Notes on an Obsession

by C.L. Taylor

Oxford University, 1995.

Three student deaths in three weeks can't be a coincidence. Ned Marlowe doesn't think so, but no one wants to listen to not his professor or the clique of elitist psychology undergraduates he supervises.

Then Celia, a student in a nearby building, tells Ned what she saw the night of the last death, and his suspicions deepen into obsession.

Someone is trying to stop him from getting to the truth. The less he knows, the better.

But Ned can't let it go...

Genres: Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

Expected publication February 25, 2027

About the author

C.L. Taylor is an award winning Sunday Times bestselling author of twelve gripping psychological thrillers including THE GUILTY COUPLE, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for summer 2023 and SLEEP, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for autumn 2019. Her books are not a series and can be read in any order:

2014 - THE ACCIDENT / Before I Wake (U.S.)
2015 - THE LIE
2016 - THE MISSING
2017 - THE ESCAPE
2018 - THE FEAR
2019 - SLEEP
2020 - STRANGERS
2021 - HER LAST HOLIDAY
2022 - THE GUILTY COUPLE
2024 - EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE
2025 - IT'S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND
2027 - NOTES ON AN OBSESSION

She has also written two Young Adult thrillers, THE TREATMENT and THE ISLAND.

C.L. Taylor's books have sold in excess of two million copies, been number one on Amazon Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play and have been translated into over 25 languages and optioned for TV.

She lives in Bristol with her partner and son.

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Reviews

[Beth Reads Crime · Rating 5 out of 5]

When C.L. Taylor’s newsletter landed in my inbox that Notes on an Obsession was available to pre-order, I headed straight over to Berts Books to place my order for a dedicated and signed copy. When a further newsletter dropped to unveil the cover and mention a proof party during the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival then I knew I had to be there!

I have been attending Theakstons Crime since 2021 and I was thrilled that I managed to win a proof during the event. The proof came with two intriguing black envelopes, their clandestine contents secured by a gold wax seal. One to open and read before and then a final one for after.

The reason behind this is that this book is a little different to Taylor’s back catalogue. It’s definitely not one I will be spoiling so please do read on without fear.

Notes on an Obsession unfolds from the point of view of Ned Marlowe and uses dual timelines from the 1995 present day setting and also several years earlier in the late 80s. In 1995, there has been three student deaths at Oxford University. Then the rumours start, were they suicides? No one else seems to be questioning why, so Ned begins to investigate his suspicions.

Notes on an Obsession can also be the phrase used to describe me during, as I was hooked! The 80s/90s setting is so immersive. From the music of The Smiths, Faith No More and Nirvana, to the literature of Sylvia Plath, the films Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects, the culture of Woolworths, games like Worms and Command & Conquer, snakebite and black (diesel where I’m from!) and pound-a-pint student nights. It all feels incredibly evocative of the era. Taylor has crafted a wonderful love letter to the time and I honestly need more books set then please.

The pace of the book can be slow, but I absolutely didn’t mind one bit as I wanted to savour it at the same time, to spend more time in Ned’s world. Crime fans will love the mystery of the students and investigating with Ned, dark academia fans will love the descriptions of the university setting and 80s fans will love being transported back to the past.

Notes on an Obsession has knocked The Guilty Couple off the top spot as my favourite C.L. Taylor book to date. 10/10, no notes… just the ones on an Obsession.

And that’s all I’ll say. No spoilers, remember! Notes on an Obsession will be published in February and I can’t wait for my pre-order to land!

Thank you to Headline Books for the proof copy which I won during Theakstons Crime.

[Paula Sterling-Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's just start by saying this is probably one of the best books I've read this year. Sheer brilliance. Set against the intriguing, majestic backdrop of Oxford University, the story follows Ned Marlowe, our protagonist, who witnesses a student fall to his death. Convinced it wasn't suicide but murder, possibly at the hands of a serial killer, Ned sets off on a quest for the truth. It's the third unexplained death at the university, and all three victims were psychology students. As his suspicions harden into certainty, so does his obsession, until he becomes convinced, he might be next.
His fear sharpens when he meets the elusive Celia, who shares his theory about the deaths. Together, the two race to uncover who's really behind it all, before they're either expelled for spreading malicious gossip or murdered themselves. Suspects are everywhere, especially within the Rosenhan group, who have taken a distinctly unhealthy interest in Ned. Even his own mother and his professor seem to be working against him, as she pushes him to abandon his studies and come home.
The story unfolds across dual timelines, Ned's past in 1988 and his present in 1995, building a fractured, unsettling portrait of a man consumed by insecurity and psychological trauma. Taylor's skill in transferring that paranoia straight to the reader is nothing short of genius; you feel the panic and urgency pulsing through Oxford's corridors and through Ned's turbulent teenage years abroad. That unease extends to his friends, too: second-year students orbiting a PhD candidate, their motives never quite settled.
This is a psychological thriller that will have you questioning your own grip on reality. The suspense never lets up, Taylor holds her cards close and refuses to tip her hand until she's good and ready, and the tension only builds because of it.
If you're after a high-octane, unputdownable read, this one comes highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC and the chance to read this ahead of publication.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magister College, Oxford University, 1995.
There have been three student deaths in three weeks, the latest a very public one. Ned Marlowe doesn’t believe the university authorities are doing enough. Then, he meets fellow student Celia who tells him what she saw the night of the last death and his suspicions deepen into obsession. Someone is trying to stop him getting to the truth, but he is tenacious in his investigations.

Oxford based dark academia + CL Taylor = me hooked from the start and transfixed to the end. Illusion, delusion or truth, that’s the million dollar question. From the start it is very mysterious, the vibes are odd if not weird, giving an off-kilter sensation. This deepens with the strange Rosenham group of psychology students – intellectual yes but entitled, arrogant and masterfully deflecting. Add in a professor whose behaviour is suspicious and it amounts to a powerful tale, carefully and cleverly plotted which is skilfully written. It’s very twisty, with plenty of tension and suspense. It is if you get on a rollercoaster with Ned with many a high and low.

The novel unfolds into parallel timelines, 1988/9 and 1995 which I really enjoy and have no difficulty following the thread through both. There’s much food for thought and it allows the reader to fully understand Ned. His desire to do the right thing is paramount, he’s very caring, he has his struggles and his fears. His characterisation is fantastic and sympathetic but all the characters shine through the prose allowing me to see them all clearly.

Overall, in my opinion this is top class storytelling and a very unsettling character driven psychological thriller which I really enjoy, in timelines which are captured vividly.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

I’ve seen quite a few reviews from people saying they predicted the ending, but I honestly didn’t. Maybe it was just me, but I genuinely had no idea where the story was heading, and that’s exactly what kept me turning the pages.

For me, it took until around the halfway point before I was completely invested. Up until then, I was enjoying it, but once the story really found its rhythm, I couldn’t put it down. The tension seemed to build chapter by chapter, and I could actually feel the pace increasing as everything spiralled. I reached the point where I just had to know how it was all going to end.

One of the things C.L. Taylor does so well is make you feel what her characters are experiencing. I really felt Ned’s anguish, panic and desperation as the story unfolded, and that’s a real testament to her writing. It wasn’t just that I wanted to know what would happen, I found myself emotionally invested in how everything would play out for him.

The ending genuinely caught me by surprise, and I always appreciate a psychological thriller that can do that.

While this wasn’t my favourite C.L. Taylor novel, and I didn’t love it quite as much as some of her previous books, I still really enjoyed it and flew through it in just two sittings. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that build steadily before delivering an ending you won’t necessarily see coming, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.

[TheVeePages · Rating 3 out of 5]

👀 Advanced Reader Copy Book Review 📚

Notes on an Obsession by @cltaylorauthor
Pub date: 25 Feb 2027

Vee's Verdict:
🌟 🌟 🌟 💫
3.5/5

Huge thanks to @netgalley, @headlinebooks and of course CL Taylor for the opportunity to review this early copy.

Synopsis:
Three student deaths in three weeks can't be a coincidence. Ned Marlowe doesn't think so, but no one wants to listen to him: not his professor or the clique of elitist psychology undergraduates he supervises.

Then Celia, a student in a nearby building, tells Ned what she saw the night of the last death, and his suspicions deepen into obsession.

Someone is trying to stop him from getting to the truth. The less he knows, the better.

My thoughts:
I really did enjoy this book, but not so much that it kept me gripped throughout. I think the switching of timeliness in the chapters left me a bit lost at first but then I got into it.

However, from 60% onwards, the book became very difficult to put down.

And that plot twist?? I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING AT ALL.

Key themes:
• Student life
• Suspicious deaths
• Mysterious theories
• Grief and loss
• Relationships

You'd like this if you enjoy:
• Slow burn thrillers
• Romance mixed in with thrills
• A shocking plot twist at the end that leaves you gob-smacked

The only reason for the lower rating is that it wqs a bit slow and confusing for me due to the timelines.

I cannot wait to read more by this author. Drop any recommendations into the comments.

#CLTaylor #Notesonanobsession #arcreview #advancedreadercopy #thrillerbooks

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story. The book is set mainly at Oxford University in 1995, where psychology student Ned Marlowe witnesses a student jump to his death from the tower of the college. But this not the only death. There have been three in as many weeks and Ned becomes convinced that they are connected. When another student , Celia tells him she saw someone push the student from the tower, Ned becomes determined to investigate the truth.

The story is also told in flash backs to 1989 when Ned and his girlfriend Alice first get together an then travel round Europe on interrail for the summer after A levels and before university. The dual timeline increases the tension and increases the unease. Both story arcs are important to understand Ned and who he is and what he is doing as he becomes increasingly convinced that people are out to silence him and others and there is a dark underworld lurking at the college. He becomes ever more paranoid, shutting himself away and suspicious of everybody.

The twist, or reveal, when it comes is like a bolt from the blue, totally unexpected and very cleverly done.. This is a real psychological thriller in all senses of the word and kept me guessing right until the very end.

With thanks to Netgalley, the author and Headline Books for an early copy in return for an honest review.

[Georgia Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.L. Taylor knows how to build tension, and while this one took a little bit to get its hooks in me, once it did, I couldn't put it down.
The story opens in 1995 with three student deaths in three weeks at Oxford University. Ned Marlowe is convinced there’s something darker going on, but nobody—neither his professor nor the smug psychology students he supervises—wants to listen. Then Celia steps forward with what she saw the night of the last death, and Ned’s digging turns into a full-blown obsession.
Here is what worked for me and what didn't:
* The 20% Mark: The start was definitely on the slower side. For the first fifth of the book, I was wondering when the pace would pick up, but around the 20% mark, the story clicked and completely took over.
* Dual Timelines: I loved the dual timeline structure, but I definitely found myself favoring the past over the present.
* The Setting: Never having been to university myself, I couldn't always personally relate to the campus dynamic, but watching Ned try to untangle the secrets of that elitist Oxford clique kept me hooked anyway.
Expect the unexpected with this one. Once the momentum builds, it's a tense, gripping read that keeps you guessing until the end. Solid 4 stars!

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This being the fourteenth book I’ve read by C L Taylor, it’s fair to say I’m a fan. I loved the premise from the start - Oxford university 1995, three student deaths in as many weeks and Ned Marlowe doesn’t believe that’s a coincidence. As he tries to gather evidence to support his theory that the deaths weren’t suicides, only one student Celia, believes him. Meanwhile, his growing paranoia over the deaths becomes all-consuming ….

The narrative unfolds through dual timelines, alternating between the present day, 1995 and the past,1988, gradually revealing the characters’ histories, and I particularly enjoyed the 1980’s storyline, which included numerous musical and social references to that decade.

As with all her books, the author makes you feel as though you’re living the story alongside her characters, and I enjoyed discovering the twists and clues along with the protagonists, and being drawn into their world. This gripping thriller builds and explores the different concepts of fear and paranoia, and I found myself questioning everything I was being told throughout.

All in all, this is a cracking addition to an already impressive back catalogue and one that I can definitely recommend.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @headlinebooks for the ARC.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

An Academia psychological thriller from a favourite author. It has dual time lines set in 1995 and the late 80’s.

At Oxford university three student deaths in three weeks seems too much of a coincidence to Ned Marlowe. When he talks to Celia his suspicion is further aroused only no one is interested in listening to his suspicions so he decides to become a sleuth.

I found the pace slow in the first half, it took me a long time to get invested. There’s a constant air of uncertainty. The setting and time are well cemented. The reader also gets the student backpacking gap year experience too. The build up of tension in that segment that was excellent.

Ned’s seemingly constant tension with his panic attacks which border on paranoia is palpable, It left me feeling unsettled.

Once it had me hooked I was very invested. Quite late in I was sure that I had sussed out the premise and couldn’t wait to see if I was right. Well I was wrong, but I must say I preferred that concept over the actual one which felt a little weak in comparison.

I really enjoyed it, particularly the 2nd half.
This will appeal to academia thrillers readers as well as those who want nostalgic reminiscences with their thriller experience.

I had this book from NetGalley

[Jackie Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially this is a psychological account of a teenage tragedy and its enduring impact on an individual.

This is difficult to review without revealing elements of the resolution to the overall plot. But it’s essentially a narrative with a sense of chaos and impending danger. For instance I found the switching of tenses in various segments jarring. And that is discounting the dual time line that is woven throughout. But they are all part and parcel of the storytelling.

Set in a fictional Oxford University college, the main character is Ned Marlowe. In 1995 he is a student in psychology. In the earlier timeline, 1988-1989, he is a private school pupil where the boys are segregated from the girls. In that story line he enters a relationship with Alice. They both sneak out of their respective schools to meet alone. When they finish school they tour Europe for the summer. Ned’s parents are based in Germany as his father is in the forces.

I wish I’d have read this in a short space of time rather than in the piecemeal fashion I did over several days because I think the chaotic story lines would have lent a more thriller type atmosphere too.

It is not easy to rate but I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers, unreliable narrators. 3-4 stars.

[Amanda Varley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set at Oxford University in 1995, the story follows psychology student Ned Marlowe as he becomes convinced that three student deaths in three weeks are connected. When Celia, a student who witnessed something suspicious on the night of the latest death, shares what she saw, Ned becomes determined to uncover the truth.

As his investigation deepens, the story moves between past and present, slowly revealing secrets and building a growing sense of unease. Ned’s fear and paranoia intensify as he realises that someone is determined to stop him from discovering what really happened.

The story is skilfully told through two chronological narratives, moving between the past and present to gradually reveal events from Ned's life.

Ned is a particularly interesting character, one that a reader can connect with and care about. The narrative captures his growing fear, paranoia and increasingly fragile state of mind. As his obsession with uncovering the truth grows, you are drawn into his mission to answer the many questions he has about events and the suspicions he has of his peers and teachers at the college.

The twist is completely unexpected, incredibly clever and skillfully revealed. As a psychological thriller fan, this is a book that genuinely kept me guessing.

[Ebony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to pick up C L Taylor’s newest book, and I have to say, it surprised me. It felt completely different from her previous novels, but not in a bad way!

I saw C L Taylor mentioning that she wanted to create a character readers would genuinely care about to make the emotional moments hit even harder, and she absolutely succeeded. I found myself completely invested in Ned and his past and present.

This is a slower burn type of thriller, there isn’t a huge cliffhanger at the end of each chapter but each chapter gradually pulls you deeper into Ned’s thoughts as you learn more of his story. The tension builds so naturally that I found myself completely engrossed.

When I reached the final chapters, everything just clicked into place. I loved the moment when all the pieces of the puzzle finally come together. It was such a satisfying ending and one that felt well earned, although, I can see how this ending could be slightly predictable.

If you’re a fan of atmospheric, character-focused thrillers that take their time before delivering a rewarding payoff, this is definitely one to pick up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the advanced reader copy.

[Amanda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of this author, I was excited to pick this one up, and once again I really enjoyed her distinctive writing style. The premise immediately intrigued me: a series of potential suicides at Oxford University, with questions surrounding whether the deaths are truly unconnected or whether something more sinister is going on.

The story unfolds across two timelines, one in 1995 and the other in 1989. Although both were interesting, I found myself much more invested in the 1989 storyline. There was something especially compelling about that timeline and I was always eager to return to it.

I did manage to predict parts of the ending, but this didn’t lessen my enjoyment. There were still plenty of details to uncover, and I enjoyed seeing how the different threads came together.

At times, the writing felt slightly detached and the narrative was a bit jumpy in a way that made it difficult to fully connect with certain characters or moments. However, having now reached the end, I can understand why the story was written in this way.

Overall, I enjoyed this and would recommend it.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed Notes on an Obsession. C. L. Taylor is brilliant at taking something that seems fairly ordinary and gradually making you question what is really going on, and this was no exception.

The story is unsettling from the start, with obsession, secrets and the feeling that someone knows far more than they should. I loved the growing sense of unease and the way the tension builds as more is revealed. There were plenty of twists and moments where I found myself changing my mind about what I thought was happening.

I did guess some of the twists, and a couple of the characters frustrated me at times, which is why this was a four star rather than five star read for me. However, I was still completely invested and wanted to keep reading to find out how everything would unfold.

Another gripping psychological thriller from C. L. Taylor, with plenty of secrets, obsession and twists to keep you guessing.

[Almu Santalices · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main story is set up in Oxford in 1995 where Ned is studying Psychology. There has been three murders in three weeks or so it seems. Ned is shocked as he witnesses on of the deaths and he is determined to find out what really happened. He encounters Celia, and together they look for clues and culprits.
But... at the same time we are taken to Ned's past, 1989 while he is at an only boys boarding school. He meets Alice during a school dance... she is his first love...
We are taken back and forth as both stories develop. We feel for Ned as he is faced with bad situations that make him be constantly scared. Having these constant past and "present" stories keeps you on your seat as every time something unexpected and interesting, the timeline changes!
The stories develop in a way that you start questioning everything and everybody. You try desperately to predict the possible twists and possible culprits, everything becomes a question. twists and makes you wonder, think and question yourself and the possible outcomes of the story.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragedy invades the rarefied air of an Oxford college when three students commit suicide within a short space of time. But post-grad student Ned Marlowe suspects foul play. Scarred by tragedy in his own past, he sets out to discover the truth, aided by fellow student Celia.
This was a tightly woven plot wth two threads - Ned's teenage romance with girlfriend Alice, and his present day investigation into what may be the murders of three students.
This book had me torn two ways. I enjoyed the retrospective story with teenage Ned and Alice, but I found the general atmosphere of the present-day story claustrophobic, with unpleasant characters I couldnt relate to.
However, the back story kept me engaged and as it threw light on Ned's development, I began to understand why he reacts the way he does now to more tragedy in his life. I can't say any more without spoilers.
Despite my reservations, I would still say this is a page-turner, perfect for fans of Donna Tartt's A Secret History.

[Sarah Higginbottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Notes on an Obsession by C.L. Taylor. I’ve read everything this author has written, and I honestly love her books so much. She’s one of those authors whose thrillers I know I can pick up and get completely absorbed in.

This book was no exception. The twists and suspense were the highlights for me, keeping me hooked and constantly wondering what was really going on. C.L. Taylor has a brilliant talent for creating tension and that uneasy feeling that makes you want to keep turning the pages.

I loved the way the story unfolded, with secrets, suspense, and twists that kept me guessing right until the end.

Another fantastic read from an author who never disappoints. If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with suspense and unexpected turns, I highly recommend Notes on an Obsession.

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, C L Taylor and Headline📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

[Jessica Gilmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nineties set dark academia. One Oxford college, one clique of the young, entitled and beautiful, three suicides and one outsider. So Taylor expertly sets up this twisty thriller.
PhD student Ned knows something isn’t right. Three suicides in as many weeks, suspicious behaviour from a group of psychology undergraduates, even more suspicious behaviour from his supervisor. The only person he can trust is the elusive Celia. Meanwhile, memories of his teenage relationship with Alice come back to haunt him. There is no way it can all be linked, can it?
Paranoia, mistrust and tension ratchet up as Ned desperately tries to seek the truth. He’s sure the suicides are linked, that they might be murder, and he had a horrible feeling that if he doesn’t solve the mystery he might just be next.
Clever, expertly plotted with a gorgeous sense of place, Notes on an Obsession is unputdownable. Recommended,

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is set in two timelines, 1989 and 1995.
1989 Ned Marlowe meets Alice, and together, they backpack around the Greek islands.
1995, Ned Marlowe is at Oxford University, where there have been three deaths in three weeks. Ned thinks it's suspicious, and when he meets Celia, she encourages him to look further into their deaths after telling him that one of them was pushed.
I did wonder how the two timelines married up, and it all becomes clear towards the end.
I can't say I particularly liked this one by Cally. I've read all her books, and this is definitely my least favourite.
I did guess about two-thirds of the way through the book, but there were still loose ends to tie up.
I'm not sure I would class this as a thriller
At no time did I find it suspenseful or any tension. I found myself just willing to get to the end.
This one was not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[McBreakneck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first psychological thrillers I ever read were The Escape and The Fear and I’ve been hooked on the genre and C.L. Taylor’s writing ever since.

Oxford University, 1995. Three student deaths in three weeks. Psychology student Ned Marlowe doesn’t believe the deaths are a coincidence. He’s determined to uncover what’s really going on and will risk everything to do so.

Notes On An Obsession is brave, bold and fairly dark. I was transfixed. Like a lot of the best thrillers it might divide opinion. Love it and will become an obsession. Deeply psychological dark academia with a great feel for the era. It’s got a real transcendent buzz sucking you in until nothing else matters. Read it as fast as you can, can’t stop thinking about it, probably read it again to catch everything you missed the first time.

One of C.L. Taylor’s very best books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this expertly crafted, suspenseful psychological thriller in which we meet Ned who becomes convinced that three students suicides are not a coincidence and he sets out to prove that something more sinister is afoot.

This story is told from dual time lines and the author flips between these seamlessly. I adored Ned's character and quickly became invested in how the story would unfold and when it reached the climax I certainly wasn't disappointed!

If you love a twisty, clever psychological thriller I suggest you give this one a go, I'll definitely be recommending it to others.

Many thanks as ever to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

[Peter Owen-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, gripping psychological thriller set mainly at Oxford University in 1995. Ned, a student, is the one who witnesses a student fall to his death from the tower of his college, the third in just a few weeks. Convinced that they are connected, he becomes determined to uncover the truth.

The story shifts back and forth between timelines, building tension and unease as both storylines help readers understand Ned, his past, and what drives him. His suspicion of almost everyone, and the way he sees things, drives the story forward.

When the truth is finally revealed, it is completely unexpected and it kept me guessing right through to the very end. The part of him being in the cleaners' cupboard made me really laugh (No spoiler).

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst this is ever so slightly slow at the start, by halfway through it ramps up and towards the end I was fairly screaming 'WHAT IS GOING ON?!' I liked the 90's nostalgia, as that was when I was at Uni (though I wasn't at Oxford), and I thought the flashbacks worked well in the book, creating that ever-increasing, anxiety-inducing tumble towards the ending. I stayed up late reading, and then read solidly over breakfast to find out the ending. Definitely unsettling, definitely gripping, and maybe don't read it if your child is University age and currently booking their first holiday abroad without you!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally hooked on this from page one and really struggled to put it down. When three deaths occur in as many weeks psychologist student Ned Marlowe is convinced that they are all linked and not suicides or accidents. When Celia a fellow student says she saw something when one of the students died and appears to be the only one who believes him he starts to become obsessed in his journey to find the truth. However it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want him finding out the truth……. This is a psychological thriller that is so cleverly written and that has twists and turns and an ending that I did not see coming! Thanks so much to Headline and Netgalley for the ARC

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why are university students at Oxford dying in mysterious circumstances? Can the rash of apparent suicides be explained simply by factors such as depression and academic pressure - or are there more sinister issues at play?

This is an enjoyable dark academia thriller where C.L. Taylor demonstrates yet again how she has earned her reputation for crafting memorable stories with unique characters and a whole series of twists. This one is well worth your time!

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

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled to get into Notes on an Obsession. I kept waiting for that moment where the story would pull me in, but unfortunately it never came.
The story moved back and forth between different years, but rather than building suspense, I found it a little confusing and was never completely sure why we were jumping between timelines. There was very little excitement or anticipation for me, and I never felt fully invested in what was happening.
I wanted to enjoy this one, but it just didn’t keep me engaged.

[Kiwi1331 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.

Notes of an obsession felt like such a slow burn, in parts I felt like DNFing. However I struggled through and it all came together in the end where it got more interesting. I did pick up some of the twists quick but not all of them.

The dual time line felt chaotic at times not knowing which timeline we were on till names or dates were mentioned. I did find the Alice timeline more interesting.

I would recommend this book if you were looking for a slow burn.

[Louise Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Ned is a phd psychology student at university. When three students die he is convinced by Celia that they were murdered. The pair then try to investigate. Ned is also dealing with the death of his girlfriend Alice.

The story switches between Ned’s life with Alice in the past, to his present day university life. There are a lot of characters in the present and I personally struggled to keep track of who was who. I found the story a bit dry and while I was determined to finish this wasn’t one for me I’m sorry.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from this author and it won’t be my last.

This was fast paced, however so many different leads right from the start, I couldn’t put it down. This came together in such a clever way I can’t wait for my next C.L. Taylor read!!

I fear if I even try to explain this plot further than the blurb I am spoiling the fun for the reader. I questioned everything!!

It’s not a similar story line in anyway but fans of Killing Eve will love this

Thanks to Headline for this ARC ✨

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding up to 3 ⭐

I don't know if it was me or the book... I read it in bits and pieces, and so it felt a bit disjointed. But the book never gripped me enough to want to devote a good chunk of time to it.
I thought I'd figured what was going on quite early, so kept reading to see if I was right 😀
Pleased to say, I wasn't completely.
I got a good sense of time with it, some nice references to the 80s.
Just an ok from me unfortunately.

Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy