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Behind the Lie

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Who can you trust, when you can’t trust yourself?

Holly West has turned her life around. She’s found a successful and loving husband in Simon and is expecting twins. She is definitely a woman who has taken back control of her future.

Until she gives birth, only for one twin to survive. Holly can’t let it go.

Holly’s world is in a tailspin and suddenly she can’t trust herself or anyone else. No one believes her, not her husband or her best friend. Because she thinks she knows the truth…her son is still alive and she won’t stop until she finds him.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2017

106 people are currently reading
333 people want to read

About the author

Amanda James

24 books191 followers
Amanda James (aka Mandy) was born in Sheffield and now lives in Cornwall with her husband and a cat. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, singing, and spending lots of time with her grandchildren. She also admits to spending far too much time chatting on Twitter and Facebook! Amanda feels most at home walking on the beach and making plots up in her head. A fair amount of these have made it onto paper, and been turned into books.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Profile Image for Dash fan .
1,511 reviews714 followers
April 26, 2017
4☆ Intriguing Mystery of a Mothers journey to uncover the truth!

The story starts off with Holly.
She is pregnant with Twins. Life seems pretty near on perfect for her.... well that is until things start to go horribly wrong.

Holly met Simon her husband when she was a model. Things wasn't so glamourous for her as she was an addict and Simon made it he's mission to save her.

She gave up her life in Cornwall to move in with him. He bought her a beach home so when she needed time out she could go home to Cornwall.

Simon seems the perfect husband.
However he's hiding a secret.... he's got mixed up in gambling. Holly is pregnant and spending all her time at the beach house. He's lonely and finds comfort in gambling.....however he's lost EVERYTHING!!!

Holly goes into labour but tragedy strikes when she loses her baby boy at birth. Her husband is a successful doctor and he won't let Holly see her baby boy.
She is devastated with grief. But she has her baby girl and needs to bond with her.

As the story progresses Holly receives a mysterious letter saying her son is still alive. She is apprehensive at first. She is unsure whether it is some sick joke or really the truth.

Holly always knew in her heart something wasn't right. She never got to see her son so she could not say the letter wasnt true.
She knows no one will believe her but she must find her son.

She connects with her old flame Jowan. He is everything Simon isn't.
He still loves Holly and will do everything to help her. So he sets out to help Holly to uncover the truth behind her Son's so called death.

Right from the start I didn't like Simon. There was just something about he's demeanour. The way he commanded Holly. He's disregard to money.
Both had addictions except Holly didn't hide her's from Simon.

I enjoyed Behind the Lie. It was intriguing if not a little predictable at times.
However this did not stop me from enjoying the story as I wanted to see if my predictions were right.
It was fairly fast paced but it certainly held my attention.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy an intriguing mystery at time gripping read.


I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
Profile Image for Sue.
1,413 reviews5 followers
January 24, 2018
BEHIND THE LIE by Amanda James is a mystery/thriller suspense novel, flavoured with a touch of romance and a lot of drama.

Holly's life has changed drastically, where she has gone from a drug addict model to the pregnant wife of a rich doctor. Her husband Simon spotted her on the catwalk and helped her get clean and turn her life around. Now Holly West has found a successful and loving husband in Simon and is expecting twins. She is now in control of her life.

She gave up her life in Cornwall to move into an apartment with him in London, where he has his practice. Simon bought her a beach home in Cornwall, so when she needed a break, she could go home to Cornwall.

Simon the perfect husband…but he is hiding a secret.

Soon after, she gives birth and tragedy strikes when she loses her baby boy at birth. She is devastated! She never got to see him and say goodbye! But she must move on and care for her little girl… but she can never forget about her son.

Holly receives a mysterious letter saying her son is still alive. Could this be true? Or is someone playing a sick joke on her?

Holly can’t let it go. She has to find out the truth. So much of what happened in the delivery room does add up.

And just at the right moment, Holly hooks up with her old boyfriend, Jowan, who had left her originally to go into the army, but is still in love with her. Jowan, promises to help Holly search for her son, and uncover the truth.

I enjoyed Behind the Lie, a little predictable at times, but it did not stop me from enjoying the story as I wanted to see how it would all play out. The ending was a surprise, that I didn’t see coming.

Many thanks to The TBC reviewer group and Amanda James for my copy.

Expected publication: 04/21/2018 by HQ Digital
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,706 followers
January 23, 2018
Holly West seems to have it all ... a handsome husband who loves her, a beautiful home, and she's pregnant with twins.

But when she loses one twin at birth, nothing else seems to matter. She loves her beautiful infant daughter, but cannot quit thinking about her lost son.

She's in a world of depression ... until she receives an anonymous letter. The sender says that her son is not dead ... but was given to another family. She has never fully believed he was dead, but neither her husband, her best friend, or her mother believed her.

Where does she start? She has to find her son and will never stop until she finds him. Who would have had access to her and the baby when she delivered? Does her husband know more than he says? Is her best friend a part of all this?

She only has one person who believes in her ... her ex-boyfriend who just happens to show up in the midst of her investigation. He is all too eager to help Holly.

Although a little predictable here and there, this is a well-written psychological suspense with twists and turns. The characters are fully fleshed out and bring a note of credibility to the story. The ending came as a complete surprise.

Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Group for the digital copy of this psychological suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Profile Image for Sarah Joint.
445 reviews1,019 followers
April 23, 2017
I was really intrigued by the premise, but think it could have been done a little better. You spend the entire book waiting for Holly to catch up to you and figure out what's right in front of her face. I also had a lot of difficulty really connecting with the characters because they often didn't speak or act in a natural manner. I did enjoy the book, but that's a couple of the reasons it gets a good and not great rating from me. I'm seeing mostly four and five star reviews, so I'm confident many others will enjoy this one a lot.

Holly's life couldn't be more different than it was just a couple short years ago. She's gone from a drug addict model to the pregnant (and thankfully, clean) wife of a rich doctor. Her husband Simon spotted her on the catwalk and had to have her. He helped her get clean and turn her life around. Now she's pregnant with twins!

She should be incredibly happy, but her best friend notices that something is holding her back. Soon after, she gives birth and is told one of her twins, the little boy, didn't make it. She never gets to say goodbye, as her husband tells her it would be too traumatic for her. As time goes on, she bonds with her beautiful little girl but longs for the boy that never made it into her arms. She can't accept the idea that he's gone, even though everyone is starting to think she's losing it. Then she gets an anonymous tip that her son really is alive. Now she's hell-bent on finding him, ignoring her increasingly distant husband and enlisting the help of her ex-boyfriend.

Recommended to: fans of domestic thrillers, those who like their thrillers with a touch of romance and a lot of drama.

I received an ARC of this novel from Net Galley and HarperCollins UK, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Profile Image for Eva.
951 reviews531 followers
April 22, 2017
All my reviews can be found at noveldeelights.com

Holly used to be a model with a drug addiction. Until one day, Simon spots her on the runway and decides he wants her in his life. He helps her get her act together, they get married and are now expecting twins. Holly splits her time between a flat in London and a beach house in Cornwall. Life is good.

Until Holly gives birth and only one of her twins survives. She's convinced her son is alive and will stop at nothing to find him.

It's becoming increasingly clear that the psychological genre and I are having some sort of relationship crisis. We're at that stage where there's angry shouting and door slamming and maybe some plates you never really liked will end up in pieces on the kitchen floor.

Based on the description, Behind The Lie had a lot of potential. I was expecting an intricate plot with lots of twists and turns but unfortunately for me, I figured the whole thing out quite early on and I thought it all became too predictable and slightly far-fetched.

I couldn't connect to any of the characters. They all came across as highly unlikeable, which doesn't always have to be an issue but in this case, for me, it was. I couldn't even muster up sympathy for Holly, which felt all kinds of wrong since she'd just lost a baby.

However, I did enjoy Amanda James' writing. Since this was my first time reading a book written by her, none of what I said will stop me from reading another one at some point. This is quite clearly a case of "it's not you, it's me" and the psychological thriller genre and I desperately need some time away from each other.

Many thanks to HQ Digital UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy, which I chose to review.
Profile Image for Sharon.
178 reviews12 followers
January 22, 2018
Loved this book about Holly’s search for her son who she thinks is still alive. Kept me gripped. I read it very quickly. Very good psychological thriller.
Profile Image for booksofallkinds.
1,020 reviews174 followers
October 12, 2017
**RATING 4.5**

BEHIND THE LIE by Amanda James is a fast-paced, gripping psychological thriller that will make your pulse quicken and your breath hitch as you become completely immersed in Holly's desperate search for her little boy.

After Holly's heart was shattered years ago, she found herself in the bright lights of London where she becomes an overnight success. Lost and hurt, she throws herself into the model lifestyle of drugs and parties, when she is unexpectedly saved by Simon, a wealthy consultant, who whisks her away to rehab and then marries her shortly after her recovery. Now Holly is married, pregnant with twins, and wants for nothing. She even has a beach home in her beloved Cornwall to escape to when London becomes too much. But when her birth plan goes wrong and only her little girl survives, Holly aches for her son whom she never got to hold. As her friends and family try to help her move on she just cannot seem to find a way through her grief. And then she finds something that makes her think her precious boy didn't die at all. He was taken from her and she will do whatever it takes to get him back...

This story is so unique and fresh, and the writing really carries a frantic energy which worked wonderfully for this plot. As a mother, it broke my heart to watch what Holly was going through and I ached alongside her for what she had lost. But as the tension mounts and unusual occurrences start to slide into place, I was absolutely terrified at what was truly happening. The characters are well-developed and relatable (except for one or two which you will recognise when you read it yourself!) and I was easily caught up in the drama of this novel. BEHIND THE LIE by Amanda James is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
Profile Image for Joanna Lambert.
Author 6 books41 followers
May 2, 2017
I have to say this book hooked me from the very first page where Holly West is in a private clinic giving birth. She has been expecting twins – a boy and a girl – but there are complications and her son doesn’t survive. However something keeps niggling at Holly. She simply can’t accept that baby Ruan has died.  Both her husband Simon and best friend Demi try to convince her that he didn’t make it.  But Holly can’t let go. Is she going mad? Is this a form of post natal depression?  Could her drug dependency from her modelling days in some ways have affected her pregnancy?  Dizzy from all these ‘what ifs’, the arrival of a letter changes everything and sets her on a journey to discover exactly what happened to her son.
This was a compelling read.  The plot is quite complex and cleverly put together. It’s a  story that pulls you in and takes you over as piece by piece Holly and her former boyfriend Joran work together and begin to uncover the truth. Amanda James has certainly created a great cast of characters too; some you will love others you’ll hate with a passion.  All  in all great edge of your seat read…
469 reviews4 followers
January 31, 2018
I enjoyed the storyline of this book . I did however figure out most of it early on and this made the book a bit less exciting for me with a feeling of it being more drawn out than necessary. 3.5 stars with my thanks to tbc reviewers for my chance to read
Profile Image for Sharon Goodwin.
867 reviews143 followers
May 11, 2017
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2017/0...

The cesarean scene in the prologue is poignant, hooking in my emotions and getting me 100% behind Holly before getting to know anything about her past or her relationship with Simon.

5 weeks before the birth, best friend Demi visits. They haven’t seen each other for a while as Demi has been travelling. The atmosphere between them vibrates with things left unsaid and gave me a distinctly uneasy feeling! Simon is lonely in London while Holly is staying at their house on the beach in Cornwall. Things might not be as bright and lovely as Holly thinks they are …

3 weeks after the birth and Holly’s emotional pain became mine. Nobody is talking about the death of Ruan but she can’t talk about her own feelings either. Inside she’s screaming. She can feel Ruan close to her and dreams that he’s still alive. Simon collects her and baby Iona to take them back to London and while Simon is at work, Holly is given an anonymous letter which changes everything. She’s determined to investigate herself having told only Demi what her plans are. What follows is so tense and nail biting with images that will take me a long time to forget!

Holly’s narration is in the first person and Simon’s the third. I find when that when I know something that the other main character/characters don’t, it makes for a tense read. In Behind the Lie I was urging the other person to see what I could and shouting at them when I knew that what they were about to do was the wrong thing!

Demi, Simon and her mum think Holly is losing her mind so she is ALWAYS questioning her own sanity, especially reflecting on her past life before she met Simon. I loved the analogies between the coastal environment and Holly’s own mental wellbeing. There is one person who believes in her though and that’s Jowan. Jowan brings an interesting mix to the conflict and I have to say I loved how Amanda James ends the story (before the epilogue).

Although I did guess, there are some fabulous red herrings thrown at us. It made me question what I believed! Such fabulous characterisations. Mark Jenson scared the life out of me, so cold and calculating … There are more than a couple of scenes that had my stomach churning in apprehension and fear. The final crises is spectacular. So tense!

Behind the Lie is a keeper for me. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Rebecca If Only I Could Read Faster.
249 reviews9 followers
May 11, 2017
I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from Behind the Lie. I haven’t read any of Amanda James’ books before and most of her books seem to be romance books, which is not a genre that I read. This book, however, is not a romance!

Holly has had a troubled past but she’s happily married to the man that saved her and she’s pregnant with twins she’s excited about her future. But when her obstetrician husband tells her that one twin is small and may not survive her seemingly perfect life starts to come apart at the seams.

I have to say that Behind The Lie is fairly predictable, something that I normally hate in a book, but for some reason, this book pulled me in and even though I was sure that I knew where the book was going from very early on, I still really enjoyed reading it and wanted to find out what was going to happen.

I grew to like Holly, and I was definitely rooting for her by the end. Perhaps, as a mother of twins, I felt a stronger connection with the book and character than others, but I do think that Behind the Lie is a good, solid, psychological thriller that many will enjoy reading. I also loved the description of Holly’s beach house in Cornwall, it made me want to escape London!

Overall, Behind The Lie is a solid psychological thriller, the storyline is interesting and engaging and it is well written, I hope that Amanda James writes more psychological thrillers in the future.

Thank you to the author and publishers, HQDigital, for a copy of Behind The Lie via Netgalley.
Profile Image for Michael David (on hiatus).
823 reviews2,008 followers
August 23, 2017
This was a compelling read...to a point. The last third lost the build-up of suspense, and everything just came together too easily. I also still have some unanswered questions that I'm not happy about. Still, a pretty good book with an interesting premise.
Profile Image for Zoé-Lee O'Farrell.
Author 1 book241 followers
April 19, 2020
Ok, this was one crazy mad intense story! Some of it took place in Crazy Town but this time most of the madness is in London so Cornwall can’t be to blame! I spent a lot of my time reading this torn between did Holly’s son die or was he taken? Is she going crazy or is she completely sane? I warn you now my review will not do this book the justice it deserves!

Even though you are given an inkling to what is going to happen at the beginning you still can’t help but wonder if you can believe what happens. Then when you find out the truth, according to the book, it’s enough to make saints swears. (I loved that!)

The true story is shocking, absolutely cruel and terrifying that something like this all could happen. I can’t talk about the plot, I don’t want to ruin it but OMG it was awesome in my opinion.

Mandy has written a story which gets your pulse racing, makes you question everything, even the written word. People are most despicable and just quite simply wrong. Not quite sure how some people slept at night…well we do, just awful oh the anger I have!!!

So, Holly, she was a runway model when Simon spotted her and had to have her. He saved her from her drug addiction and now they are married and about to have twins. He’s the perfect husband, he buys her a gorgeous house in Cornwall by the beach so she is back to her roots, yet this could be the beginning of the end. Especially when she keeps dreaming a little boy in dungarees and a little girl in a summer dress playing on the beach, but how can this be when her son is dead.

This will be seen at the end of the year in my book list, I swear Mandy has cast a voodoo spell on me! I flew through this book in just over a day, outside my adulting, I stayed up past midnight (I didn’t eat after midnight so no Gremlins here!) and I hid in the bath to get Behind the Lie read, it was relentless and it wasn’t letting go of me. All the while I was nervous as I was getting near the end. Then I got to the end…

Even though the book has finished, I know the ending, I am still on edge because I still feel like some is going to happen and that it may not be the ending we have. Yes, I know this highly illogical as the book is over, yet I am still sitting here waiting for the sting. Mandy laughed at me and told me there is no sting, but yet…

Here I am still waiting…..
Profile Image for Michelle Ryles.
1,175 reviews99 followers
April 15, 2017
I first came across Amanda James when I read Summer in Tintagel so when I saw that she had a new book coming out I didn't hesitate to snap one up. Behind the Lie is a gripping psychological thriller that you think you have worked out but will still manage to surprise you.

Holly seems grateful to be married to successful surgeon, Simon. Holly was a successful model but found herself entangled in a life of drugs only to be rescued by Simon when he decided to marry her. Now that Holly is pregnant with twins, they appear to have the perfect marriage, but appearances can be so VERY deceptive. Simon has a gambling problem and sneaks out of the house when Holly is asleep. As he gambles more he quickly becomes out of control and bets more than his house.

When Holly goes into labour she is eager to meet her children, only to be told that her son didn't make it. Holly is sure that she heard a cry in the delivery room other than the one uttered by her daughter, Iona, but in the stress of the situation she must have been mistaken. Or was she? When she receives an anonymous letter that claims her son, Ruan, is alive she doesn't know who to turn to. Everyone will think she is mad and she might lose her daughter. So she turns to her ex-boyfriend and former serviceman, Jowan, to help her uncover the truth.

I think we are programmed to look for the shock element in books these days, so some people might find Behind the Lie slightly predictable, but I loved the interaction between all of the characters and the depths that they will stoop to in order to save their own skin. Amanda James always seems to create three-dimensional characters so that you can peel layer after layer away like an onion. It was certainly a fast-paced read that had me on the edge of my seat, purely because I cared about the characters rather than expecting a big reveal at the end. I sometimes found Holly a bit emotionless when she referred to her son as 'my boy' and her husband's mistress as 'his woman' but that was just my preference.

Another top-notch read by Amanda James, I'd certainly recommend Behind the Lie to anyone who likes a bit more meat on the bones of their psychological thriller.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Donna Trinder.
10 reviews3 followers
April 8, 2017
The prologue sees Holly West giving birth to her twins, for her baby boy not to survive.
We then flash back five weeks to when Holly is told there is a problem by her husband, Simon, a consultant. Their baby boy is not growing well and he fears he is too small to survive. When she gives birth the worst happens and her son dies before she is able to see him leaving her understandably bereft, not just for the loss of her son but for the guilt that her drug dependency and bad lifestyle before she married Simon could have been the cause.

She then receives a letter that tears her world apart. Someone claims that Ruan is alive and living with new parents, and that they were part of this cover up.
Is it lies spread, vicious and seeking revenge, or is it the truth?
Due to the problems in her past she knows that no one will believe her, so she sets out to seek the truth herself.

Amanda James is an elegant writer, effortless to read and with a pace that keeps urging you to turn the pages. The whole abduction story line is one that is well thought and executed, and just when Holly thought things were over, it picks up its pace yet again to deliver further blows which see Holly fearing for their lives.

I was rooting for Holly from the start, I love a strong female protagonist. I also loved her strong friendship with Demi and Jowan, and seeing just how far they would go to protect her and her babies.

I really loved this book and was reluctant to finish it!

A definite 5* from me. Fans of Susan Lewis and Diane Chamberlain will devour this.
Profile Image for Gillian.
127 reviews9 followers
January 21, 2018
Holly had hit rock bottom when Jowan her High School sweetheart leaves her to join the army so she moves to London to pursue a career in modelling she is successful but got involved in drugs and everything went downhill. It was at this time she met Simon West he put her through rehab got her clean they fell in love got married.
So now she’s in a loving marriage with a husband who adores her they are looking forward to becoming parents when their twins were born. Things take a wrong turn when Holly goes for a scan to the private hospital where Simon works. Thats when they discover the second baby has a weak heartbeat.
Holly is really worried they decide she’d have a section when giving birth so there was no unnecessary stress. First Iona is born she cries and Simon places her with Holly then Ruan is born Holly is sure she heard a cry but everything happened so fast the nurse took baby away to place him on a ventilator then Simon went to check on him he came back with sad news that Ruan hadn’t made it he gave her a photo of their dead son. While Holly is happy to be a mother to Iona she mourns the death of her baby boy but she can’t shift the feeling that her son is alive she must find him and will stop at nothing to get him back.
Is Ruan alive if he is where is he and who is behind it?
I really enjoyed this book the storyline you could hear on the news any day a young girl reaches rock bottom only to be saved by a handsome rich well established man who adores her. But is all as it seems?
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,722 reviews137 followers
October 17, 2017
4.5* review. Well what a book, I do admit to falling for the synopsis, and it did it’s job and did not disappoint. We meet Holly and Simon West, husband and wife and expecting twins. But they only take their daughter Iona home, their son, who was to be called Ruan, didn’t survive. Holly has had a troubled past, and when she starts to think and then believe Ruan is actually alive her husband and her best friend Demi start to believe her past is not quite her past and believe she is suffering from depression, well some people try to be supportive.

There are a quite a few characters in the story that have known Holly and Simon before they were married, and they have different opinions that are expressed throughout, this gives a really good background to the characters and the dynamics between them. The plot was good, but I do admit to being correct on a few thoughts as I was reading, but to be perfectly honest that really didn’t matter as I was more interested in how Holly dealt with the situations as they arose. It was Holly on her journey that was intriguing me as well as my being a witness as she transformed from a self doubting, beholden to her husband type of woman, to a strong, resilient woman who is willing to put her family first regardless of the risk. There were also a few things I didn’t expect and and a couple of great twists. It was all told at a good pace that kept me frantically reading until the last page.

This is a book that would appeal to readers of contemporary fiction as well as general fiction, who like an element of mystery and thriller with a little dash of romance. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I would like to thank Mandy James for accepting my request via NetGalley to read and share my thoughts on her book. My thoughts are my own and are unbiased.
Profile Image for Asimah Akhtar.
130 reviews3 followers
January 27, 2018
Holly West seems to have it all a loving husband, a beautiful home in Cornwall and a home in the city, as well as an expectant mother of twins. It is a change from her a career as a model, where she fell fate to drug addiction, however, her husband Simon helped her get clean.

Unfortunately, when the babies are delivered Holly is given the awful news that her son never made it. Holly is devestated and feels she is incomplete, and she never truly believes her son is dead. She then receives an anonymous letter confirming this. But who can Holly trust when even those closest to her think she is mentally unstable?

A very twisted psychological thriller, with a story that is every parent's nightmare. I really enjoyed this story and the concept was well written. The characters are also very well thought out. Although, I really felt for Holly I was not very fond of her character. However, this changed when she changed her attitude and took her life into her own hands instead of being the "victim" as she put it. Definitely recommend this book for fans of psychological thrillers.
Profile Image for Nicola.
113 reviews2 followers
February 4, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by Amanda James, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. Behind the Lie gradually draws you in and before you know it you are hooked, life is on hold and the chapters are whizzing by.

Holly is the central character and the story begins with her giving birth to twins. Her husband is a doctor and has previously informed her that one of the twins is quite a lot smaller than the other, but she is absolutely devastated when she’s told that this twin has passed away just after birth. However, there is a nagging doubt in her mind that this can’t be true – but no-one believes her, especially as she has had a history of depression and drugs in the past. How can she get people to believe her? Who can she trust?

There are some great characters in this book, some of which I took a real dislike to, but that adds to the gripping nature of this psychological thriller.
Profile Image for Sophie Bristow Harris.
376 reviews56 followers
April 12, 2017
A superb psychological thriller by Amanda James. I was gripped from the start, wondering how the lie of the title would be discovered and just who was involved, and why...
I couldn't tear myself away from this book for 3 days, I loved it.
The characters were well formed - you know how involved you are with a book when you really detest a character in a book! I winced a few times at the nastiness, screamed silently in my head to "Don't do that!" and "Don't go in there alone, you won't be safe!"
A highly recommended family based nail biter. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Many Thanks to the publishers at Net Galley for letting me read this in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Andrew.
630 reviews4 followers
April 6, 2017
This is the first book which I have read by Amanda James.

It certainly won't be the last. I liked the way the author slowly developed the characters. This enabled this to develop into a very exciting psychological thriller.

I liked the two settings, central London and rural Cornwall, both of which added a sense of geographical realism to the story.

There are plenty of twists and turns along the way. Before the final reveal.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy of this book in exchange for this review.
Profile Image for Amanda Jane .
751 reviews37 followers
January 20, 2018
Holly used to be a model and a drug addict, but then she met her husband Simon who saved her. They are expecting twins but she is told that unfortunately one twin seems smaller than the other and when Holly gives birth the smaller twin dies and she is devastated.

One day she receives a letter telling her that her son is alive and living with other parents. How can this be? When she talks to her friends they don’t believe her so Holly sets out on a mission to find out the truth of what happened to her son. Along the way she meets up with an ex boyfriend who believes her and together they find out what happened.

I figured out what had happened quite early on in the book but it didn’t spoil the story for me in anyway and I was quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen.

Many thanks to The TBC reviewer group and Amanda James for letting me read and review this book.
57 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2018
Behind the lie: Amanda James
An unusual whodunit with a well paced plot. Holly West marries a wealthy obstetrician and her life seems complete when she falls pregnant with twins. One twin dies at birth and Holly struggles to accept that her son has died.
The story unfolds as Holly strives to find out the truth.
Overall I enjoyed this book but Holly irritated me buts that's just me! there was no surprise twist so I knew from early on what had happened. I like Amanda James style of writing and will definitely read more of her work.
Profile Image for Nicola Southall.
360 reviews9 followers
January 27, 2018
First book I’ve read by this author and enjoyed it.
I guessed some of what may happen however This didn’t spoil anything for me and I wanted to read more and more to see if I was right. Interesting story. Makes you think. Characters were easily believable and I was actually left thinking ‘what if this has happened to me’
Great read. Definitely recommend and look forward to reading more from Amanda
Profile Image for Amanda.
101 reviews2 followers
January 23, 2018
I read this book in one day. I was engrossed in Holly's journey to find her missing son. The closer she gets the more her husband Simon shows his true colours and the danger Holly is in escalates. Luckily she has some good friends to help her find the truth. All the characters were believable and I loved Holly's character. A good psychological fast paced book.
Profile Image for Joanna Gibson.
193 reviews4 followers
January 28, 2018
enjoyed this book but it could have had just a little bit more for me to have given it a higher rating. I found at times it was predictable and I felt like I was 10 steps ahead of the main character, I love a book with a twist I'm not expecting and unfortunately this didn't quite have that for me. despite all of that enjoyed and would read other books by Amanda
Profile Image for Lynn.
666 reviews13 followers
January 23, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but it honestly had me gripped from the very first page and I read it in two days. My first book from this author but it certainly won’t be my last. Great read that I would highly recommend
Profile Image for Anne.
2,178 reviews
April 21, 2017
I’ve always loved Mandy James' writing – yes, I enjoyed the time travelling books, and Summer in Tintagel was a great marriage between her quirky style and the thriller writer I’d glimpsed behind my personal favourite (up to now…), Somewhere Beyond the Sea. I was quite worried when I started this one – an out-and-out psychological thriller – her first book for HQ Digital, released today. What if I didn’t like it? But I really didn’t need to worry at all…

Do you know, I really don’t like reviewing psychological thrillers – but only because I find it so difficult to do. I want to say “what about that bit when…”, and know I just can’t because it would give the entire story away. The story behind this one is quite mind-blowing – cruelty, deception, lies, arrogance – and so magnificently done. But I’m not going to tell you anything more about it. No, nothing.

Instead, I’ll talk about the characters. And, do you know, I’ll admit that Holly left me a bit cold at first. I haven’t come across many beautiful five foot nine ex-models with a resolved drug addiction, married to a millionaire. I far preferred her dippy friend Demi – I even tried to find common ground with her mother. But she won me over. As she grows in strength throughout the book, I like her more and more. By the end, I was ready to cheer and fist-pump on her behalf.

Her husband Simon? I liked getting inside his head, behind the smiling face. Well no, I didn’t like… but you draw your own conclusions. Other characters worked really well for me too – but I can’t tell you about them… but their motivations rang true for me.

OK, so let’s look at the story telling. Do you know, at times this book is actually quite slow? People navel-gazing, reflecting, talking about what’s going on. But it works – it really works. Every time the action starts, you’re glad to have had a bit of a respite – a bit like the flat parts of a fairground ride. The action is explosive, edgy, exciting, non-stop – and, thank goodness, slows down again before the next peak.

Then there’s the writing – and the setting. I’m happy to group those two together. When writing about Cornwall, the happy place, some of the descriptions are quite beautiful – and a far cry from the London scenes that are all spiky and hard-edged. The emotional content is great too – the joy and pain of motherhood, the acute sense of loss and betrayal, the tearing in half between what you want to do and what you must do.

Now, I haven’t told you the story, have I? Let me just check… no, we’re ok! 100% a winner for me – go on, please try it, see if you agree… but just wait until you get that bit when…
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