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BEHIND HER SMILE
Buried secrets are dangerous. Unearthing them might be deadly...
Laurie Dunn has returned to her childhood attic bedroom and her old nightmares have come rushing back. Terrorised by a client-related mugging, her job as a criminal solicitor causes more problems than solutions.
Finn Ballentine yearns for a fresh start, but even the glossy façade of his new law firm can't protect him from the past he's running from.
After a disturbing remark by her confused father, Laurie joins forces with Finn to uncover dark truths. But the long-buried secrets they unearth are laced with danger for them both.
‘In the very top tier of psychological thrillers.’ M W Craven
Tense, disturbing and clever, Behind Her Smile is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Claire Douglas.
Laurie Dunn has returned to her childhood attic bedroom and her old nightmares have come rushing back. Terrorised by a client-related mugging, her job as a criminal solicitor causes more problems than solutions.
Finn Ballentine yearns for a fresh start, but even the glossy façade of his new law firm can't protect him from the past he's running from.
After a disturbing remark by her confused father, Laurie joins forces with Finn to uncover dark truths. But the long-buried secrets they unearth are laced with danger for them both.
‘In the very top tier of psychological thrillers.’ M W Craven
Tense, disturbing and clever, Behind Her Smile is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Claire Douglas.
ebook
Published November 3, 2025
About the author
Caroline England
21 books199 followersCWA Dagger shortlisted Caroline England is known as the ‘Duchess of dark domestic noir’. Her psychological suspense thrillers are BENEATH THE SKIN, the top ten ebook bestseller MY HUSBAND'S LIES, BETRAY HER, TRUTH GAMES, THE SINNER, THE STRANGER BESIDE ME and THE RETURN OF FRANKIE WHITTLE. BEHIND HER SMILE hits the shelves on 27 Novembery 2025.
Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGE, THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE and THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE.
Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area.
Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!
Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cazengland1/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-...
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS
Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGE, THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE and THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE.
Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area.
Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!
Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cazengland1/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-...
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
November 21, 2025
Laurie and Finn ( ex love interests now both living and working in Manchester ) both have secrets, secrets from each other and secrets they don’t even know about yet but are about to discover when Laurie discovers there is more to her Mum’s death than maybe meets the eye and calls on Finn to help
We meet Lauries healthy eating obsessive Sister and also her Dad who is suffering with dementia and as the book progresses we get to know them and their pasts and how Laurie fits into the family
Any book that cites ‘New Order’ is fine by me and ‘Blue Monday’ was playing in my minds background throughout
Got to say I found the cover off putting but thats just my opinion
It is a tense at times complex look at a family riddled with mystery, layers of stored away secrets and lies and a testament to ‘trusting no one’
We meet Lauries healthy eating obsessive Sister and also her Dad who is suffering with dementia and as the book progresses we get to know them and their pasts and how Laurie fits into the family
Any book that cites ‘New Order’ is fine by me and ‘Blue Monday’ was playing in my minds background throughout
Got to say I found the cover off putting but thats just my opinion
It is a tense at times complex look at a family riddled with mystery, layers of stored away secrets and lies and a testament to ‘trusting no one’
November 16, 2025
I do love books set in the Northwest of England and in particular around the area where I live so the setting of Behind Her Smile attracted me immediately! But then once I started reading, the plot kept me totally immersed from start to finish.
Laurie has had to move back home after breaking up with her boyfriend but once home she notices that her father seems distant and distracted especially after she finds him outside late at night, confused and talking about the past. Laurie seems to have blanked out lots of her childhood memories so this intrigues her to poke around a bit more in what happened in their beautiful home many years ago. When she reconnects with Finn, he also seems to be hiding secrets but when their secrets collide how will it affect this new relationship?
I loved this book and the more I read and the twistier and darker it turned, I just couldn’t put it down! The plot came together perfectly and I loved both Laurie and Finn as characters. The setting was atmospheric especially as the narrative took place in the lead up to Christmas. And that cover! Every time I closed the book that creepy ragdoll gave me goosebumps!
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Behind Her Smile and would definitely recommend it to lovers of darkly disturbing domestic noirs.
Laurie has had to move back home after breaking up with her boyfriend but once home she notices that her father seems distant and distracted especially after she finds him outside late at night, confused and talking about the past. Laurie seems to have blanked out lots of her childhood memories so this intrigues her to poke around a bit more in what happened in their beautiful home many years ago. When she reconnects with Finn, he also seems to be hiding secrets but when their secrets collide how will it affect this new relationship?
I loved this book and the more I read and the twistier and darker it turned, I just couldn’t put it down! The plot came together perfectly and I loved both Laurie and Finn as characters. The setting was atmospheric especially as the narrative took place in the lead up to Christmas. And that cover! Every time I closed the book that creepy ragdoll gave me goosebumps!
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Behind Her Smile and would definitely recommend it to lovers of darkly disturbing domestic noirs.
February 6, 2026
This book was fantastic. It was chilling and not because it was set in winter! The premise was excellent, and it was a pleasure to read it. The cover was a bit creepy with the ragdoll and the hypodermic syringe! It was designed so well. Caroline's writing is exquisite, and the book flowed perfectly. I like the dual POV with Laurie being first person and Finn being third person. Caroline knows how to give goosebumps with her writing, and it kept me on edge. To the point where I kept dreaming about the book! The setting in and around Manchester was good and definitely kept it contemporary. The characters were fantastic. Outside of the main two characters, it was so difficult to know who to trust. I love Laurie and Finn. Their interactions with each other and other characters they encountered were excellent. I definitely recommend this. I love Caroline's work and I can't wait for another spine-tingling tale!
November 12, 2025
I devoured Behind Her Smile in just three days and absolutely loved it. Caroline England has such a brilliant way of creating slow, simmering tension. You can feel from the start that something isn’t quite right and I couldn’t stop reading until I’d worked out what it was.
Laurie is such a well-drawn, complex character. I really felt for her as she tried to navigate everything happening around her, desperately trying to remember her childhood while dealing with a father and sister who were clearly keeping things from her, all while holding herself together. Finn is equally compelling, intriguing, and a bit mysterious. I was never quite sure if he was a goody or a baddy, which made it even more addictive.
Jules and Philomena are fantastic, intriguing characters too. I love it when a book has me so invested in everyone, constantly questioning who I can trust and who might be hiding something.
It’s perfectly written, full of secrets, emotion and that lingering sense that the past is never really gone. Like a brilliant jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces slotted perfectly together at the end. A clever, gripping read that completely pulled me in. I’ll definitely be reading more from Caroline England !
Laurie is such a well-drawn, complex character. I really felt for her as she tried to navigate everything happening around her, desperately trying to remember her childhood while dealing with a father and sister who were clearly keeping things from her, all while holding herself together. Finn is equally compelling, intriguing, and a bit mysterious. I was never quite sure if he was a goody or a baddy, which made it even more addictive.
Jules and Philomena are fantastic, intriguing characters too. I love it when a book has me so invested in everyone, constantly questioning who I can trust and who might be hiding something.
It’s perfectly written, full of secrets, emotion and that lingering sense that the past is never really gone. Like a brilliant jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces slotted perfectly together at the end. A clever, gripping read that completely pulled me in. I’ll definitely be reading more from Caroline England !
November 19, 2025
Behind Her Smile by Caroline England publishes with The Bullington Press November 27th (available now on Kindle) and is described as ‘tense, disturbing and clever'.
Laurie Dunn had a difficult childhood after losing her mother at a young age. Her father and older sister made sure she was taken care of but Laurie always felt something was missing. She had recurring flashbacks from early childhood with regular unsettling dreams but she could never really pin down the source of these memories. Laurie decided not to follow the family business of dentistry and chose a career in law instead, making a life for herself away from the family home.
Following a breakup, she finds herself back home again, in the approach to Christmas, but the disconcerting feelings return and Laurie feels her mental health slipping a little. She starts to investigate her past but with her Dad’s behaviour somewhat erratic, she is careful of asking too many sensitive questions.
Finn Ballentine, an old college friend of Laurie, starts working in a legal firm near her, having moved over from Northern Ireland on a more permanent basis. All attempts to establish himself in his new role is proving a challenge for Finn as his past keeps dragging him back to a time and place he would rather forget.
Circumstances align for Laurie and Finn when they cross paths again allowing them the opportunity to reignite their friendship but there is danger lurking and both soon find themselves in some very disturbing situations. Laurie starts to mine her memories trying to discover the reasons for these awful nightmares she is having. She respects her father and sisters privacy but something is awry within her family and Laurie is determined to get to the bottom of it. Finn wants to help her but he is keeping his own secrets close.
Alarming and unexpected events force Laurie and Finn to act as they slowly untangle a shocking truth. With some elements that are quite imaginative, and perhaps occasionally stretch credulity, this is quite a layered tale of secrets and lies. Featuring complicated relationships, untruths, past traumas and challenging family dynamics Behind Her Smile is a complex and twisty read.
Laurie Dunn had a difficult childhood after losing her mother at a young age. Her father and older sister made sure she was taken care of but Laurie always felt something was missing. She had recurring flashbacks from early childhood with regular unsettling dreams but she could never really pin down the source of these memories. Laurie decided not to follow the family business of dentistry and chose a career in law instead, making a life for herself away from the family home.
Following a breakup, she finds herself back home again, in the approach to Christmas, but the disconcerting feelings return and Laurie feels her mental health slipping a little. She starts to investigate her past but with her Dad’s behaviour somewhat erratic, she is careful of asking too many sensitive questions.
Finn Ballentine, an old college friend of Laurie, starts working in a legal firm near her, having moved over from Northern Ireland on a more permanent basis. All attempts to establish himself in his new role is proving a challenge for Finn as his past keeps dragging him back to a time and place he would rather forget.
Circumstances align for Laurie and Finn when they cross paths again allowing them the opportunity to reignite their friendship but there is danger lurking and both soon find themselves in some very disturbing situations. Laurie starts to mine her memories trying to discover the reasons for these awful nightmares she is having. She respects her father and sisters privacy but something is awry within her family and Laurie is determined to get to the bottom of it. Finn wants to help her but he is keeping his own secrets close.
Alarming and unexpected events force Laurie and Finn to act as they slowly untangle a shocking truth. With some elements that are quite imaginative, and perhaps occasionally stretch credulity, this is quite a layered tale of secrets and lies. Featuring complicated relationships, untruths, past traumas and challenging family dynamics Behind Her Smile is a complex and twisty read.
February 6, 2026
What can I say about Behind Her Smile? Well, let’s start with AMAZING! This was such a fantastic, intricate and compelling read that took me by complete surprise.
I can’t lie, it was a slow start (hence the 4.5) HOWEVER, this might have been because it wasn’t (for me) a book you can read in short bursts. I found I forgot little details and had to revisit previous chapters but, once I was able to dedicate time to fully immerse myself, I flew thought it and didn’t want to put down.
I was fully invested in Finn & Laurie. Both are interesting, well developed characters with complicated past that had me desperate to know more, uncover the truths and find out how, other than knowing each other at school, their lives were intertwined.
As with all psychological thrillers/mysteries, I become an amateur sleuth. Constantly coming up with my own theories and predictions seeing if I can piece it all together myself before the end however, not this time. Like Laurie herself, I was cleverly lead astray and, not only did I not predict any of the twists, I also wasn’t prepared for the emotions I went through once they were all unraveled. My heart truly ached at the end.
I can’t wait to read more from Caroline and may start with The Return of Frankie Whittle because I’ve heard nothing but good things about that one.
I can’t lie, it was a slow start (hence the 4.5) HOWEVER, this might have been because it wasn’t (for me) a book you can read in short bursts. I found I forgot little details and had to revisit previous chapters but, once I was able to dedicate time to fully immerse myself, I flew thought it and didn’t want to put down.
I was fully invested in Finn & Laurie. Both are interesting, well developed characters with complicated past that had me desperate to know more, uncover the truths and find out how, other than knowing each other at school, their lives were intertwined.
As with all psychological thrillers/mysteries, I become an amateur sleuth. Constantly coming up with my own theories and predictions seeing if I can piece it all together myself before the end however, not this time. Like Laurie herself, I was cleverly lead astray and, not only did I not predict any of the twists, I also wasn’t prepared for the emotions I went through once they were all unraveled. My heart truly ached at the end.
I can’t wait to read more from Caroline and may start with The Return of Frankie Whittle because I’ve heard nothing but good things about that one.
January 9, 2026
As I dove deeper into this book, it became harder and harder to put down.
I have been called sensitive a lot throughout my life. Growing up and going through therapy helped me realize that being sensitive isn't the "bad thing" people made it out to be. Because of that, I could relate to Laurie right from the beginning. Finn was a bit harder to understand, but he was still very likable.
At one point, I thought I knew exactly where the story was going, but I was completely wrong. The twists were intense. The book perfectly narrates the horrifying darkness people can hide behind a facade, as well as the deep, sometimes twisted love that human beings feel.
While I didn’t necessarily like how some parts of the story were tied up, that is exactly why it felt so real. Life has a way of not giving us the endings we want or expect, and this book captures that truth perfectly.
Quoting the author:
𝘠𝘦𝘵 ‘𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧𝘴’ 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 – 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 ... (you'll have to read the book to know what, no spoilers)
PS Trigger Warnings
I have been called sensitive a lot throughout my life. Growing up and going through therapy helped me realize that being sensitive isn't the "bad thing" people made it out to be. Because of that, I could relate to Laurie right from the beginning. Finn was a bit harder to understand, but he was still very likable.
At one point, I thought I knew exactly where the story was going, but I was completely wrong. The twists were intense. The book perfectly narrates the horrifying darkness people can hide behind a facade, as well as the deep, sometimes twisted love that human beings feel.
While I didn’t necessarily like how some parts of the story were tied up, that is exactly why it felt so real. Life has a way of not giving us the endings we want or expect, and this book captures that truth perfectly.
Quoting the author:
𝘠𝘦𝘵 ‘𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧𝘴’ 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 – 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 ... (you'll have to read the book to know what, no spoilers)
PS Trigger Warnings
February 6, 2026
Huge thank you to Caroline England and LBT Tours for allowing me to be a part of this book tour.
What an amazing twisty and turny book that keeps you hooked.
Laurie and Finn have complicated history relating to their university days and there’s going to be a lot more to their story than they realise.
They both help each other navigate through the situations that are currently happening in their lives which results in the biggest plot twist of all.
Although this book was a little slow at the start for me; I became hooked and I did not expect that ending. Talk about the past coming back and hitting you, jeez.
I dislike the dentist very much and have anxiety around it so dentistry being a theme in this book gave me the shivers!
Themes of this book are mental health; family; secrets coming to surface; friendship & trust.
What an amazing twisty and turny book that keeps you hooked.
Laurie and Finn have complicated history relating to their university days and there’s going to be a lot more to their story than they realise.
They both help each other navigate through the situations that are currently happening in their lives which results in the biggest plot twist of all.
Although this book was a little slow at the start for me; I became hooked and I did not expect that ending. Talk about the past coming back and hitting you, jeez.
I dislike the dentist very much and have anxiety around it so dentistry being a theme in this book gave me the shivers!
Themes of this book are mental health; family; secrets coming to surface; friendship & trust.
February 6, 2026
I read this book as part of a month long readalong for Love Book Tours, who also gifted me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say about Behind her Smile, it was an extremely slow burning, dark, twisted psychological thriller.
I loved the dynamics between certain characters and the way their connections developed.
It is set in Manchester where I've been a few times, so it was great to have that in my mind and associate the place to the story.
I also loved the fact that the book is mostly set around Christmas time too. The Christmas element was a nice touch to the plot and added another element to the tale.
The book gave off real chilling mysterious vibes and the author kept the story very close to her chest. I only guessed one of the twists and not in it's entirety.
After the gradual build up the story really took off but I was fully invested from the start despite the slow beginning. The book really grabbed me.
This is my second Caroline England book now, I'll definitely read more.
What can I say about Behind her Smile, it was an extremely slow burning, dark, twisted psychological thriller.
I loved the dynamics between certain characters and the way their connections developed.
It is set in Manchester where I've been a few times, so it was great to have that in my mind and associate the place to the story.
I also loved the fact that the book is mostly set around Christmas time too. The Christmas element was a nice touch to the plot and added another element to the tale.
The book gave off real chilling mysterious vibes and the author kept the story very close to her chest. I only guessed one of the twists and not in it's entirety.
After the gradual build up the story really took off but I was fully invested from the start despite the slow beginning. The book really grabbed me.
This is my second Caroline England book now, I'll definitely read more.
February 6, 2026
this wasnt my usual kind of thriller book not what i was expecting but i love it it grips you in from the start to the very end, it has family secrets, old but new love interests, you get to see from both sides. lauries issues at work and home and finns issues and their connections that link. i read this as part of a readlong witj lovebooktours and was gifted the physical book from them and the author caroline england. thank you.
December 14, 2025
This is my first Caroline England thriller and it didn't disappoint.
Thr family dynamic between Laurie, Jules and her Dad seems to be pretty straightforward to begin with.
Secrets to be unearthed, a missing boss and an old flame with complexities of his own.
Behind Her Smile sucks you in until the last page, a well written, gripping thriller.
It might be my first Caroline England book, it most certainly won't be my last!
Thr family dynamic between Laurie, Jules and her Dad seems to be pretty straightforward to begin with.
Secrets to be unearthed, a missing boss and an old flame with complexities of his own.
Behind Her Smile sucks you in until the last page, a well written, gripping thriller.
It might be my first Caroline England book, it most certainly won't be my last!
December 7, 2025
What an absolutely gripping psychological thriller. From the opening chapters, I was pulled straight into the tangled lives of Laurie and Jules. Jules works in the family dental practice while quietly coping with her father’s dementia, and Laurie’s life as a lawyer seems steady enough on the surface — until the shadows of her past start to creep back in.
The arrival of her ex, Finn Ballentine, back from Northern Ireland, adds even more tension. Both Finn and Laurie carry their own secrets: his failed marriage, her complicated family history and a mother she never had the chance to know. Caroline England slowly weaves all of these threads together, building unease and suspense right up to the final pages.
It’s a story of love, loss, hidden truths and the lies we tell to keep going. I couldn’t put it down and thought the pacing was spot-on. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
The arrival of her ex, Finn Ballentine, back from Northern Ireland, adds even more tension. Both Finn and Laurie carry their own secrets: his failed marriage, her complicated family history and a mother she never had the chance to know. Caroline England slowly weaves all of these threads together, building unease and suspense right up to the final pages.
It’s a story of love, loss, hidden truths and the lies we tell to keep going. I couldn’t put it down and thought the pacing was spot-on. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
November 21, 2025
Fabulously dark and twisty with a large helping of past secrets and lies. I love a book which centres around hazy memories of childhood and the different versions of events retold by family members as that period is so mysterious and dream like.
The psychological factor is intriguing and morbidly fascinating and makes for excellent storytelling.
In this case the main character, Laurie, gradually begins to unfurl the mysteries of her past like the peeling away of layers of an onion. There are some real shocks and twists, which kept me immersed and on my toes from beginning to end. Her closest family members, those who should have given her a solid and reliable foundation in life are actually at the epicentre of all that was wrong and the ripples spread out widely and across the years.
Well meaning or otherwise, our past and how people interact with us in those formative years are paramount to our development and well being as adults. As an educator of early years children and having seen a wide variety of safeguarding cases, including fabricated illness, I found this particularly compelling and poignant.
The parallels of the story of Finn and the way these gently and subtly intertwined as the book progressed were sublime and I know I will revisit and reread this book, something I rarely do.
Oh and the cover picture? Stunning and simultaneously terrifying, absolutely love it and sums up the story perfectly.
Brilliant writing, as ever, as I’ve come to expect from Caroline. Thank you.
The psychological factor is intriguing and morbidly fascinating and makes for excellent storytelling.
In this case the main character, Laurie, gradually begins to unfurl the mysteries of her past like the peeling away of layers of an onion. There are some real shocks and twists, which kept me immersed and on my toes from beginning to end. Her closest family members, those who should have given her a solid and reliable foundation in life are actually at the epicentre of all that was wrong and the ripples spread out widely and across the years.
Well meaning or otherwise, our past and how people interact with us in those formative years are paramount to our development and well being as adults. As an educator of early years children and having seen a wide variety of safeguarding cases, including fabricated illness, I found this particularly compelling and poignant.
The parallels of the story of Finn and the way these gently and subtly intertwined as the book progressed were sublime and I know I will revisit and reread this book, something I rarely do.
Oh and the cover picture? Stunning and simultaneously terrifying, absolutely love it and sums up the story perfectly.
Brilliant writing, as ever, as I’ve come to expect from Caroline. Thank you.
February 9, 2026
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Behind Her Smile' by Caroline England
'Behind Her Smile' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Caroline discusses/includes child abuse. sexual assault on a child, gaslighting and the death of a baby. Caroline has covered these topics as sensitively as possible to tell the story.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Shadows Of Rutherford House' published under CE Rose and 'The Return Of Frankie Whittle' published under Caroline England which I would also highly recommend!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and kept me on the edge of my seat. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
WOW!! What another absolutely, addictive page turning book by this incredible author!!
Let's start with the cover shall we? I mean talk about creepy but definitely eye catching plus one of the things that drew me in!! When it comes to the storyline itself I was completely sucked into the pages from start to finish and was gutted when it came to an end! The storyline is multi-layered and absolutely ram packed with mystery, deceit, shocks, secrets, lies, tension, family, heartbreak, nightmares, a creepy doll (of course!), mind blowing bombshells, romance, and suspense. I loved the fact that there wasn't just the main storyline but plenty of other events going on to absolutely grip the readers attention. I enjoyed looking into the lives of several of the characters with the main protagonists being Laurie and Finn. Caroline did a brilliant job of weaving their storylines together to ensure the reader gets the bigger picture of what is going on while only drip feeding the reader information she wants them to know and doing this without causing any confusion. It really is one of those books that have such a variety of genres going on it is a must read for everyone. I was completely sucked into the storyline and the way Caroline weaves the lives together was absolutely perfect! It is such a rollercoaster ride of emotions too from romance and happiness to anger and despair. It also had so many absolutely explosive twists that I would never have guessed in a million years so a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Caroline!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but you completely blew my mind with this ending. The atmosphere was perfect with a gothic chill to it that really set the story and made it come alive. I will say that if you already have a fear of dentists this book may not help you get over it!! It is an extremely gripping, unique and addictive storyline and I was sucked in immediately from the very first page to the last. The storyline was believable and I cannot wait to read more books by this very talented author!!
DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!
I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. Every single one of the characters were well defined, realistic and strong. The character development was strong throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each and every single one of them. The story begins with Laurie and I found it fascinating to "watch" her develop throughout the storyline as she discovers more and more about her past. It was absolutely fascinating discovering all the secrets of this family with a past like no other!! As with all books, movies and in real life we can't get on with everyone and there were a few characters that I could not stand but I will not reveal anymore. You will just have to pick up a copy of discover the secrets and shadows of 'Behind Her Smile' yourself. Each of the characters had their own individual and unique personalities, flaws, strengths, quirks and weaknesses as well as many of them hiding their own secrets. You have no idea who you can trust or believe!!!
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Caroline England on yet another absolutely addictive page turner!! I would love to see this turned into a movie and I will be the first in the line to by tickets. This is the exact reason you are on my favourite author list Caroline and here's to your next explosive success 🥂!!!
Overall an explosive, addictive, unique action packed page turner that is filled with secrets, lies, love, loss and shocks with explosive twists that will keep you hooked until you've finished!!!
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Review for 'Behind Her Smile' by Caroline England
'Behind Her Smile' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Caroline discusses/includes child abuse. sexual assault on a child, gaslighting and the death of a baby. Caroline has covered these topics as sensitively as possible to tell the story.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Shadows Of Rutherford House' published under CE Rose and 'The Return Of Frankie Whittle' published under Caroline England which I would also highly recommend!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and kept me on the edge of my seat. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
WOW!! What another absolutely, addictive page turning book by this incredible author!!
Let's start with the cover shall we? I mean talk about creepy but definitely eye catching plus one of the things that drew me in!! When it comes to the storyline itself I was completely sucked into the pages from start to finish and was gutted when it came to an end! The storyline is multi-layered and absolutely ram packed with mystery, deceit, shocks, secrets, lies, tension, family, heartbreak, nightmares, a creepy doll (of course!), mind blowing bombshells, romance, and suspense. I loved the fact that there wasn't just the main storyline but plenty of other events going on to absolutely grip the readers attention. I enjoyed looking into the lives of several of the characters with the main protagonists being Laurie and Finn. Caroline did a brilliant job of weaving their storylines together to ensure the reader gets the bigger picture of what is going on while only drip feeding the reader information she wants them to know and doing this without causing any confusion. It really is one of those books that have such a variety of genres going on it is a must read for everyone. I was completely sucked into the storyline and the way Caroline weaves the lives together was absolutely perfect! It is such a rollercoaster ride of emotions too from romance and happiness to anger and despair. It also had so many absolutely explosive twists that I would never have guessed in a million years so a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Caroline!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but you completely blew my mind with this ending. The atmosphere was perfect with a gothic chill to it that really set the story and made it come alive. I will say that if you already have a fear of dentists this book may not help you get over it!! It is an extremely gripping, unique and addictive storyline and I was sucked in immediately from the very first page to the last. The storyline was believable and I cannot wait to read more books by this very talented author!!
DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!
I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. Every single one of the characters were well defined, realistic and strong. The character development was strong throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each and every single one of them. The story begins with Laurie and I found it fascinating to "watch" her develop throughout the storyline as she discovers more and more about her past. It was absolutely fascinating discovering all the secrets of this family with a past like no other!! As with all books, movies and in real life we can't get on with everyone and there were a few characters that I could not stand but I will not reveal anymore. You will just have to pick up a copy of discover the secrets and shadows of 'Behind Her Smile' yourself. Each of the characters had their own individual and unique personalities, flaws, strengths, quirks and weaknesses as well as many of them hiding their own secrets. You have no idea who you can trust or believe!!!
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Caroline England on yet another absolutely addictive page turner!! I would love to see this turned into a movie and I will be the first in the line to by tickets. This is the exact reason you are on my favourite author list Caroline and here's to your next explosive success 🥂!!!
Overall an explosive, addictive, unique action packed page turner that is filled with secrets, lies, love, loss and shocks with explosive twists that will keep you hooked until you've finished!!!
@CarolineEngland @cazengland1 @bullingtonpress @lovebookstours @lbtcrew @KellyALacey
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February 1, 2026
You all know by now that I am that person who judges a book by its cover and what a cover this is!
I was immediately drawn in by the creepy doll image, the syringe and the blood and of course I just had to see what this was all about!
I've also already read a couple of Caroline's books before and absolutely loved them - this one being one of my favourites so far - each read getting better and better.
This book follows Laurie, back home after a recent breakup and still haunted by the memories of her childhood fears of her father's dental practise downstairs.
We also briefly follow Finn, new to the area and keen to escape the trauma of his own bad relationship back home in Ireland.
It took me a long while to be quite so guarded with that summary because quite honestly, so, so much has happened since those humble beginnings and my brain was scrambled throughout the whole process.
What a complex and crazy ride it's been!
First of all, I absolutely loved Laurie. With everything that happened to her from the beginning, it was easy to connect with her and worry about what all the events might lead to.
As her story unfolds it was easy to keep jumping to conclusions and think up scenarios about what each event meant - but there were just so many different twists and new connections made - it was such a rollercoaster.
Finn was mysterious and as his story developed I grew more and more concerned for him too - I was so intrigued and desperate to get more details about his life back home and his past - but I knew that I was rooting for him all the same.
This whole plot was so well thought out and developed and the pacing was just perfection.
I was completely hooked from start to finish and actually struggled to keep to our Read-Along timeline and not just jump ahead and finish it early (ok, I did a little at the end!)
The characters were so compelling - yes! even the bad guys - in fact, even two characters who didn't physically appear in real time in the book at all! 🤷🏻♀️
I just couldn't stop thinking about them all - even when not reading.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers and honestly, this felt so unique and fresh and it kept me guessing right to the end - the reveals and conclusion shocked and I'm sure I didn't even blink for the last 20%!
Another amazing read by this brilliant author and I literally cannot wait for my next read!
I was immediately drawn in by the creepy doll image, the syringe and the blood and of course I just had to see what this was all about!
I've also already read a couple of Caroline's books before and absolutely loved them - this one being one of my favourites so far - each read getting better and better.
This book follows Laurie, back home after a recent breakup and still haunted by the memories of her childhood fears of her father's dental practise downstairs.
We also briefly follow Finn, new to the area and keen to escape the trauma of his own bad relationship back home in Ireland.
It took me a long while to be quite so guarded with that summary because quite honestly, so, so much has happened since those humble beginnings and my brain was scrambled throughout the whole process.
What a complex and crazy ride it's been!
First of all, I absolutely loved Laurie. With everything that happened to her from the beginning, it was easy to connect with her and worry about what all the events might lead to.
As her story unfolds it was easy to keep jumping to conclusions and think up scenarios about what each event meant - but there were just so many different twists and new connections made - it was such a rollercoaster.
Finn was mysterious and as his story developed I grew more and more concerned for him too - I was so intrigued and desperate to get more details about his life back home and his past - but I knew that I was rooting for him all the same.
This whole plot was so well thought out and developed and the pacing was just perfection.
I was completely hooked from start to finish and actually struggled to keep to our Read-Along timeline and not just jump ahead and finish it early (ok, I did a little at the end!)
The characters were so compelling - yes! even the bad guys - in fact, even two characters who didn't physically appear in real time in the book at all! 🤷🏻♀️
I just couldn't stop thinking about them all - even when not reading.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers and honestly, this felt so unique and fresh and it kept me guessing right to the end - the reveals and conclusion shocked and I'm sure I didn't even blink for the last 20%!
Another amazing read by this brilliant author and I literally cannot wait for my next read!
January 28, 2026
Generally speaking, I don't tend to read books a bit dark or suspense-y, but I do try and branch out on occasion and this was one such time.
You could tell from the off that there was something just not right in the memories and relationships at play here. It was also clear that it would be a slow, suspenseful journey to the truth. I did find that as the truth was becoming clearer, I had to re-read sentences again and again, as I still felt quite confused. I think this was because there was so much truth to come out and it was so intricately woven between truths being spoken, body language, snippets of memories, unspoken words. It was so clever, but I think maybe a bit too clever for me!
For me, personally, it was a bit too slow building and didn't properly grip me until the last quarter of the book. So it took me quite a while to get through it as I wasn't totally sure about any of the characters or who to root for!
I did enjoy the relationship between Laurie and Nico and seeing them revisit their past ties. I thought the ending for them was wonderful. I really wanted them to find peace and happiness for themselves.
There is some pretty dark history for most of the characters, and more and more comes out throughout the tale. I was very glad I didn't have a dental phobia otherwise I think it would have grown tenfold! I did think that a lot of the subject matter which could have triggered readers was handled incredibly sensitively.
The ending tied up lots of loose ends, I would have loved to see the full conclusion of Philomena's story, but leaving it a bit unknown has definitely left me wanting more.
I think this will have a huge audience and do well.
You could tell from the off that there was something just not right in the memories and relationships at play here. It was also clear that it would be a slow, suspenseful journey to the truth. I did find that as the truth was becoming clearer, I had to re-read sentences again and again, as I still felt quite confused. I think this was because there was so much truth to come out and it was so intricately woven between truths being spoken, body language, snippets of memories, unspoken words. It was so clever, but I think maybe a bit too clever for me!
For me, personally, it was a bit too slow building and didn't properly grip me until the last quarter of the book. So it took me quite a while to get through it as I wasn't totally sure about any of the characters or who to root for!
I did enjoy the relationship between Laurie and Nico and seeing them revisit their past ties. I thought the ending for them was wonderful. I really wanted them to find peace and happiness for themselves.
There is some pretty dark history for most of the characters, and more and more comes out throughout the tale. I was very glad I didn't have a dental phobia otherwise I think it would have grown tenfold! I did think that a lot of the subject matter which could have triggered readers was handled incredibly sensitively.
The ending tied up lots of loose ends, I would have loved to see the full conclusion of Philomena's story, but leaving it a bit unknown has definitely left me wanting more.
I think this will have a huge audience and do well.
November 26, 2025
Caroline England Strikes Again and Delivers Another Unmissable Psychological Thriller with Behind Her Smile
Caroline England’s Behind Her Smile is a gripping psychological thriller that explores deception, identity, and the façades we maintain. Set against the backdrop of the festive season, Laurie Dunn finds herself returning home just before Christmas after a painful breakup, a time when warmth and family should bring comfort, yet secrets simmer beneath the surface. Caroline's sharp, immersive writing style and layered character development, particularly Laurie and Finn Ballentine, create a tense, unsettling atmosphere that kept me hooked. The slow-burn opening and intricate web of secrets and lies may feel overwhelming for some, but I felt they ultimately enhanced the novel’s psychological depth. Themes of trust and morality resonate strongly, while the formal yet emotionally charged tone amplifies suspense without resorting to sensationalism. Laurie’s relatable strength and Finn’s enigmatic charm drive the narrative, making their dynamic compelling and authentic. For me, this was a masterclass in psychological suspense, disturbing yet addictive and it left me reflecting on how much we hide behind our own “smiles.” If you enjoy twisty plots and morally complex characters, this book will meet and likely exceed, your expectations.
Caroline England’s Behind Her Smile is a gripping psychological thriller that explores deception, identity, and the façades we maintain. Set against the backdrop of the festive season, Laurie Dunn finds herself returning home just before Christmas after a painful breakup, a time when warmth and family should bring comfort, yet secrets simmer beneath the surface. Caroline's sharp, immersive writing style and layered character development, particularly Laurie and Finn Ballentine, create a tense, unsettling atmosphere that kept me hooked. The slow-burn opening and intricate web of secrets and lies may feel overwhelming for some, but I felt they ultimately enhanced the novel’s psychological depth. Themes of trust and morality resonate strongly, while the formal yet emotionally charged tone amplifies suspense without resorting to sensationalism. Laurie’s relatable strength and Finn’s enigmatic charm drive the narrative, making their dynamic compelling and authentic. For me, this was a masterclass in psychological suspense, disturbing yet addictive and it left me reflecting on how much we hide behind our own “smiles.” If you enjoy twisty plots and morally complex characters, this book will meet and likely exceed, your expectations.
February 6, 2026
Thank you to LBT for having me on this read along tour and for my gifted copy of this epub.
So I have to say that the cover is amazing. I loved it so much. I still am thinking of buying the cards that some got cause they are morbidly cool. What can I say I’m a weirdo.
This book was written so good and just wow. It’s a book that I couldn’t stop reading I had to just keep going. I love that. So the characters were all over the place we have Laurie who at times I really enjoyed her and other times I honestly was like what are you thinking or why or just overall frustration and I think for me anyway makes the characters seem more real and relatable!!
I mean secrets especially in a family are awful and they can really just affect the family dynamics and from the outside looking in you don’t notice add in trauma and that really messes with future decisions all around. I felt for all the characters in different ways. One thing I loved about this book is how Finn was the one abused. Like we often times I feel like forget men can be abused too and I just thought this was so good to have and I felt for him and the abuse he suffered like wow crazy!!
I really want to say more but I’m so afraid I’ll spoil something and I just I don’t want that cause yall need to go and get this read.
Overall I love this authors writing anytime I see her name I’m instantly like ooo I must read!!! Love this author and her work. I really can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
So I have to say that the cover is amazing. I loved it so much. I still am thinking of buying the cards that some got cause they are morbidly cool. What can I say I’m a weirdo.
This book was written so good and just wow. It’s a book that I couldn’t stop reading I had to just keep going. I love that. So the characters were all over the place we have Laurie who at times I really enjoyed her and other times I honestly was like what are you thinking or why or just overall frustration and I think for me anyway makes the characters seem more real and relatable!!
I mean secrets especially in a family are awful and they can really just affect the family dynamics and from the outside looking in you don’t notice add in trauma and that really messes with future decisions all around. I felt for all the characters in different ways. One thing I loved about this book is how Finn was the one abused. Like we often times I feel like forget men can be abused too and I just thought this was so good to have and I felt for him and the abuse he suffered like wow crazy!!
I really want to say more but I’m so afraid I’ll spoil something and I just I don’t want that cause yall need to go and get this read.
Overall I love this authors writing anytime I see her name I’m instantly like ooo I must read!!! Love this author and her work. I really can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
January 18, 2026
wow thank you so much to @lovebookstours for having me on this readalong and what a readalong it was.
We have finn who sounds like he has escaped a life in ireland and laurie who had broken up with her ex and trying to kick start her life again. we then discover later in the book that they are exs but decide to help each other when they are both trying to figure things out. Laurie is trying to find out what has happened to her mum and is everything as she was told since a young child. She is also dealing with complications as work when her boss disapears and she gets mugged. Can finn help her discover what is really going on.
Finn is also dealing with starting a new job and trying to get new buisness into the law firm he is now working on and is excited when a rich looking woman comes into his office to ask about marriage help he thinks to start divorce procedings but is this the case and can the woman be trusted and is all as it seems.
i really liked finn and laurie and was hoping theu would get together. They also have an awful lot of twists and turns to deal with and a few times i was like wow when we discovered something. i did not see the ending coming at all this is very twisty and extremley well written.
We have finn who sounds like he has escaped a life in ireland and laurie who had broken up with her ex and trying to kick start her life again. we then discover later in the book that they are exs but decide to help each other when they are both trying to figure things out. Laurie is trying to find out what has happened to her mum and is everything as she was told since a young child. She is also dealing with complications as work when her boss disapears and she gets mugged. Can finn help her discover what is really going on.
Finn is also dealing with starting a new job and trying to get new buisness into the law firm he is now working on and is excited when a rich looking woman comes into his office to ask about marriage help he thinks to start divorce procedings but is this the case and can the woman be trusted and is all as it seems.
i really liked finn and laurie and was hoping theu would get together. They also have an awful lot of twists and turns to deal with and a few times i was like wow when we discovered something. i did not see the ending coming at all this is very twisty and extremley well written.
February 19, 2026
Caz England’s Behind Her Smile draws you in with quick short chapters and a very layered story. Short chapters add pace which for me is something I think is key for this genre.
The story pulls you into a world where appearances can be deceiving and the carefully built tension makes it hard to look away.
Follow Laurie and Finn whose path's cross again later in life, allowing them to reignite a friendship, working together to try and uncover truths, while both keeping many of their own secrets close to their chests.
The strength of this novel for me lies in its character development with the dual POV running throughout. Caroline England does a great job of gradually revealing truths, allowing the story to unfold in a way that feels natural rather than forced.
A compelling read, plenty of drama and suspense with themes of resilience, secret keeping, mental health and complex human relationships.
I found the first few chapters slow and struggled to retain information on characters flicking back and forth to remind. myself on details but as we learn more about the characters the picture of them builds in your mind and it becomes easier to follow.
A solid 4 star for me!
The story pulls you into a world where appearances can be deceiving and the carefully built tension makes it hard to look away.
Follow Laurie and Finn whose path's cross again later in life, allowing them to reignite a friendship, working together to try and uncover truths, while both keeping many of their own secrets close to their chests.
The strength of this novel for me lies in its character development with the dual POV running throughout. Caroline England does a great job of gradually revealing truths, allowing the story to unfold in a way that feels natural rather than forced.
A compelling read, plenty of drama and suspense with themes of resilience, secret keeping, mental health and complex human relationships.
I found the first few chapters slow and struggled to retain information on characters flicking back and forth to remind. myself on details but as we learn more about the characters the picture of them builds in your mind and it becomes easier to follow.
A solid 4 star for me!
December 13, 2025
Caroline England is an author who is right at the top of my author list! Behind Her Smile is a book I didn't even need to read the blurb to know I would love it! The skill of this author as a storyteller is top-notch!
This book gripped me from the first page. The characters are crafted superbly,each with their faults and unique complexities.
I have to mention the cover too! Done by Amy Newport, who is a superb artist! It just oozes creepiness! It set my expectations high for this book, and it fulfilled them too!
Caroline England's storytelling is top-notch! The tension and drip-feeding of information throughout just tightens the book's grip as the story unfolds. I was shocked as the twists and turns of the story made me realise everything I thought was actually wrong.
As the pages flew by, I knew I couldn't stop reading this dark and atmospheric story! Not until I had unearthed all the long-buried secrets that seemed to just defy my logic!
Amazing book from a talented author! A must-read!
This book gripped me from the first page. The characters are crafted superbly,each with their faults and unique complexities.
I have to mention the cover too! Done by Amy Newport, who is a superb artist! It just oozes creepiness! It set my expectations high for this book, and it fulfilled them too!
Caroline England's storytelling is top-notch! The tension and drip-feeding of information throughout just tightens the book's grip as the story unfolds. I was shocked as the twists and turns of the story made me realise everything I thought was actually wrong.
As the pages flew by, I knew I couldn't stop reading this dark and atmospheric story! Not until I had unearthed all the long-buried secrets that seemed to just defy my logic!
Amazing book from a talented author! A must-read!
January 31, 2026
A brilliant, twisty, turny adventure that keeps you hooked!
Laurie and Finn have a lot of history that seems quite complicated by there's even more to it that neither one actually realises. Can't give away spoilers but there's some fab twists as you near the end and it does turn up some disturbing things that had been long hidden away in the closet.
Laurie seems to be a 'what you see is what you get' kind of character. She's muddling along and at times luckily isn't on her side. It's easy to like her and I think that keeps you on her side as you switch between her chapters and Finn's. I think Finn is also a likeable character but it takes a little longer to really get to know him.
I like the detail in this as it gives a lot of information to build a picture of setting and circumstance. I didn't have any preconceived ideas of what was to come and there were a few bits where I guessed at some tiny parts but the slow-burn stalls you from putting it all together yourself. Lots of things to unpick with this. 😊
Laurie and Finn have a lot of history that seems quite complicated by there's even more to it that neither one actually realises. Can't give away spoilers but there's some fab twists as you near the end and it does turn up some disturbing things that had been long hidden away in the closet.
Laurie seems to be a 'what you see is what you get' kind of character. She's muddling along and at times luckily isn't on her side. It's easy to like her and I think that keeps you on her side as you switch between her chapters and Finn's. I think Finn is also a likeable character but it takes a little longer to really get to know him.
I like the detail in this as it gives a lot of information to build a picture of setting and circumstance. I didn't have any preconceived ideas of what was to come and there were a few bits where I guessed at some tiny parts but the slow-burn stalls you from putting it all together yourself. Lots of things to unpick with this. 😊
February 7, 2026
Today is the final day of the read along and its book review day. Thankyou so much to @cazengland1 @lovebookstours and @bullingtonpress for my physical copy of the book and having me take part in the read along.
💭 My Thoughts 💭
Behind Her Smile is a book I’m so glad i took a chance on. A few years ago the cover would have completely put me off as I would have thought it wasn’t for me. I would have found it too creepy. However I was immediately pulled in with the cover and then the blurb.
I haven’t read anything by Caroline England before but I really enjoyed her writing style. I did find that it was a slower pace to begin with and was struggling to stay focused but it started hooking me in and I enjoyed all the twists and turns along the way. I love thrillers that my brain gets a good work out and I try and play detective.
Laurie and Finn were interesting character and I loved the theme of family. Laurie’s dad’s dementia was handled really well as someone who has sadly seen first hand this disease in my family.
I definitely recommend giving Behind Her Smile a read you won’t be disappointed.
Jessica’s Bookshelf___ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💭 My Thoughts 💭
Behind Her Smile is a book I’m so glad i took a chance on. A few years ago the cover would have completely put me off as I would have thought it wasn’t for me. I would have found it too creepy. However I was immediately pulled in with the cover and then the blurb.
I haven’t read anything by Caroline England before but I really enjoyed her writing style. I did find that it was a slower pace to begin with and was struggling to stay focused but it started hooking me in and I enjoyed all the twists and turns along the way. I love thrillers that my brain gets a good work out and I try and play detective.
Laurie and Finn were interesting character and I loved the theme of family. Laurie’s dad’s dementia was handled really well as someone who has sadly seen first hand this disease in my family.
I definitely recommend giving Behind Her Smile a read you won’t be disappointed.
Jessica’s Bookshelf___ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 13, 2025
The Queen of Domestic Noir has done it again. This is a really dark suspenseful read, full of secrets and lies.
Laurie, poor Laurie. She cant remember much if her childhood, has strange dreams and flashbacks that she can't tell if they are real or fake. She relies on her sister Juliette as her mother died during childbirth, and she has a cold relationship with her father. Forced to return home after breaking up with her boyfriend she is thrown back into the family dynamic. She also finds Finn, a man she loved ay uni, but pushed away.
Finn has his own secrets. Returning to Manchester after splitting from his psycho ex Phil. Sheesh. She's right up there in psychopathy!
This is tense and there is an overlying sense od menace throughout. The secrets and lies are slowly revealed and truths uncovered late on. most of which are utterly shocking. I was absolutely addicted to this and couldn't stop reading.
Laurie, poor Laurie. She cant remember much if her childhood, has strange dreams and flashbacks that she can't tell if they are real or fake. She relies on her sister Juliette as her mother died during childbirth, and she has a cold relationship with her father. Forced to return home after breaking up with her boyfriend she is thrown back into the family dynamic. She also finds Finn, a man she loved ay uni, but pushed away.
Finn has his own secrets. Returning to Manchester after splitting from his psycho ex Phil. Sheesh. She's right up there in psychopathy!
This is tense and there is an overlying sense od menace throughout. The secrets and lies are slowly revealed and truths uncovered late on. most of which are utterly shocking. I was absolutely addicted to this and couldn't stop reading.
January 3, 2026
Huge thank you to Caroline England and LBT tours for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review. I am rating this book 4.5 stars! Now on to my thoughts!
This is my first ever read by Caroline England and I have to give all the credit to her because this book was so good! The writing style was incredible and I felt immediately drawn in from the very first prologue read. I was hit with an overwhelming feeling that this was going to be a wild ride and it didn’t disappoint.
It’s a super fast plot that holds you in its grasp until the very end. The family dynamics in this story along with the creepy atmosphere set the perfect environment for a thriller that will get under your skin. The concept of the nightmares stuck with me a lot because I truly feel that dreams and nightmares are always trying to tell you something in your subconscious, so following Laurie’s nightmares definitely set the tone for a whole new brand of thriller. I honestly couldn’t see what was going to happen next which I loved because sometimes if I can guess a plot it takes away from the overall impact of a story for me, but Caroline did an amazing job making this into a very thrilling rollercoaster ride. Plus, the cover is super creepy and drew me in instantly and made me a fan of her work. I honestly want to check out other books written by Caroline.
This is my first ever read by Caroline England and I have to give all the credit to her because this book was so good! The writing style was incredible and I felt immediately drawn in from the very first prologue read. I was hit with an overwhelming feeling that this was going to be a wild ride and it didn’t disappoint.
It’s a super fast plot that holds you in its grasp until the very end. The family dynamics in this story along with the creepy atmosphere set the perfect environment for a thriller that will get under your skin. The concept of the nightmares stuck with me a lot because I truly feel that dreams and nightmares are always trying to tell you something in your subconscious, so following Laurie’s nightmares definitely set the tone for a whole new brand of thriller. I honestly couldn’t see what was going to happen next which I loved because sometimes if I can guess a plot it takes away from the overall impact of a story for me, but Caroline did an amazing job making this into a very thrilling rollercoaster ride. Plus, the cover is super creepy and drew me in instantly and made me a fan of her work. I honestly want to check out other books written by Caroline.
February 6, 2026
Once again, Caroline England has given us a masterpiece of the psychological thriller genre. Laurie and Finn‘s stories are packed with secrets and lies just waiting to be exposed in a spectacular way. The story is deliciously dark and twisty as hazy childhood memories come to the forefront. I love a good story that is told from different points of view, as they give so much more depth to the characters and story. Laurie has just returned to her childhood home after a painful split from her partner, determined to start again, yet there are secrets waiting, lurking just beneath the surface. She begins having strange dreams and flashbacks of childhood, yet doesn’t know if they’re real. When she encounters an old love interest from her past, Finn, they try to ignore the unfinished business between them. Finn has his own secrets. Eventually, things begin to intertwine creating a tense, dark atmosphere that had me hanging onto every word and devouring the book. This was everything I’ve come to expect from one of Caroline‘s books and more. Absolutely brilliant.
November 11, 2025
4.5* rounded up.
A disturbing slow burner with twisted characters and a deep and menacing plot. Manipulating characters, most are unhinged to some degree, some more than others and there is a conflict of interests when it comes to 'doing the right thing'.
You can't change the past but for Laurie Dunn with reoccurring nightmares and a mental block of her early childhood years not knowing is eating away at her. With love rekindled her heart flips once again but can she trust him this time? It might be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire! Finn has his own secrets....
A well written saga that's complex and intriguing with many curveballs and red herrings to mess with your mind.
Can anyone find trust, faith, love and forgiveness in this tangled web of deceit, lies and hidden secrets....you are about to find out!
A disturbing slow burner with twisted characters and a deep and menacing plot. Manipulating characters, most are unhinged to some degree, some more than others and there is a conflict of interests when it comes to 'doing the right thing'.
You can't change the past but for Laurie Dunn with reoccurring nightmares and a mental block of her early childhood years not knowing is eating away at her. With love rekindled her heart flips once again but can she trust him this time? It might be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire! Finn has his own secrets....
A well written saga that's complex and intriguing with many curveballs and red herrings to mess with your mind.
Can anyone find trust, faith, love and forgiveness in this tangled web of deceit, lies and hidden secrets....you are about to find out!
December 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read quite a few books by Caroline England and they have all been so good.
Laurie was a criminal lawyer. After her relationship broke up and she moved out of her boyfriend’s flat she found herself living back at home with her dad and her sister. They lived in a large house and they all had their own areas of the house and her dad and sister had a dental surgery attached to the property.
Laurie went to collect her belongings from Nico’s flat and she found Finn there- Nico’s friend and someone that Laurie had been with while at university.
Laurie and Finn had unfinished business and tried hard to ignore it. They both had secrets and issues with their past and thought that getting together would make this even worse.
A fab read and one that I would definitely recommend.
Laurie was a criminal lawyer. After her relationship broke up and she moved out of her boyfriend’s flat she found herself living back at home with her dad and her sister. They lived in a large house and they all had their own areas of the house and her dad and sister had a dental surgery attached to the property.
Laurie went to collect her belongings from Nico’s flat and she found Finn there- Nico’s friend and someone that Laurie had been with while at university.
Laurie and Finn had unfinished business and tried hard to ignore it. They both had secrets and issues with their past and thought that getting together would make this even worse.
A fab read and one that I would definitely recommend.
February 6, 2026
From the very first page, Behind Her Smile wraps you in a thick sense of unease that never once loosens its grip. The dual POV of Laurie and Finn was a huge win because it added layers, depth, and just the right amount of doubt, keeping me constantly questioning what I thought I knew.
The tension is relentless. Secrets lurk everywhere, and just when you think you’ve found solid ground, the story pulls it away with clever misdirection and perfectly timed twists. The character development is strong, making every reveal hit harder and every choice feel loaded with consequence.
This is a dark, twisty psychological thriller in the very best sense – unsettling, absorbing, and impossible to predict. I didn’t guess a single twist, which is my ultimate thriller test… and that ending?! 😱 Completely blindsided. I genuinely did not see it coming at all.
Deliciously dark from start to finish.
The tension is relentless. Secrets lurk everywhere, and just when you think you’ve found solid ground, the story pulls it away with clever misdirection and perfectly timed twists. The character development is strong, making every reveal hit harder and every choice feel loaded with consequence.
This is a dark, twisty psychological thriller in the very best sense – unsettling, absorbing, and impossible to predict. I didn’t guess a single twist, which is my ultimate thriller test… and that ending?! 😱 Completely blindsided. I genuinely did not see it coming at all.
Deliciously dark from start to finish.
May 3, 2026
Set against the twinkling, emotionally loaded run up to Christmas, this is exactly the sort of story you think you know until it quietly gets under your skin.
A jilted lawyer retreats to her family home, only to find the past is not sitting politely where she left it. As she unpacks old memories, she is forced to question whether some doors are better left firmly shut. And then there is the old flame, all Irish charm and bruised romance, but you cannot help wondering what, exactly, he is not saying.
It is warm, uneasy, and laced with just enough tension to keep you turning the pages long past bedtime. A proper page turner with heart.
I, for one, am already eyeing up the author’s back catalogue.
A jilted lawyer retreats to her family home, only to find the past is not sitting politely where she left it. As she unpacks old memories, she is forced to question whether some doors are better left firmly shut. And then there is the old flame, all Irish charm and bruised romance, but you cannot help wondering what, exactly, he is not saying.
It is warm, uneasy, and laced with just enough tension to keep you turning the pages long past bedtime. A proper page turner with heart.
I, for one, am already eyeing up the author’s back catalogue.
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