden saying that her mother knows who murdered Bella’s best friend Vicky when they were younger. On the cover of the book it says “BURN THIS”.

This book is a perfect mix of suspense, love and a lot of irritation on my part as there is loads of gaslighting the main character… I really love when a book can bring out real feelings like this. I recommend everyone to read this book when it’s out!

I rated the book 3.75 stars.

[Kyreadsthrillers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent read with an interesting idea. The diary and old murder mystery pulled me in at first, and I liked the setup. Some parts were suspenseful, but other parts felt slow and a bit repetitive.

I didn’t always connect with Bella or her choices, and some of the twists were easy to figure out. It kept my attention, but I wanted more tension and surprise.

Overall, it was okay but not a favorite. A good pick if you enjoy slower-paced thrillers.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Bella was ten years old her best friend was murdered.
Now twenty years later Bella has returned home to clear out her parents house to sell it.
She finds a notebook belonging to her mother with an instruction to burn the book. Inside her mother reveals that she knows who killed Bella’s friend but the rest of the pages are missing.
Bella decides she has to find out who this person is.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Allie Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75 ⭐️

Burn This is a thriller where digging into your mom’s past is deadly. However, I don’t know what was more annoying the amount of time Bella brought the diary up to someone or how she somehow managed to survive every obviously terrible idea she had.

[andshe.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burn This was a pretty decent read, narrated by Bella, who has moved back to her hometown with her young daughter twenty odd years after her best friend was murdered in the woods. Her mother has passed away, her father is in a care home, and she's got the job of clearing out the home she grew up in.

As she goes through some boxes she discovers a notebook concealed in a bible, what seems to be just some creative short stories her mother once wrote it isn't until she reaches the last few pages when she reads an account of what happened to her best friend however she notices some pages are missing just when she was going to uncover the murderers name.

Will Bella be able to uncover the truth? You'll have to read to find out. Twists and turns all the way through this story certainly had me guessing.

I definitely didn't suspect the ending, that's for sure.

My only critique was I felt there was a lot of characters introduced really early on so I felt like I couldn't get to know them all properly, but this didn't take away any enjoyment of the story for me.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

[Sylthrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bella's childhood best friend was murdered while 10 year old Bella herself was just behind the fence to the forest that would be the last thing Vicky would ever see. No one ever caught the murderer.
Now, 30 years later, Bella is back in her old town and while cleaning out her late mother's things, finds out that her mother seems to have known what happened to Vicky all those years ago.. And she's determined to finally find out the truth.

I really enjoyed this book, it's definitively among the best I read this year. There's the mystery that keeps you guessing, all kinds of things waiting to be uncovered, a little bit of romance.. and it's all just done so well, it actually feels realistic. The pacing was great, there were no slow parts, it was an intriguing read from the first page to the last. There are so many twists and little surprises, you can barely talk about the book without feeling like you might give something away, and that's exactly what I want from a thriller like this. It's been a while since I enjoyed a book this much and man, did I miss that feeling!

A lot of thrillers have this problem that they're all dark and gloomy, everyone is always stressed and scared, no one even gets a single happy minute because the antagonist is constantly a step ahead and ready to strike. In this thriller no one is cartoon character level of evil, the characters have backgrounds that shaped them into being who they are. That's just why I liked it so much! The characters are more than just tools to solve the mystery, they drive the plot forward with their actions and thoughts, things aren't just happening to them, they're happening because of them and that's a huge difference.

The adult characters are well written and actually quite fleshed out. Sure, it took a bit for Bella to figure things out but it was actually fun to watch her keep trying, not frustrating. And I really quite like the ending as well - very well tied together, just a nice way to finish the story. Plotwise, not something I'm used to and so it took a little to think about it.. But those last few sentences are just true. Beautiful way to finish the story.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to pick up a really well written, thought throughthriller with fleshed out characters and just a little hint of romance on the side. It's a fun read you won't want to put down.

Thank you Canelo for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for this eCopy to review

I went into Burn This hoping for a twisty, emotionally charged thriller—and while the premise had promise, the execution left me underwhelmed. It’s a quick read with a compelling hook, but the pacing, character overload, and underwhelming payoff made it a frustrating experience overall.

🔥 Plot Summary
The story follows Bella Beckett, who returns to her childhood home after her mother’s death. While clearing out the house, she discovers a hidden diary with the ominous words “BURN THIS” scrawled on the cover. Inside, her mother appears to confess to witnessing the murder of Bella’s childhood best friend, Vicky, thirty-five years earlier.

The police dismiss the diary as fiction, but Bella is convinced it’s real. Determined to uncover the truth, she begins digging into the past—only to find that the killer might still be out there, and closer than she ever imagined.

🕵️‍♀️ What I Liked
The Premise: A hidden diary, a decades-old murder, and a daughter uncovering her mother’s secrets? That’s thriller gold. The setup had me hooked.

Short Chapters & Fast Read: It’s easy to fly through this in a couple of sittings. The writing is accessible and the suspense keeps you turning pages, at least early on.

😬 What Didn’t Work (for Me)
Too Many Characters: The book throws a dizzying number of names at you early on, and many of them blend together. It made it hard to connect with anyone or feel invested in the mystery.

Pacing Issues: After a strong start, the middle drags. There are too many red herrings and false leads, and the tension fizzles out instead of building.

The Reveal: The final twist didn’t land for me. It felt both predictable and underwhelming, and the ending lacked the emotional or narrative punch I was hoping for.

🧾 Final Thoughts
Burn This had all the ingredients for a gripping psychological thriller, but it never quite came together. The mystery was muddled by too many characters and a meandering plot, and the emotional stakes never felt fully earned.

[Josie-Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Burn This follows Bella Wilkins who's best friend died when she was a child under mysterious circumstances. Bella has since returned to her family home and finds a journal, written by her mother, which has BURN THIS on the front. Intrigued by this, Bella soon discovers that her mother witnessed her best friend die and was covering up for someone that was involved in all of their lives...

A positive about this book is that it is a page turner and it is short. The writing style is easy to follow and ensures that you get through the information quickly however it did lead to me having to re-read some areas because I got confused by the multiple characters introduced throughout and the red herrings which were left everywhere.

Admittedly, I accused everyone in the book of something or other (this is normal for me as I am awful at pin-pointing who's done what) however despite this, I was not surprised when the real culprit was revealed and I found myself disappointed by the lack of thriller-esque build up.

Due to this, I found it a very below-average read. There's not really much chemistry between the characters, a lot of the mysterious circumstances were brushed over quickly and I felt like I spent more time with the main characters emotions then I did with the actual investigation into who killed her childhood best friend. Similarly, when this bit was explained, it felt rushed and more focused on a different sub-plot which meant I had to re-read it a couple of times to understand what was going on.

Overall, I believe this would be best suited for those who are beginners in the genre who want something quick-paced.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicky was murdered at the age of 10. Her killer was never found. Years later, Bella, her best friend, has returned to the area. Her mother has recently died, and among her belongings, Bella discovers a journal. Her mother writes that she witnessed the murder and knows who is responsible. The only problem? Her mother’s dead, and the journal she was writing in has pages missing. Bella is determined to uncover the secrets of the past and discover who is to blame.

I enjoyed this book. The plot was well thought out and constructed. The story began quite slowly, but by the middle of the book, I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down. Whilst the ending felt a little rushed, it made complete sense in the plot.

The main character, Bella, made for an intriguing narrator. She has a personal interest in solving the mysteries, which makes her decisions and actions more emotionally driven. At times, I was unsure who to trust, and I think the author has done an excellent job of putting the reader in Bella's shoes. The other characters were fleshed out and likable.

I did feel like there was less emphasis on the victim, Vicky, because we never really got to know who she was. That meant that the emotional investment was aimed towards Bella and the need for her to find peace.

Overall, this was a well-written book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers. If you enjoy Alice Feeney, I think you'll enjoy this one too.

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Bella was just ten years old, her best friend Vicky was murdered. With no idea who the perpetrator was, the case went cold. Now thirty years later, Bella is back in her childhood home, trying to clean out and organize after her mother's death. When she finds a notebook among her mother's things with the words "Burn This" on the cover, she cannot resist seeing what's inside. Along with the general ramblings and writing lies a bombshell of a secret. It seems that Bella's mother Barbara had witnessed the murder of Vicky 30 years ago. When the police, family, and friends dismiss the notebook as a fictional story, Bella takes the investigation into her own hands, not knowing just how close to a killer that she has been.

So while this novel had a strong premise, I felt like the execution left me a bit underwhelmed. McKenzie does well drawing in the reader with the suspense and tension early on. The diary entries are compelling, but it just didn't land for me. The pacing dragged in the middle, losing momentum instead of ramping up like I expected. Bella as our main character, while relatable at times, felt really hard to connect with. And then the ending. While it was surprising, I just felt like it was a bit rushed. Overall, Burn This is a decent pick if you are in the mood for an escapist read full of secrets and lies.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie McKenzie, and Canelo Suspense for this ARC! Publication date is July 24th 2025.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Bella Wilkins was a child, her best friend Vicky was found murdered in the woods. It was pure chance that Vicky was the one who went to retrieve their toy when the two girls were horsing around together at the playground, because it was actually Bella's turn.

As an adult, Bella is therefore very well aware that she might have been the killer's victim if not for this element of luck that had been working in her favour.

Years later, when Bella returns to clear out some things from her parents' home after her mother's death she is disturbed to find a kind of diary where it appears that her mother knew who Vicky's killer was. But if that was the case, why did her mother not speak out?

The rest of her family are not much help at answering that question, with her father suffering from dementia, her uncle John appearing to know nothing of it, and her brother Frank reacting badly when Bella raises this possibility.

So, does Bella know her family members as well as she thought she did?

Sophie Mackenzie has done it again. Although the protagonist's musings occasionally feel slightly repetitive, this is a consistently entertaining story that holds the reader's interest well. It gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Bolt Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Burn This is a frustrating read for all the wrong reasons. From the very beginning, the story is overwhelmed by an overabundance of characters, many of whom are introduced within the first few chapters. As a result, there’s little opportunity to connect with anyone before another name is added to the mix. By the end, even if you think you’ve sorted out who is who and who belongs with whom, you’ll likely be proven wrong—and not in a good or satisfying way.

The writing doesn’t do much to help. There’s a lack of emotional depth, with events piling on just to stretch the page count rather than to meaningfully develop the plot or characters. Much of the book feels like filler. Honestly, you could read the first few chapters, skip to the end, and still understand what happened—though you’ll likely still be disappointed. The ending, driven by baffling character decisions, falls completely flat and leaves little satisfaction or closure. Overall, the story lacks strength, cohesion, and purpose.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Lalla Dawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie McKenzie’s Burn This is a fast-paced, emotionally charged YA thriller that grips you from the very first page. Known for her signature blend of suspense and real-life issues, McKenzie delivers yet another compelling read that keeps you turning the pages late into the night.

The story follows the aftermath of a tragic accident that rocks a close-knit family. Emotions run high as secrets unravel, loyalties are tested, and the search for truth intensifies. McKenzie does an exceptional job of exploring grief, guilt, and teenage identity with authenticity and heart.

What makes Burn This stand out is its relatable characters and raw emotion. The tension between friendship, betrayal, and the desire for justice is written with nuance and power. McKenzie’s writing is sharp and engaging, perfectly capturing the voice of her characters while maintaining a gripping sense of mystery.

If you enjoy thrillers with emotional depth and realistic characters, Burn This is an absolute must-read. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to heal, forgive, and stand up for the truth—even when it burns. 🔥📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(5/5 stars)

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

They say some secrets should stay buried… but what if one of them involves a decades-old murder and your mum's dusty diary literally tells you to BURN THIS?

This one had all the ingredients of a psychological thriller I’d typically devour; childhood tragedy, a suspicious diary, and a determined daughter playing amateur detective.
And while I was intrigued (and guessing) most of the way through, something about the pacing or payoff left me lukewarm rather than breathless.

🕵️‍♀️ What worked:
* The central mystery is compelling and filled with red herrings (and a twist I didn’t fully see coming).
* Bella’s unravelling of her mother’s past was genuinely engaging.
* Love a good small-town “everyone has secrets” vibe.

🌀 What didn’t quite hit:
* Some parts felt a bit drawn out, and I struggled to emotionally connect with Bella at times.
* The final twist? Surprising, yes, but maybe not as impactful as I'd hoped.

If you’re in the mood for a solid whodunnit with family secrets and diary-fuelled drama, this one delivers. But for me, it was more simmer than sizzle.

[Shutki Crew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Burn This by Sophie McKenzie. From the very first page, I was completely drawn in. The tension builds so well and just when I thought I had it all figured out, another twist would throw me off. I was constantly second-guessing everyone and couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know the truth.

The story deals with some heavy themes, and I thought they were handled with a lot of care. The characters felt real and layered, and I found myself emotionally invested in what happened to them. I especially liked how the mystery unfolded piece by piece, it made the reveal so satisfying.

One small thing that stood out to me was a younger character using the word ROFL which felt a bit outdated and slightly out of place. But honestly that was such a minor moment in an otherwise brilliant and gripping book.

If you enjoy twisty thrillers with emotional depth and plenty of suspense, this one is a must-read. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC, this review reflects my honest opinion.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable read but there's some inconsistency in the characters that frustrated me at times.

It opens with a spat between two friends, culminating in 10 year old Bella leaving her friend Vicky alone in a park and ridden with guilt when Vicky's body is later found.

Thirty years later Bella returns to her hometown moving back into her childhood home after father's move into an aged care facility. While clearing out boxes she finds a book with 'Burn this' written on the cover. Inside she finds poetry written by her long-dead mother as well as something that seems to indicate she witnessed Vicky's murder yet kept silent and Bella now wonders why. She attempts to get the police to reopen the case but fails until another suspicious death means Bella herself becomes a suspect.

In the background we spend time with Bella's family and childhood friends. Her family relationships are complex and I felt there was some inconsistency in their behaviour - particularly how they treated Bella.

There's also however a smidge of romance tipping this into romantic suspense territory which I enjoyed. Until of course she realises her love interest could be involved in some way...

I enjoyed this and certainly didn't guess at the direction it ultimately takes us.

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent premise, caught by the fact that not a single character in the book is likeable enough to form a connection to. For a book about solving a child murder, there is a singular lack of talk about either the child, what happened at the time, or even the impact it had on her best friend.

The main character is bland and irritating, and unfortunately for her, I agreed every time someone told her that she was acting ridiculous, or making things up. Telling the reader that you feel guilty about what happened when your best friend was murdered doesn't actually make it true! Not a single person here even seems to remember that this is what it was about, and even the ending, where they discuss the affair, and how Cheryl ended up pregnant, the actual child murder is mentioned maybe once or twice? Outrageous, and lessens the impact of both the entire book, and all those that ended up dead.

A tedious end, but at least I made it there, although by that point, I didn't care enough about anyone to really appreciate it.

[TheLisaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burn This by Sophie McKenzie is a compelling, fast-paced thriller that effortlessly blends a gripping mystery with a richly layered backstory. From the opening pages, McKenzie hooks the reader with an intense narrative that unravels in just the right way—teasing out clues, secrets, and emotional depth with expert precision.

What makes this novel truly stand out is the way the past weaves seamlessly into the present, offering context and complexity to the unfolding mystery. McKenzie’s storytelling is sharp and immersive, with just enough twists to keep readers constantly reevaluating what they think they know. The pacing is tight, and the suspense never lets up, making it easy to lose yourself in the story from start to finish.

Burn This is an outstanding addition to McKenzie’s body of work. It’s a one-sitting kind of read—engrossing, emotionally driven, and expertly plotted. A must-read for fans of intelligent, character-driven thrillers.

[Nicola Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting as it hooked me from the start. Bella finds a box in her parents' home that throws new light on the murder of her childhood friend Vicky over 30 years earlier. She finds an extract of what is possibly her mam's diary of that day, and sets out to find the truth behind it. She questions those around her including her brother and uncle and her dad who is now in a care home with Alzheimer's, and is met with derision from those closest to her and also from the Detective Inspector who doesn't take her seriously. She enlists the help of her best friend's brother and Vicky's dad. Intertwined in that, she is bringing up her own daughter who is coping with life changes too. In some ways the book becomes predictable with a developing relationship, threatening texts etc. but is twisty enough as well to keep the reader interested.

[Elf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for this arc to review

Sophie McKenzie has a special place in my heart as she is one of the authors that I was obsessed with as a teen and got me into reading. When I saw this on Netgalley, I was incredibly eager to read it but unfortunately it did not quite live up to expectations. It was a quick read though!

The story follows Bella who returns to her childhood home where she finds her mother’s notebook with an entry around the murder of her childhood friend, Vicky. Bella starts to dig into the unsolved case.

I loved the pace of the book. It was quick and snappy but for me I just felt it was for someone newer to reading/a younger reader. I would have eaten this up when I was younger! I think my preferences have just changed over the years. This book will be a five star read for many but just not quite my cup of tea.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
This book was easy to read and move through. Although part of it felt like nothing new was really going on. I understood why Bella wanted to finally solve her childhood friends murder from many years ago, but I couldn't understand how deep she was diving into her own family as suspects. It seemed like she didn't really have strong family feelings or connections, except for her deceased mother. There are some twists in the story as she finds out more details of the awful day in the park when she lost her best friend. I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters so that makes it hard to root for anyone as you read.

[Jody L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her mother is dead. Her father is in a home
With Alzheimer’s. Her marriage is over and she’s left to care for her young daughter alone. What choice does Bella have but to go home and clean out her childhood home? while
Doing so she finds a box of things left for her including some papers from her mother titled “Burn this”.
When Bella was a child her friend was murdered and the murderer was never caught. In her mother’s burn this book she claims to know who did it.
This information sends Bella on a wild goose chase through her past trying to solve a murder that everyone else wishes she would just let go.
Such a good book and it did not turn out the way I thought it would. Excellent read.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had so much potential. The first couple of chapters enticed me in.....and then it started to go downhill. Bella shows absoultely no empathy or emotional intelligence. With her obsession of catching Vicky, her childhood friend's killer, she stomps through her hometown laying a path of destruction behind her. And not once does she seem to take any responsibility for all of the lives that she manages to ruin

It reads like a famous five novel, she has no actual hard evidence yet she thinks that the police need to re-open the case and follow her suspicions because of a partial written account by her dead mother, that she believes to be true.

And in the end, after believing that everyone bar the corner shop owner was the murderer, she still didn't get it right.

[Orla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bella has moved into her childhood home with her daughter, Tora, after her marriage has failed. While clearing out her late mother's old things, she finds a diary that contains an account of witnessing a murder. Not just any murder... her childhood best friend, Vicky, who died when she and Bella were only small kids. The diary has BURN THIS written across the front.

Should Bella burn the evidence, or chase the lead and find Vicky's killer?

This has a strong premise and opening (with a fantastic flashback scene to the day Vicky died) but poor execution. That initial whopper of a start proceeds to fall flat and plateau throughout the rest of the novel. The plot was meandering, predictable, and was lacking the excitement that a thriller needs. I also found the style a bit confusing. It's an adult story but told in YA language and tone. I just couldn't connect with Bella, Lonnie, Mercedes, Frank, or any of our central characters.

***Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

[GG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the twists this story took me on, I was sceptical of everyone but no matter who I thought was the culprit something changed my mind, and the ending was a surprise with a novel justice. Some great linking between characters and their past and present relationships without being confusing. I did feel, however, that some of the MC’s sleuthing should have raised more suspicion rather than explaining it away easily. The final star was dropped because, unusually, I was wanting a bit more suspense and length to some of the events, they felt rushed and over before I had chance to start wondering what would happen.