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Who is Sarah Lawson
How would you feel coming home to find a family living in your house who call you Sarah, tell you your brother's name is Andy and insist that you should be ashamed of calling the police for help?My name is Rowena Shaw and I've never seen any of them before. They are total strangers. It's Thursday and it's just the beginning.
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First published December 18, 2011
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About the author
K.J. Rabane
30 books6 followersK.J. Rabane has written for local newspapers, had short stories published in magazines and an anthology of Crime stories, in addition to which she's written television scripts for an on-going drama series which is ready for submission . She is also a commissioned contributor to the Food & Drink Guide and works as a freelance 'extra' for film and television productions. Her main interest is in writing Crime fiction and psychological thrillers but her novel According to Olwen falls into neither category.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 16, 2016
You finish your day at work, travel home, tired wanting to relax. You put your key in the door, turn the lock and enter a bizarre world that seems totally unreal to you. Inside the house are a family of strangers acting as normally as if this was their home. Rowena is stunned, completely lost for words or she thinks so until she hears the words 'aunty sarah is home' then she is totally dumbfounded. This is the beginning of Rowena's nightmare. I felt this story was very clever, the premise engaging, it draws you in and keeps you turning the pages till you find out what is really going on. The end was wrapped up a little quickly but I still found this a very satisfying read.
January 19, 2017
I thought the premise of the book had a lot of promise - you come home and find a strange family living in your house, WTF? The book certainly had its moments. It started off with a bang and was really quite intriguing.
In the middle part of the book, the narration was from Oliver's POV and was in the past. Presumably this was so we, the readers, could see how the present came about but it wasn't as clean as it could have been because as readers we knew stuff before the actual characters did. I though this middle part dragged on too long. I also thought Oliver was hopelessly naive. How, in a city the size of London, could you keep running into the same (unwelcome) person "by accident" so often? He handled all these interactions so badly.
The last part of the book where all was revealed seemed a bit rushed. Nevertheless it was a solid psychological thrill that kept me guessing and kept me reading to see who actually was Sarah Lawson.
In the middle part of the book, the narration was from Oliver's POV and was in the past. Presumably this was so we, the readers, could see how the present came about but it wasn't as clean as it could have been because as readers we knew stuff before the actual characters did. I though this middle part dragged on too long. I also thought Oliver was hopelessly naive. How, in a city the size of London, could you keep running into the same (unwelcome) person "by accident" so often? He handled all these interactions so badly.
The last part of the book where all was revealed seemed a bit rushed. Nevertheless it was a solid psychological thrill that kept me guessing and kept me reading to see who actually was Sarah Lawson.
August 12, 2013
Outrageous Plot that Delivers the Goods
I picked this book based upon recommendation from Amazon and I have to admit I was highly sceptical, having read the blurb, that the author could make the premise into a believable tale. I'd go as far to say I was ready to add it to the junk folder on my kindle after the first chapter. I was wrong; this is the tale of a woman who tries to enter her house only to find another family living there. Andrew Lawson tells her he is her brother and her name is Sarah Lawson, the only problem is that isn't her name, she has no brother and her name is Rowena Shaw.
The first part is told by Rowena as she employs a loveable PI Richard Stevens and his trusty secretary, Miss Smith, to help her work out what has happened, and just as importantly to regain possession of her house. Later KJ Rabane introduces people from Rowena's past including an artist, a gay gallery owner and an author of psychological thrillers and as a reader the fun began as I tried to piece the evidence together.
All the characters in this book are wonderful and cover the range of humans on the planet, the plot outrageous yet believable all along with an ending that doesn't take the easy option.
I have read a lot of good books this year and this one is up there with the best of them.
I picked this book based upon recommendation from Amazon and I have to admit I was highly sceptical, having read the blurb, that the author could make the premise into a believable tale. I'd go as far to say I was ready to add it to the junk folder on my kindle after the first chapter. I was wrong; this is the tale of a woman who tries to enter her house only to find another family living there. Andrew Lawson tells her he is her brother and her name is Sarah Lawson, the only problem is that isn't her name, she has no brother and her name is Rowena Shaw.
The first part is told by Rowena as she employs a loveable PI Richard Stevens and his trusty secretary, Miss Smith, to help her work out what has happened, and just as importantly to regain possession of her house. Later KJ Rabane introduces people from Rowena's past including an artist, a gay gallery owner and an author of psychological thrillers and as a reader the fun began as I tried to piece the evidence together.
All the characters in this book are wonderful and cover the range of humans on the planet, the plot outrageous yet believable all along with an ending that doesn't take the easy option.
I have read a lot of good books this year and this one is up there with the best of them.
August 7, 2013
This was an easy and gripping read and had me guessing all the way through. The characters were engaging and the dialogue and prose equally fluid. The reason for the 3 stars is that I felt the ending was a little rushed compared to the rest of the novel which was perfectly placed and well-thought out. It ended feeling a little implausible whereas I think with a few adjustments it could have been a little more credible. Still I will be trying some of the author's other books because I did enjoy this and did stay up until the small hours finishing it.
June 26, 2013
A page turner but so many typing and grammar errors. Bizarre that the author didn't have it proof read or bothered to proof it herself! It therefore came across as really unprofessional. Also bizarrely there were so many references to drinking alcohol! I drink and am in no way tea total but this author has an obsession with it! Very odd! Shame.
June 28, 2013
I could have forgiven all the typos & errors for a good story, but I'm afraid after a promising start I became bored fairly quickly. I read on, hoping for a good twist at the end, but I remained disappointed. Not a book I will be recommending.
November 8, 2013
An intriguing premise and I wondered how this could be sustained for an entire novel. But the author does well to devise a page turner that really does make you doubt your own judgement of characters and events.
Cleverly plotted and fast paced , this will keep you guessing until the end.
Cleverly plotted and fast paced , this will keep you guessing until the end.
August 21, 2018
I think I can give this’s solid 3.75 stars which rounds right up to 4. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ll admit, I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this book much at first, but once I was introduced to Richard Stevens I knew he was a character I was going to enjoy getting to know.
I listened to this book and the narrator was lovely, I never realized there were so many types of British accents!
Although the different voices were distinct, there were a lot of characters and once the book went back in time to “before,”I was getting confused. As soon as I realized I was in over my head, I grabbed a notebook and spent a chapter or two writing down peoples names and drawing lines to other characters to signify how they were related. Who know that 6th grade character web would come in handy in real life! It didn’t take much time at all. I’ve done it with authors like Liane Moriarty and it always makes the book more enjoyable. Also, it was a good excuse to buy a notebook. I love notebooks :-)
I know some people are very concerned with bad language, but I’m the opposite. If I see a bunch of reviews praising an author for writing a book without “bad words” I question the diversity of characters and the authenticity of the dialogue. In this case however, I didn’t notice any bad words but everyone still seemed real to me.
I hate spoilers so none will be included in my review. As far as the story goes, I think it’s best if you go in as blind as possible. Just read the blurbs and dig in. I thought I knew what was going on within the first chapter or two, but I was wrong. As I continued to listen, I continued to guess and I continued to be wrong. Eventually I stopped trying and just enjoyed the story. I liked several characters and hated at least one. If an author can make me hate someone, she’s doing something right. While this is definitely much lighter than my usual read, it was a refreshing change of pace.
I see this novel is marked as a thriller/psychological thriller but for some reason that doesn’t seem to mesh with what I just read. When I think thriller, I think of edge of your seat, nail biting, and a really fast moving story. I don’t want to say it’s slow, but it did feel a little on the relaxed side. Maybe if I had different expectations going in, this wouldn’t have been an issue.
I’m not saying I thought it was full on cozy. Maybe...cozyish-psychological thriller-lite? If that’s not already a genre, it should be. If you’ve read this, comment on what you think the genre should be on this book. I would be interested to hear!
The narrator sent me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I’ll admit, I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this book much at first, but once I was introduced to Richard Stevens I knew he was a character I was going to enjoy getting to know.
I listened to this book and the narrator was lovely, I never realized there were so many types of British accents!
Although the different voices were distinct, there were a lot of characters and once the book went back in time to “before,”I was getting confused. As soon as I realized I was in over my head, I grabbed a notebook and spent a chapter or two writing down peoples names and drawing lines to other characters to signify how they were related. Who know that 6th grade character web would come in handy in real life! It didn’t take much time at all. I’ve done it with authors like Liane Moriarty and it always makes the book more enjoyable. Also, it was a good excuse to buy a notebook. I love notebooks :-)
I know some people are very concerned with bad language, but I’m the opposite. If I see a bunch of reviews praising an author for writing a book without “bad words” I question the diversity of characters and the authenticity of the dialogue. In this case however, I didn’t notice any bad words but everyone still seemed real to me.
I hate spoilers so none will be included in my review. As far as the story goes, I think it’s best if you go in as blind as possible. Just read the blurbs and dig in. I thought I knew what was going on within the first chapter or two, but I was wrong. As I continued to listen, I continued to guess and I continued to be wrong. Eventually I stopped trying and just enjoyed the story. I liked several characters and hated at least one. If an author can make me hate someone, she’s doing something right. While this is definitely much lighter than my usual read, it was a refreshing change of pace.
I see this novel is marked as a thriller/psychological thriller but for some reason that doesn’t seem to mesh with what I just read. When I think thriller, I think of edge of your seat, nail biting, and a really fast moving story. I don’t want to say it’s slow, but it did feel a little on the relaxed side. Maybe if I had different expectations going in, this wouldn’t have been an issue.
I’m not saying I thought it was full on cozy. Maybe...cozyish-psychological thriller-lite? If that’s not already a genre, it should be. If you’ve read this, comment on what you think the genre should be on this book. I would be interested to hear!
The narrator sent me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 18, 2018
I received a free copy of the book in exchanged for an honest review.
I really enjoy reading mind twist books -- where you don't know which character to believe or you don't know what is reality within the story or what is manipulation. This book started with a great premise -- a woman states she is Rowena Shaw but is told that she is Sarah Lawson. So who is she? Is there any merit to the claim?
I was really interested in the story premise. But the story really fell short for me was in some of the actions of the characters just did not seem to be credible or were inconsistent with what you were told by the author that these characters were thinking or believed. For example, at one point in the story, Owen, Rowena's fiance, believes he is being stalked which is causing chaos to his world. When he is notified by law enforcement that his possible stalker is injured in the hospital, his first thought is to go to the hospital to assure the wellbeing of his possible stalker. OK, what?? Several times characters were given the opportunity to discuss events or pecularities in another character's behaviour but each time they declined to do so -- I guess if they did, other characters would not falsely jump to conclusions about events or characters. The dialogue was sometimes odd or wooden.
The private investigator and his PA were interesting characters and very likeable. I can understand why the author is pursuing additional books with them.
It is a very interesting premise for a story and had some interesting twists but I just wish it had been executed better.
I really enjoy reading mind twist books -- where you don't know which character to believe or you don't know what is reality within the story or what is manipulation. This book started with a great premise -- a woman states she is Rowena Shaw but is told that she is Sarah Lawson. So who is she? Is there any merit to the claim?
I was really interested in the story premise. But the story really fell short for me was in some of the actions of the characters just did not seem to be credible or were inconsistent with what you were told by the author that these characters were thinking or believed. For example, at one point in the story, Owen, Rowena's fiance, believes he is being stalked which is causing chaos to his world. When he is notified by law enforcement that his possible stalker is injured in the hospital, his first thought is to go to the hospital to assure the wellbeing of his possible stalker. OK, what?? Several times characters were given the opportunity to discuss events or pecularities in another character's behaviour but each time they declined to do so -- I guess if they did, other characters would not falsely jump to conclusions about events or characters. The dialogue was sometimes odd or wooden.
The private investigator and his PA were interesting characters and very likeable. I can understand why the author is pursuing additional books with them.
It is a very interesting premise for a story and had some interesting twists but I just wish it had been executed better.
August 25, 2018
Who Is Sarah Larsen?
I believe this story would do better if classified as a Psychological Suspense Drama. Being in the Psychological Thriller genre sets a higher expectation. This story was not dark or gritty enough to reach that classification. Going in blind would have been better for my enjoyment of this story. That being said, it was a good audio. From the very first line it grabbed my attention and with the narrators help, kept it.
What would you do if you return home one day to strange family and being called a strange name? Great premise for a book. Doing a review without spoilers is difficult. There were lots of twists and turns and the author did a good job with character development, even the supporting characters had their own tales woven throughout.
Megan Greens’ British accent was a good fit for the storyline. The age of the main character seem to coincide with the narrators voice making it believable. I found myself laughing a few times when she was reenacting a conversations between different characters. Reminding me of when someone tries retelling a story and doesn’t quite catch the accent correctly. Other than that she was quite smooth. The ebb and flow of her voice helped build the tension when needed and assisted the storyline in staying true to the genre it was placed. I would have given the story a lower rating if not for the narrator.
This was an easy and enjoyable listen. A good start for a new narrator and an interesting premise for the author to build off of.
I believe this story would do better if classified as a Psychological Suspense Drama. Being in the Psychological Thriller genre sets a higher expectation. This story was not dark or gritty enough to reach that classification. Going in blind would have been better for my enjoyment of this story. That being said, it was a good audio. From the very first line it grabbed my attention and with the narrators help, kept it.
What would you do if you return home one day to strange family and being called a strange name? Great premise for a book. Doing a review without spoilers is difficult. There were lots of twists and turns and the author did a good job with character development, even the supporting characters had their own tales woven throughout.
Megan Greens’ British accent was a good fit for the storyline. The age of the main character seem to coincide with the narrators voice making it believable. I found myself laughing a few times when she was reenacting a conversations between different characters. Reminding me of when someone tries retelling a story and doesn’t quite catch the accent correctly. Other than that she was quite smooth. The ebb and flow of her voice helped build the tension when needed and assisted the storyline in staying true to the genre it was placed. I would have given the story a lower rating if not for the narrator.
This was an easy and enjoyable listen. A good start for a new narrator and an interesting premise for the author to build off of.
August 27, 2018
I was given the audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.
Rowena Shaw opens the door to her house and finds an unfamiliar scene. There's a family living there. A family who says they are her family. Who is Sarah Lawson and why are these people insisting she is Sarah Lawson? Rowena hires private investigator Rick Stevens to discover the truth.
The story slowly unfolds. The first 20 odd chapters are of Rowena attempting to find out why everyone thought she was someone else, and Rick's investigation in the same. Then the author takes us back in time to start unraveling the mystery. We are introduced to Owen Maddock, Rowena's fiancee, who refuses to talk to her, refuses to even pick up the phone when she tries to contact her. We find out who Sarah Lawson is, a woman who looks similar to Rowena, and as the book progresses, more and more like her. We find out that she is entrenching herself into Owen's life and trying to make Rowena's life her own.
I quite enjoyed this book. There was a glitch with my copy of the audiobook where one chapter seems to have been placed out of sequence, then repeated in the correct place, which confused me. However, the narrator Megan Green helped me to figure out that was the problem and it wasn't a problem with the time line/writing.
The story was suspenseful and intriguing. It kept you guessing until the very end, and even then it leaves you with an "oh, no" feeling.
Megan's narration was good, I enjoyed her voice. She brought the book and the characters to life quite nicely.
Rowena Shaw opens the door to her house and finds an unfamiliar scene. There's a family living there. A family who says they are her family. Who is Sarah Lawson and why are these people insisting she is Sarah Lawson? Rowena hires private investigator Rick Stevens to discover the truth.
The story slowly unfolds. The first 20 odd chapters are of Rowena attempting to find out why everyone thought she was someone else, and Rick's investigation in the same. Then the author takes us back in time to start unraveling the mystery. We are introduced to Owen Maddock, Rowena's fiancee, who refuses to talk to her, refuses to even pick up the phone when she tries to contact her. We find out who Sarah Lawson is, a woman who looks similar to Rowena, and as the book progresses, more and more like her. We find out that she is entrenching herself into Owen's life and trying to make Rowena's life her own.
I quite enjoyed this book. There was a glitch with my copy of the audiobook where one chapter seems to have been placed out of sequence, then repeated in the correct place, which confused me. However, the narrator Megan Green helped me to figure out that was the problem and it wasn't a problem with the time line/writing.
The story was suspenseful and intriguing. It kept you guessing until the very end, and even then it leaves you with an "oh, no" feeling.
Megan's narration was good, I enjoyed her voice. She brought the book and the characters to life quite nicely.
September 7, 2018
Holy moly! This psychological thriller will leave you sputtering and saying 'did not see that coming'!
Rowena Shaw walks into her house and finds that a family has moved in...what's worse? They call her Sarah, and apparently the man is her/Sarah's brother, Andy. Strangers act as if they know her and call her Sarah...who is this Sarah and why will no one believe that Rowen's not Sarah? Rowena hires a private detective to find out who is Sarah Lawson and why everyone believes that she is Sarah. The investigation will blow your mind! Think Fatal Attraction on steroids! You will not want to put this down until THE END. The ending was a little bit heartbreaking...I wanted Rowena to have an HEA. I must stop here because too much info will spoil it for you..just trust me. Fanfreakingtastic book and narration!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Rowena Shaw walks into her house and finds that a family has moved in...what's worse? They call her Sarah, and apparently the man is her/Sarah's brother, Andy. Strangers act as if they know her and call her Sarah...who is this Sarah and why will no one believe that Rowen's not Sarah? Rowena hires a private detective to find out who is Sarah Lawson and why everyone believes that she is Sarah. The investigation will blow your mind! Think Fatal Attraction on steroids! You will not want to put this down until THE END. The ending was a little bit heartbreaking...I wanted Rowena to have an HEA. I must stop here because too much info will spoil it for you..just trust me. Fanfreakingtastic book and narration!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 20, 2018
The premise for this book was good. The execution was not. The plot was formulaic, and the dialogue was wooden. I didn't feel that any of the characters were particularly likeable and didn't care one way or another what happened to them. I don't think the narration was much help in rescuing this story. My general feeling is, if you can't do a fabulous accent and maintain it throughout, then don't even try. I listen to approximately 6 - 8 audio books a week, and have done for 5 years, many of these are from new authors or narrators and I always try to find something positive to say, to encourage them in their work. I'm desperately trying to find one positive here. I may have to get back to you. Sorry, not for me. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review
October 9, 2018
You have done messed with my mind LOL!
Very interesting story by KJ Rabane, and narrated by one of my favorites, Megan Green. She did a wonderful job, and I was captivated by this story from beginning to end!
Great psychological mindbend thriller, I'd definitely recommend it.. .just listen! :) Crazy! But fun! :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Very interesting story by KJ Rabane, and narrated by one of my favorites, Megan Green. She did a wonderful job, and I was captivated by this story from beginning to end!
Great psychological mindbend thriller, I'd definitely recommend it.. .just listen! :) Crazy! But fun! :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 17, 2018
Who is Sarah Lawson by K.J. Rabane was a great psychological thriller. This is a book that confused me at times but kept me guessing the entire time. Rowena Shaw finds herself waking up in her house being called Sarah Lawson. Her "brother" Andy insists that she's Sarah. I absolutely loved reading this book and all the twists and turns.
September 18, 2017
i needed something to read to clear my mind and i came across this book...but i can only give it 2stars because at about 75% into the book i just knew how it was gonna end🙄🙄..the storyline is good but the execution was not so good....
October 1, 2018
I really enjoyed this book.The story was so twisty and turny,I could barely keep up!Megan Green is a good narrator,though her mens voices make me cringe at times.All in all a good read!I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
November 13, 2023
This book was littered with spelling and grammatical issues, which drove me mad. Initially, a very interesting premise but sadly the more I read, the less I believed. Frustrating characters who, if they just communicated, could solve all their problems! Not for me, I’m afraid.
March 11, 2019
Good story, but the writer could use a refresher course in the use of commas and apostrophies.
April 16, 2019
Good
An intriguing book which I read in a couple of days. A disappointing ending but I think that's the romantic in me
An intriguing book which I read in a couple of days. A disappointing ending but I think that's the romantic in me
April 30, 2021
The premise of this audiobook totally thrilled me, but right from the beginning, things didn't quite add up. In order to successfully write a psychological thriller, an author must convince the reader that the characters' actions make sense. The reader shouldn't have to keep making excuses for the characters' illogical behavior. I figured out the end way early because of some misplaced clues. The author needed a good editor to root out the inconsistencies, and (according to reviewers who read the physical book) clean up the spelling and grammar.
Authors! Please hear this. You need proofreaders and line editors. No book should be published with bad grammar and spelling errors. You have a responsibility to your readers to elevate them.
Authors! Please hear this. You need proofreaders and line editors. No book should be published with bad grammar and spelling errors. You have a responsibility to your readers to elevate them.
February 5, 2017
Who is Sarah Lawson is enjoyable and intriguing beginning with a woman stepping into her home to find it already occupied by a family who claims she is someone she isn't. The premise is outrageous but it is handled well enough to suspend disbelief.
The story was well thought out and the characters well developed. The ending, however, felt rushed and anticlimactic, and the grammar errors throughout were frustrating and could have been avoided. That aside, the book could easily have been a four-star read.
The story was well thought out and the characters well developed. The ending, however, felt rushed and anticlimactic, and the grammar errors throughout were frustrating and could have been avoided. That aside, the book could easily have been a four-star read.
August 28, 2013
I found this a little protracted, unbelievable and annoying, but still I ploughed on and wanted to know more.
The first section was intriguing, the second section too long and the third section was too abrupt,
It was almost as if the writer set the scene and then got bored tying up the story,
Oh and I guessed the twist almost immediately...
Sorry but just an average 3.5 from me. Had promise, failed to deliver.
The first section was intriguing, the second section too long and the third section was too abrupt,
It was almost as if the writer set the scene and then got bored tying up the story,
Oh and I guessed the twist almost immediately...
Sorry but just an average 3.5 from me. Had promise, failed to deliver.
October 3, 2013
I must admit that I almost gave up on this book early on but I'm glad I didn't. I found the early chapters of part 1 to be a little flaky. I'm not sure someone would react the way this character did, she didn't seem to ask many questions but you have thousands!
As I got further into the book and more characters were involved I began to enjoy it a lot more. It does have a good plot that kept me guessing and turning the virtual pages. I will look out for more from this author.
As I got further into the book and more characters were involved I began to enjoy it a lot more. It does have a good plot that kept me guessing and turning the virtual pages. I will look out for more from this author.
October 31, 2012
Great start - kept me guessing but I was disappointed that the author didn't make more of the story. There could have been so many more twists and turns. It was an easy read and an enyoyable story, though.
April 11, 2015
I really enjoyed this one & read way past the time I should have been sleeping wanting to find out what it was all about. If I had one criticism it is that things seemed to be rushed at the ens as if the author had decided they'd had enough. In spite of this I still think it was a 5 * read.
September 15, 2016
The plot line was engagingly handled. It's not a thoroughly new idea, but was more convincing than most.
I would have given it higher marks were it not for the mass of cliches and banalities, as well as curious (euphemism) grammar and punctuation.
I would have given it higher marks were it not for the mass of cliches and banalities, as well as curious (euphemism) grammar and punctuation.
July 14, 2013
A well written book I was gripped from the first pages and although I guessed the outcome it was very good
July 7, 2013
A good solid story. It was different, and so enjoyable.
September 5, 2013
This book was amazing! A lot of spelling and grammar mistakes which was frustrating but it did not take away from how good the book was. Such a page turner! Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews