My Friend's Husband

by Rupa Mahadevan

My best friend is missing. And the police think I did it. But her perfect husband is lying.

I’ve spent most of my life getting things wrong. Bad choices. Bad luck. Bad timing.

Roshni was my fresh start. She gave me a job. A room. A second chance.

Now she’s gone.

The day she vanished, she managed one desperate 999 call.
“Someone’s taken me. I’m in the boot of a car. Please—”

Then the line went dead.

I was the last person to see her alive. Now the police are closing in.

But they’re looking at the wrong suspect.

Because Steve — the devoted, devastated husband — isn’t who he claims to be.

A brilliantly twisty page-turner packed with nail-biting tension.

Genres: Psychological Thriller, Mystery

ebook

Published June 11, 2026

Reviews

[Kim McFall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this one by the cover and just knew it was going to be amazing! I was so happy to be approved for this arc because I just had to read it right away!

From the very first chapter, it grabbed my attention and refused to let go. I even fell asleep with my Kindle in my hand and finished it in less than 24 hours because I just couldn't put it down.

My Friend's Husband is a fast-paced, gripping domestic thriller packed with twists, turns, secrets, and lies. I was suspicious of every character and changed my theory more times than I can count. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another revelation would send me in a completely different direction.

I loved the dual timelines and the glimpses into the past that slowly revealed how everything came together. I especially enjoyed getting both Clara's and Steve's perspectives. With each chapter, more layers were peeled back, uncovering hidden truths and raising even more questions.

If you love fast-paced, unputdownable domestic thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR!

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Friend’s Husband is a domestic thriller that keeps you glued from the very first chapter. The story circles around two main suspects in Roshani’s kidnapping and possible murder, all told through the eyes of Clara (the best friend who’s been accused yet refuses to stop digging for the truth). I was hooked from page one and stayed fully invested until the final reveal. I kept second‑guessing every character, and even when I thought I had it figured out, the twist still blindsided me in the best way.

It’s dark, twisted, and packed with lies, secrets, and betrayals, all the ingredients that make a thriller girlie like me absolutely thrive. I love stories that don’t hand everything over too early, and this one stays intriguing and engrossing right up to the last chapter.

What I Enjoyed:
• Two suspects trope (always fun and messy)
• Sisterly friendship (flawed but heartfelt)
• First person narrative (adds tension and urgency)


What Didn’t Sit Right:
• Cultural background not deeply explored
• Manipulation pushed to extremes
• Devastating fate of minor characters

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 4⭐️
• Characters: 5⭐️
• Writing: 4⭐️
• Message: 4⭐️
• Overall: 4⭐️

Final Verdict: A highly engaging, fast‑paced thriller with a twist that genuinely surprised me. Perfect for readers who love dark secrets, messy relationships, and stories that keep you guessing until the end. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books, and author Rupa Mahadevan for my advance copy. My thoughts are my own.

~ JaNnA ~

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.
Clara's friend Roshni, is missing,she suspect that Roshni huasband Steve have something to with it.The more she uncover the more questions than answer she finds.

Will Clara find her friend or is it to late?

It was an enjoable and mystery filled read.Clara was trying her best to find her friend and I really was not sure where the story will go.It was a mystery with a mystery,and I really was rooting for Clara,the truth for her was far unexpected then she believed.The twists at every corner and tension filled read that was hard to put down.

Thank you Joffe books for arc,my review is honest and my own.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many things are happening here, and all of them come together to make an excellent thriller mystery! We come into what feels like the middle of a story and slowly explore several timelines and character POVs. If you like complex thrillers, this one is for you!

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone loves an untrustworthy husband, in books at least...

I haven't read anything by this author before so for me it was a great introduction to their writing style and has left me wanting more...Nine Dolls here I come!

It started off fast and only gets faster as the story begins to unfurl. The twists and turns were endless, and the ending unexpected.

The icing on the cake? Unreliable narrators, secrets, and an unexpected layer of emotion.

Arguably intense.

[Morgan Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this book was enjoyable, if not confusing at times. Throughout the book it was hard to keep up as there were many times the plot seemed to shift in different directions. There were some really good twists in the book, but also a lot of things that were very hard to believe -- law enforcement being very open about the case as well as very important conversations that were constantly overheard.

[Akku · Rating 4 out of 5]

• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 4✨

• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - now live

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- psychological thriller
- unreliable narrator
- obsession
- missing woman
- dark secrets
- stalker vibes
- twisted characters
- slow burn suspense

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬 -
My Friend’s Husband follows Clara, a woman struggling with her past, addiction, and losing her daughters. Her life changes when she meets Roshni Summers, a kind social worker who slowly becomes the center of Clara’s world. But when Roshni suddenly disappears after a terrifying kidnapping call, Clara becomes the main suspect and everything starts getting darker and more twisted.
This book gave me such creepy and addictive vibes from the very beginning. I loved how the story slowly messed with my mind because every character felt suspicious in their own way. Clara was honestly such an interesting character. She was broken, obsessive, emotional, and sometimes completely unreliable, but that made her chapters even more addictive to read.
The writing was easy to follow and the suspense kept building with every chapter. I kept changing my theories because every time I thought I understood someone, another secret came out. The obsession and stalking elements were done really well and made the story feel unsettling in the best way.
The twists were actually shocking, especially towards the end when the truth started unfolding. I also liked that none of the characters felt fully perfect or innocent. Everyone had secrets and hidden layers which made the story more realistic and intense.
Some parts in the middle felt slightly slower for me, but overall I was fully invested and needed to know the truth behind Roshni’s disappearance. The ending was dark, messy, and exactly what I wanted from a psychological thriller.
Thank you zoolosbooktour & joffebooks for the ARC!

[MissAllieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

”You had touched many lives, and always for the better, or so I thought. But normal people don’t get kidnapped — you had enemies, at least one.”

When Clara’s friend, Roshni, goes missing the police start to question Roshni’s husband but also Clara. Since Clara was the last person to be with her.

“He killed her. He killed Anna. Next is you,” he breathed. ”You need to be careful.” He gripped you tighter. ”You’ll end up dead.”

Did Steve, Roshni’s husband have something to do with her disappearance? What happens when his first wife mysteriously dies due to an unexpected heart condition? Who can Clara trust and can she be trusted? Find out June 11, 2026!


⭐️⭐️⭐️

I did not see that ending I was nearly off my seat from those few last chapters. Soon pieces get revealed and they were always there right along and I never would have expected them. And for she was always one step ahead of everything and I did feel for Clara at the ending when things gets revealed to us.

This is my first novel from Rupa Mahadevan and I look forward to reading more from her!

Thank you to Rupa Mahadevan, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

[Elohor Egbordi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this was such a fine read!!! I mean, the title and cover already told me I was in for a rollicking ride but oh boy, did I have a swell time!

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC. It really is something.

What works
1. The plot. It is engaging and keeps you right on the edge of your seat. You somehow keep up with the multiple characters and POVs and NOTHING is as you thought it’d pan out.
2. The resolution. It just makes sense and you’re like, « Why did I think of this idea, discard it as being too frivolous and then it turns out that’s the missing puzzle piece I’ve been searching for? »
3. The characters. Need I say more? There’s probably one good person and the rest are all morally grey you have a hard time defending them. 😩
4. The setting. You can picture it in your mind’s eye. I do love me a goooood grounding.

What doesn’t
1. Some plot points didn’t make sense to me. But then the person describing Lorna, for example, isn’t the most reliable storyteller so I’ll let it slide.
2. Again, great ending, but I do believe some plot points weren’t rounded off properly and left more questions than answers in the end, and that’s why I docked one star.

[Bibliophile Foodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thriller pulled me in right from the opening scene. The idea of a woman calling for help while trapped in the boot of a car was so shocking that I couldn’t stop reading. From there, the story dives into the lives of Roshni, the missing woman, and Clara, her best friend who quickly becomes tangled in the investigation.

Clara is such a complicated character. She’s flawed, emotional, and often unreliable, which made me constantly question whether I could trust her version of events. That uncertainty kept the tension high and made the twists even more effective. I liked how the book explored her obsession with Roshni, showing both her loyalty and her darker side.

Roshni felt sympathetic and inspiring. Her work with women facing abuse made her disappearance even more heartbreaking.

The secrets, betrayals, and psychological tension made the atmosphere unsettling but addictive. I also liked the book touched on serious issues like domestic abuse and cultural pressures, weaving them naturally into the plot.

By the end, the twists were surprising and satisfying, and the conclusion tied everything together.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Nine Dolls, Rupa's debut, and being blown away, i have been looking forward to this. The two booms couldnt be much more different either, this time written in the first person and slowly taking us on a journey, switching between timelines, until we uncover the truth of why Roshni disappeared.
It really flexes the writers muscle and shows she really has a place and a bright future if this is just the second book and its this good.
Its tense throughout, the pace and tension dont let up. The clues are drip fed and the way reveals are made are brilliant. Wrong footing you.
I didnt want to like Clara, I find women who obsesses and hero worship other women to the point of stalking a bit sad, but she had a strength that im not sure id have had. I also loved Tasmin and her mum. I love how Rupa writes strong women, who can go through the worst things and still survive.
Ive love spending my time with these characters and sad to end my journey with them. I will eagerly be awaiting the next book however.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is only my second read by this author but having absolutely loved Nine Dolls, I was looking forward to being drawn into another intense read.

And this one really sets off at pace.

 

After a difficult period, Roshni takes a chance on Clara and gives her a job at the women's centre that she runs.

The problem starts after the pair argue and Roshni goes missing, the only clue being a frantic phone message stating that someone has taken her.

 

With only two obvious suspects, Clara herself and Roshni's husband, Steve, Clara is determined to find out what really happened before the police come knocking.

 

Clara was a really interesting character to explore and I was never quite sure whether I could trust her narration or not.

As the story unfolds through a then and now format, we learn more and more about things that have been hidden and it did make me a little suspicious of all the theories I was making.

 

This was really well written and was packed with twists and turns to keep us guessing.

But there were also some moments that felt really emotional and made me root for our characters era and a positive outcome.

 

This had me gripped throughout and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author soon.

 

 

[Jo Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know how “they” say that you never really know what someone else is thinking? Never has this felt truer than while I read My Friend’s Husband. I also discovered how tunnel-visioned I am, and was focusing on one red herring then totally missing clues that would have tipped me off that all was not as it seemed!

I struggled at first with the narrative flipping between time periods and characters, as it wasn’t always obvious to me who was narrating, but I got used to it and found it added to the sense of discombobulating and mistrust. I almost have whiplash from the amount of times I snapped from one suspect to the next.

Clara is such an interesting character and made me feel pity, suspicion, empathy and relief. There are a number of themes explored in this novel, including stereotypes, honour violence and coercive control, however I felt they were handled with care.

This is a great book for fans of Frieda McFadden and I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventurous story with a lot going on. Clara, the principal narrator, sees Roshni through the window of her office and is immediately drawn to her, developing an unhealthy obsession with her. We know Clara is on probation for an undisclosed crime. The author gives us enough information about her and other characters to keep my interest without boring me with too much background.
The story is set in and around Edinburgh and includes white British and south Asian characters, adding depth to the story. It moves between what is happening in the here and now - an investigation into Roshni's disappearance - and scenes from the past, which are clearly identified. I enjoyed having to work a bit to keep up with who and what rather than having everything spelt out for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for a free advance copy.

[Jane Ruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a gripping psychological thriller that I could not turn the pages fast enough!

Clara is the narrator and main character, and she is so sad and vulnerable, but also stronger than she gives herself credit for. A horrible event in her life has estranged her from her husband Tom, and she misses her two children. She finds help and friendship with Roshni and develops a strange obsession with her. Then Roshni vanishes.

This takes the story to a new level of tension. So compelling. So intriguing. Clara finds herself as a suspect in Roshni's disappearance, but she is not the only one.

There are so many twists and turns, deceptions, lies, secrets, grief, and more grief. All loose ends are tied up, some in really surprising ways.

A really great, read-in-one sitting story. Highly recommended.

4 🌟

[Phil Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and suspenseful mystery with plenty of twists and turns

Clara's best friend, Roshni, is missing. The police receive a desperate plea for help from
Roshni, saying that she has been taken and is locked in the boot of a car. The last person to
be seen with her was Clara and the phone location is close to Clara's. She is the main
suspect and her position is made worse when she goes on the run.
Clara has history she has lost everything because of her heavy drinking. Her children, her
business and most of her friends are gone and she is sofa surfing with an old workmate.
She doesn’t want to be arrested again so she flees the scene. She also knows that she has
to find the abductor/killer to prove her innocence and she suspects Roshni’s husband

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of Twists and Turns

When charity worker Roshni Summers disappears, the police had two main suspects, her husband Steve, and her best friend Clara. Just before she disappeared Roshni and Clare had argued. Now Clara is worried that if the police become aware of the argument she will become number one suspect, especially as she had recently been released from prison. Keeping a low profile, Clara works hard to uncover what could have happened to Roshni, but will she be able to find out the truth. There were so many twists and turns the book kept me guessing.

[Hannah Boyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable thriller.
I liked the characters, and I liked the writing style. It was really engaging and easy to read.

There did at time seem to be maybe too many different things going on at once, which made things a bit confusing. There was also a few too many side characters for me, which meant I kept forgetting who was who😅

This was intense, and suspenseful. The FMC was a bit of an unreliable narrator which I always love!

The ending felt perfect to the story! And the way it started off?!?! Incredible.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Friend's Husband by Rupa Mahadevan.
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I got into this book straight away. twisty and gripping. I couldn't put it down. I read this in two sittings. Hooked from page one. I definitely didn't see that coming. wow. This is the second book I've read by this author. Definitely recommend.

[Faye Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Friends Husband by Rupa Mahadevan
🌟🌟🌟🌟
A fast paced page turner!
Clara's friend is missing. Roshni calls for help from the boot of the car she has been bundled into. Can anyone find her before its too late?

The husband Steve is the main suspect, but as Clara investigates, she puts herself into the mix

Twists and turns throughout
I didnt see the twist coming - Wow!! Trust noone!

[Adam Forster-Nnachi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Rupa Mahadevan, Joffe Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy of My Friend's Husband. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.


This book just didn't quite hit the mark for me. It centered around the disappearance of a woman called Roshni, with the majority of the story told from the pov of her friend Clara.


There were a lot of elements and at times it was hard to work our how they were all connected. I also didn't really identify with Clara as a character and I also didn't feel like I was desperate to find out what fate had befallen Roshni.


As the plot developed, there were almost too many red herrings. I am all for misdirection as a tool but at some point there haa to be something that is actually linked to the truth. Not the book for me.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has such a good opener for a book it completely hooked me in. I needed to know who and why someone was trapped in the boot of a car.
The read was full of tension and suspense, and those twists! Oh My Gosh 😱
What a ride this book was, loved it!!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating twisty story - I wonder if this could be a series. Rupa always brings a different take to her stories and I’m intrigued to see what she will do next 4* from me

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this authors first book so knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed with this one.
I settled in & tucked in.
Roshni runs an aid for women and Carla knows she needs help. Then Roshni goes missing. Only Carla was the last to see her and the last thing she needs is getting involved with the police.

This story has many levels and I don’t do spoilers but family and life and support are all there. Another side to what is going on with Rupas touch.
Great read.

[Padmajha [PJ] Me and My Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed the author's previous book, I was excited to pick up this one, and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint. The premise immediately grabbed my attention: a woman reporting her own kidnapping while trapped in the boot of a car. It was such a shocking and intriguing opening that I was hooked from the very first page.
The story follows Roshni, the victim, and Clara, her friend, who becomes determined to find her. Clara's motivation is partly because she genuinely cares about Roshni, but also because she wants to keep the police from looking too closely at her own secrets. This creates an interesting layer of tension and intrigue throughout the novel.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its characters. Everyone seems to be hiding something, and Clara is no exception. She is flawed, emotional, obsessive, and at times an unreliable narrator. I was never completely sure whether I could trust her, and that uncertainty kept me constantly questioning my own theories.
As the story unfolds through a different timeline, more secrets come to light, and every new revelation changes what you think you know. Just when I felt I had figured someone out, another twist appeared and sent me in a different direction. The suspense builds steadily, and the mystery remains engaging throughout.
Roshni herself is a particularly sympathetic character. She works for a charity that supports women facing abuse and domestic violence, making her disappearance even more tragic. Through Clara's investigations, we learn more about Roshni's life and the many ways she helped vulnerable women.
The book also touches on difficult topics such as domestic abuse and culturally driven abuse. These moments, though sensitive in nature, are handled thoughtfully and add depth to the story.
The obsession, stalking, and psychological elements are well done. They create an unsettling atmosphere that makes the story both creepy and addictive. The emotional moments balanced the suspense well and made me genuinely hope for a positive outcome for the characters.
The writing is clear and easy to follow, allowing the tension and character dynamics to take centre stage. I remained fully invested in discovering what had happened to Roshni.
The final twists were surprising and satisfying, and the ending was exactly what I wanted from a psychological thriller. With its compelling characters, layered secrets, and constant sense of unease, twists at every turn, this was a gripping and entertaining read that kept me guessing until the very end. It has certainly left me looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pour yourself something warm, settle into your favourite reading nook, and let me tell you about the book that kept me up far too late this week.
I'm thrilled to be part of the virtual book tour for My Friend's Husband by Rupa Mahadevan, organised by the lovely folks at Zooloos Book Tours. This one had me curled up on the sofa, blanket forgotten, completely unable to put my phone down between chapters.
At its heart, this is the story of a woman trying to rebuild her life after years of bad choices and bad luck, finally given a fresh start by her best friend- a job, a place to live, a reason to believe things could be different. Then her friend disappears, leaving behind only a frantic, unfinished phone call for help. The police think our narrator knows more than she's letting on. But she's certain the answers lie much closer to home, with the husband everyone assumes is simply a grieving, devoted partner.
What I loved most was how Rupa Mahadevan plays with structure here. The story moves between past and present, and those glimpses backward feel like little doors creaking open one at a time each one revealing just enough to make you rethink everything you assumed you knew. Getting both Clara's and Steve's perspectives was such a treat. It meant I never felt settled or safe in my own theories; just when I'd convinced myself I'd worked it out, the narrative would gently (or not so gently) pull the rug away.
I genuinely suspected nearly everyone at some point. That's the mark of a well-built domestic thriller, isn't it when even the kindest-seeming character makes you narrow your eyes a little. The pacing never lets up, but it never feels rushed either; every layer peeled back earns its place, building toward a conclusion that ties the threads together in a way that felt satisfying rather than convenient.
A small note for readers who like to know what they're walking into this one sits on the borderline in terms of reading for me as it didn't quite hook me as much as I wanted and at times I did feel confuse.
If you love a slow-burn domestic thriller, My Friend's Husband belongs on your shelf. Thank you again to Zooloos Book Tours for having me on this tour what a gripping way to spend a week of evenings.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review for My Friend’s Husband by Rupa Mahadevan

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gripping suspenseful psychological thriller which had me hooked right from the very start of the book and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. Roshni works at a woman's charity and that's where she met Clara. She gave her a chance after hearing her story and got her cleaning windows. They became friends but Clara has a past so is a suspect when Roshni goes missing although she managed to make one desperate 999 call. Carla suspects Steve, her husband and she sets out to find out what really happened to Roshni.

This was a brilliantly addictive story that I couldn’t put down as I wanted to know what happened to Roshni and it was superbly written. It was a ‘now’ and ‘then’ story which are stories I love reading. Clara was an intriguing character as she had a past she was running from, her husband desperately wanted her back but she wouldn't go although she loved him and their two daughters and she had a drink problem but was currently dry. It was excellently plotted and well thought out. It was superbly detailed and descriptive with everything described in great detail. I look forward to the next exciting book from this author.

Blurb :

My best friend is missing. And the police think I did it. But her perfect husband is lying.

I’ve spent most of my life getting things wrong. Bad choices. Bad luck. Bad timing.

Roshni was my fresh start. She gave me a job. A room. A second chance.

Now she’s gone.

The day she vanished, she managed one desperate 999 call.
“Someone’s taken me. I’m in the boot of a car. Please—”

Then the line went dead.

I was the last person to see her alive. Now the police are closing in.

But they’re looking at the wrong suspect.

Because Steve — the devoted, devastated husband — isn’t who he claims to be.

A brilliantly twisty page-turner packed with nail-biting tension. Perfect for fans of Claire Douglas, Shari Lapena, Clare McGowan, Shalini Boland and Lisa Jewell.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Friend’s Husband is one of those thrillers that grabs you by the throat from the very first line and refuses to loosen its grip. The premise alone is enough to make your pulse spike: your best friend is missing, the police think you’re responsible, and the one person who should be devastated—her perfect, grieving husband—is hiding something far darker than anyone wants to admit.

The narrator’s voice is wonderfully raw. She’s someone who’s spent her life stumbling through bad choices and worse luck, and Roshni was her chance to start again—a job, a home, a friendship that felt like salvation. That makes Roshni’s disappearance hit even harder. The 999 call, cut off mid‑plea, is genuinely chilling, and the fact that our narrator was the last person to see her alive casts a long, uneasy shadow over every chapter.
What I loved most is how the story balances vulnerability with tension. The police closing in, the public suspicion, the narrator’s own self‑doubt—it all builds a claustrophobic pressure that feels painfully believable. And then there’s Steve, the devoted husband whose grief looks perfect from the outside but never quite rings true. The more the narrator digs, the more the façade cracks, revealing a man who is far from the victim he pretends to be.

The pacing is sharp, the twists cleverly layered, and the sense of danger grows with each revelation. It’s the kind of thriller where you keep telling yourself “just one more chapter” until you realise you’ve devoured half the book in a single sitting. The emotional stakes stay high throughout, grounded in the messy, complicated bond between two women who needed each other more than they ever said aloud.

Tense, twisty, and packed with that delicious feeling of dread, My Friend’s Husband is a gripping page‑turner that keeps you guessing right up to the final reveal.

With thanks to Rupa Mahadevan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found "My Friend's Husband" by Rupa Mahadevan to be a really gripping psychological thriller. It pulled me in right from the prologue. The story follows Clara, who feels burdened by a lifetime of bad choices and wants to make things right through her best friend, Roshni (also called Monisha). But then Roshni suddenly disappears after making a desperate 999 call from a car trunk, and everything takes a dark turn.

As I kept reading, I got more and more curious about Steve, Roshni’s seemingly perfect husband. His calm and polished image slowly starts to crack, especially when the police begin to suspect him. I really enjoyed how the author builds suspense—there are so many small clues and shifting perspectives that kept me guessing the whole time.

I felt Clara’s vulnerability very strongly, and it contrasted well with Steve’s controlled personality. That contrast added to the tense, domestic noir vibe of the story. The twists just kept coming, one after another, and while it made the pace feel a bit intense at times, it also made it hard for me to put the book down.

What I liked most was how the story explores second chances and how things can go wrong despite good intentions. The setting, mostly inside a shared home, made everything feel even more claustrophobic and suspicious—every conversation felt important and loaded.

I’ve also read the author’s earlier book, 'Nine Dolls' and I feel she does a great job creating complex characters and believable lies that slowly unravel.

Overall, this was a real page-turner for me. The ending genuinely shocked me and made me want to go back and rethink everything. Though some parts of the story seem loose, it is at a good pace. If you enjoy twisty, fast-paced thrillers, this is definitely a great pick—especially for a late-night read that stays with you.

[ReadandRated · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars from me

I was hooked by the premise of this one - a book that starts with a victim reporting their own kidnapping, mid abduction, from the boot of a car... what?!  

Fortunately for the victim, Roshni, her new friend Clara is determined to find her and get to the bottom of who has taken her, and why. Partially altruistic as Roshni has been a good friend to Clara, and partly to stop the police from looking too closely in her own direction.

Everyone has something to hide in this book and Clara is no different - but does that make her the culprit? And will her friend be found alive?

The sad irony of the kidnapping is that Roshni is one of life's good eggs, she works for a charity supporting women and those fleeing abuse and domestic violence. You'd think this would be the biggest flag for the police as most who work in this industry do so because of what they have experienced first hand. 

Through Clara's eyes we discover more about Roshni and her life - including the many ways she helped women. We also get exposed to some unpleasant situations around domestic abuse, including culturally motivated abuse. As much as these stories are shocking and uncomfortable, it is good that they are shared as this helps take steps to break the mold.

Clara has her own reasons for fearing police involvement and this adds extra tension to her efforts to find Roshni - overall this was an interesting and exciting read with lots going on and lots to think about which really helped to elevate the story.

I read this having not yet read Nine Dolls by the same author but I will be looking out for it now! This also feels like a good place to drop a link to Refuge, who do such excellent work.

My thanks to the author, Rupa Mahadevan, the incredible Zooloos book tours and Joffe Books for my place on this tour.