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Someone You Know
You can trust your family, can’t you…?Tess Piper was fourteen when her adored twin sister Edie disappeared.
She has spent the last twenty years building a life away from her fractured family, desperate to escape the shadow of the past.
Only now she needs to confront the huge hole her sister’s disappearance left in her life, because a body has been found. The police are shining a spotlight on the Piper family. And secrets are about to surface.
After all, it’s common knowledge that more often than not, these crimes are committed by someone close to the victim. Someone they trust. Someone they know…
What really happened to Edie Piper?
A gripping thriller perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, K.L. Slater and Rachel Abbott.
Reader reviews
‘I totally devoured this… the ending is a killer! Loved how the pages just blurred into one another and was seriously gutted when I’d finished it and wanted more.’
‘A great read, fascinating and intriguing kept me guessing right until the end’
‘Dark, twisted, creepy, atmospheric, engaging, unputdownable brilliance. Read this book in 2019. I implore you.’
‘An intense, creepy and pacy thriller.’
‘A must-read for any fan of mystery, murder, and twists that you don’t see coming!’
‘ A creepy tale that had me hooked from the opening pages and held me right up until the final paragraph.’
‘Emotional, gripping and twisty.’
‘A creepy familial thriller, with many twists and turns, this one will keep you guessing right to the end. I can usually guess the 'baddie' but I failed completely with this!’
‘A super twisty whodunnit that also delves into the darker regions of sibling rivalry. It will keep you guessing right to the end!’
‘An excellent debut with a sinister sting. Reveals and plot twists delivered so skilfully that you won’t know who to trust.’
She has spent the last twenty years building a life away from her fractured family, desperate to escape the shadow of the past.
Only now she needs to confront the huge hole her sister’s disappearance left in her life, because a body has been found. The police are shining a spotlight on the Piper family. And secrets are about to surface.
After all, it’s common knowledge that more often than not, these crimes are committed by someone close to the victim. Someone they trust. Someone they know…
What really happened to Edie Piper?
A gripping thriller perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, K.L. Slater and Rachel Abbott.
Reader reviews
‘I totally devoured this… the ending is a killer! Loved how the pages just blurred into one another and was seriously gutted when I’d finished it and wanted more.’
‘A great read, fascinating and intriguing kept me guessing right until the end’
‘Dark, twisted, creepy, atmospheric, engaging, unputdownable brilliance. Read this book in 2019. I implore you.’
‘An intense, creepy and pacy thriller.’
‘A must-read for any fan of mystery, murder, and twists that you don’t see coming!’
‘ A creepy tale that had me hooked from the opening pages and held me right up until the final paragraph.’
‘Emotional, gripping and twisty.’
‘A creepy familial thriller, with many twists and turns, this one will keep you guessing right to the end. I can usually guess the 'baddie' but I failed completely with this!’
‘A super twisty whodunnit that also delves into the darker regions of sibling rivalry. It will keep you guessing right to the end!’
‘An excellent debut with a sinister sting. Reveals and plot twists delivered so skilfully that you won’t know who to trust.’
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
February 5, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Someone You Know by Olivia Isaac-Henry from NetGalley for my honest review.
Tess and Edie are twin sisters. Tess is very quiet and Edie is very outgoing and very smart. One day, Edie doesn’t come home from school and no one can find her.
Twenty years later and Tess receives a phone call. Tess, who never stopped believing that Edie is alive, hears that her sister's body has been found. Tess has to return home and stay with her father while the police investigate her sister's death and re-open the case. The police also seem to be focused on the family and friends of the family. Could someone they all know and love, have committed such a horrible crime?
Tess decides she is going to investigate things herself but will this put her in danger as well? I loved how the story was told from two perspectives (Tess in the present and Edie in the past). A wonderfully written who-done-it that kept me guessing till the end.
Tess and Edie are twin sisters. Tess is very quiet and Edie is very outgoing and very smart. One day, Edie doesn’t come home from school and no one can find her.
Twenty years later and Tess receives a phone call. Tess, who never stopped believing that Edie is alive, hears that her sister's body has been found. Tess has to return home and stay with her father while the police investigate her sister's death and re-open the case. The police also seem to be focused on the family and friends of the family. Could someone they all know and love, have committed such a horrible crime?
Tess decides she is going to investigate things herself but will this put her in danger as well? I loved how the story was told from two perspectives (Tess in the present and Edie in the past). A wonderfully written who-done-it that kept me guessing till the end.
January 17, 2019
Tess Piper was just fourteen when her adored twin sister disappeared. She has spent the last twenty years building a life away from her fractured family. Edie had wanted her independence away from Tess and she had got herself a new set of friends. Tired of Tess following her around, Tess was excluded from the rest of the group. Then one day Edie does not come home. Tess had seen her leave school through a hole in the hedge, but that's where the trail runs cold. Twenty years later, Tess gets a call from her father telling her that the police have found a body and it has been confirmed as Edie's.
The story alternates between Tess in the present and Edie in the past. The pace is slow set but gradually picks up. Tess always believed she would know if her twin sister was dead. She begins a quest to discover the truth. Many secrets unfold and and it seems there are a few family members who might have had a personal motive behind Edie's death. The chapters are short, I do like a book with short chapters. There are plenty of twists and if your like me, you will think everyone of the characters in this book was the murderer at least once.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books and the author Olivia Isaac-Henry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story alternates between Tess in the present and Edie in the past. The pace is slow set but gradually picks up. Tess always believed she would know if her twin sister was dead. She begins a quest to discover the truth. Many secrets unfold and and it seems there are a few family members who might have had a personal motive behind Edie's death. The chapters are short, I do like a book with short chapters. There are plenty of twists and if your like me, you will think everyone of the characters in this book was the murderer at least once.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books and the author Olivia Isaac-Henry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2019
Tess and Edie are twins, Edie has been missing for over 20 years and Tess has never really moved on....but then Edie’s body is found and the story revolves around ‘whodunnit’ amidst a web of lies, deceit and family secrets...
Tess herself, their Dad, Uncle, Former Lovers, Friends and Enemies all come under suspicion and of course at the end the culprit is unmasked after a few false starts...the ending did surprise me and I hadn’t even considered the killer as a possibility
This story is one oft told, albeit different circumstances but the layers of lies, deceit and families tied in with a long lost family member are regular themes, some are told fantastically, some poor and some like this book are adequate...the story is just believable, the characters ( mostly unlikeable ) unchallenging and I felt no kinship with any of them, the style of writing easy to follow if repetitive at times and some basic ( well imo ) errors in script nattered me, for example when Tess arrives to see her Dad she says its midnight then they have a few drinks and chat then later Tess excuses herself to go to bed on the pretext of an ‘early night’
I have also never read a book where characters smoke so much and each cigarette is addressed
I seem quite picky on this book but I do read a lot ( as you know ) and while all the ingredients were there it just somehow missed the potential
Tess herself, their Dad, Uncle, Former Lovers, Friends and Enemies all come under suspicion and of course at the end the culprit is unmasked after a few false starts...the ending did surprise me and I hadn’t even considered the killer as a possibility
This story is one oft told, albeit different circumstances but the layers of lies, deceit and families tied in with a long lost family member are regular themes, some are told fantastically, some poor and some like this book are adequate...the story is just believable, the characters ( mostly unlikeable ) unchallenging and I felt no kinship with any of them, the style of writing easy to follow if repetitive at times and some basic ( well imo ) errors in script nattered me, for example when Tess arrives to see her Dad she says its midnight then they have a few drinks and chat then later Tess excuses herself to go to bed on the pretext of an ‘early night’
I have also never read a book where characters smoke so much and each cigarette is addressed
I seem quite picky on this book but I do read a lot ( as you know ) and while all the ingredients were there it just somehow missed the potential
December 21, 2018
It's been twenty years since Tess Piper's twin sister Edie disappeared on her way home from school. Tess has always believed that her beloved sister was still alive and living a glamorous life in some big city somewhere. She steadfastly refused to believe that Edie was dead.
But Edie's body has recently been found in a reservoir and the police are reopening their investigation. As the police shine a spotlight on the Piper family and everyone else who was in Edie's life at the time she disappeared, secrets and lies begin to surface.
After all,it's common knowledge that more often than not,these crimes are committed by someone close to the victim. Someone they trust, someone they know.
What really happened to Edie Piper?
The chapters of this story flip back and forth between Tess (in the present day) and Edie (in the past) One of the characters in this book refers to Tess as "the creepy twin" an observation that is particularly true when you read about Tess's behaviour towards her sister when they were teenagers. I felt a lot of empathy for poor Edie who was just trying to be an individual in her own right and live the life of a typical teenager. All the vivid characters in Tess and Edie's lives had flaws and I wouldn't say any of them, in either timeline were very likeable. Many of them were not who they appeared to be,had hidden secrets and were untrustworthy but who killed Edie and why?
Someone You Know is a enthralling,twist packed,gripping thriller that keeps the reader guessing throughout. I changed my mind a number of times about who I thought killed Edie and was genuinely surprised when the truth was revealed. I had a lump in my throat when I read the final,heart string pulling page. This is a skilfully plotted,well written,debut thriller that deserves far more than five stars and is definitely one of my favourite books of this year. I loved this book and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Avon Books UK for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
But Edie's body has recently been found in a reservoir and the police are reopening their investigation. As the police shine a spotlight on the Piper family and everyone else who was in Edie's life at the time she disappeared, secrets and lies begin to surface.
After all,it's common knowledge that more often than not,these crimes are committed by someone close to the victim. Someone they trust, someone they know.
What really happened to Edie Piper?
The chapters of this story flip back and forth between Tess (in the present day) and Edie (in the past) One of the characters in this book refers to Tess as "the creepy twin" an observation that is particularly true when you read about Tess's behaviour towards her sister when they were teenagers. I felt a lot of empathy for poor Edie who was just trying to be an individual in her own right and live the life of a typical teenager. All the vivid characters in Tess and Edie's lives had flaws and I wouldn't say any of them, in either timeline were very likeable. Many of them were not who they appeared to be,had hidden secrets and were untrustworthy but who killed Edie and why?
Someone You Know is a enthralling,twist packed,gripping thriller that keeps the reader guessing throughout. I changed my mind a number of times about who I thought killed Edie and was genuinely surprised when the truth was revealed. I had a lump in my throat when I read the final,heart string pulling page. This is a skilfully plotted,well written,debut thriller that deserves far more than five stars and is definitely one of my favourite books of this year. I loved this book and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Avon Books UK for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 28, 2018
Someone You Know by Olivia Isaac-Henry certainly sucked me in! What a fantastic story with an ending that you won't see coming. I read this book quite quickly, needing just one more chapter to find out what happened next. Told in alternative chapters between the present and the past we learn the story of what happened to Edie Piper.
Tess and Edie were twins - and Tess idolised her sister. When they were 14, Edie didn't come home from school one night. 20 years later and Tess has moved away from her family and the shadows of her past. But she has not stopped believing that her sister is still alive and living the good life somewhere. That is until they receive a call that a body has been found in the same place that Edie went missing. She returns home to her broken father to learn the news. As the investigation continues all the members of her family come under the spotlight and the secrets that have been buried all this time threaten to be exposed.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Tess and Edie were twins - and Tess idolised her sister. When they were 14, Edie didn't come home from school one night. 20 years later and Tess has moved away from her family and the shadows of her past. But she has not stopped believing that her sister is still alive and living the good life somewhere. That is until they receive a call that a body has been found in the same place that Edie went missing. She returns home to her broken father to learn the news. As the investigation continues all the members of her family come under the spotlight and the secrets that have been buried all this time threaten to be exposed.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
January 31, 2019
The story ARC would appear familiar ——> Twins, Edie and Tess, one popular, other not so much, both angry, mother dies, then one of the twin disappears, 20 years later, skeleton found at the bottom of the reservoir ——> Who killed Edie?
Olivia Issac Henry's debut had some gripping scenes, unreliable always-drunk main character Tess, hidden secrets, illicit affairs, weak-willed characters, and hidden anger. I could feel the adolescent angst, the dependent twin syndrome, possessiveness, pain, rebellion, and along with the strange feeling of being lost in this wide world that the twins went through post their mother's death. Dual timelines and dual POV and short chapters makes this a fast read, YET it was a slow burn suspense.
The author had designed an intricate web for me to fall into, but the web was a bit too prickly. Hence I couldn't stick well to it. The story though gripping didn't really overwhelm me with interest. The speed of my pulse remained at a plateau. My niggles kept popping up, and I really didn't like a self-destructive, drunk, not-in-senses main character, however much I understand the reasons for it.
Overall, an enjoyable read with a surprise ending.
Olivia Issac Henry's debut had some gripping scenes, unreliable always-drunk main character Tess, hidden secrets, illicit affairs, weak-willed characters, and hidden anger. I could feel the adolescent angst, the dependent twin syndrome, possessiveness, pain, rebellion, and along with the strange feeling of being lost in this wide world that the twins went through post their mother's death. Dual timelines and dual POV and short chapters makes this a fast read, YET it was a slow burn suspense.
The author had designed an intricate web for me to fall into, but the web was a bit too prickly. Hence I couldn't stick well to it. The story though gripping didn't really overwhelm me with interest. The speed of my pulse remained at a plateau. My niggles kept popping up, and I really didn't like a self-destructive, drunk, not-in-senses main character, however much I understand the reasons for it.
Overall, an enjoyable read with a surprise ending.
July 26, 2025
This was very well done, with excellent craft and use of point of view. Above all, it was pacy as heck.
January 13, 2019
raced through this fast paced thriller which had me guessing right to the last page.
Twins Tess and Edie are fourteen and their close relationship is beginning to fall apart. Edie is the more popular twin and has a interest in parties and boys while Tess is quieter and is constantly trying to win back Edies friendship and approval.
After falling out one day after school Edie disappears and twenty years later the case is still unresolved . The past has had a huge effect on all members of the family and this is explored fantastically.
When Edies body is found , Tess’s life is thrown into turmoil and she begins a quest to uncover the truth. Many secrets emerge. The death of their mother was very difficult for both twins and the circumstances involved , slowly uncover family secrets which she was unaware of when younger. Each member of the family is put in the spotlight and each could have a personal motive in Edies death. Her last boyfriend and an infatuated admirer are also prime suspects.
This book had me believing I knew who was guilty only to find I had changed my mind another chapter in!! When I finally found out it was a complete surprise .
The chapters are short and alternate between past and present. I found the book well written and engaging, my first by this author will definitely not be my last. Overall a fantastic highly recommend read.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this book.
Twins Tess and Edie are fourteen and their close relationship is beginning to fall apart. Edie is the more popular twin and has a interest in parties and boys while Tess is quieter and is constantly trying to win back Edies friendship and approval.
After falling out one day after school Edie disappears and twenty years later the case is still unresolved . The past has had a huge effect on all members of the family and this is explored fantastically.
When Edies body is found , Tess’s life is thrown into turmoil and she begins a quest to uncover the truth. Many secrets emerge. The death of their mother was very difficult for both twins and the circumstances involved , slowly uncover family secrets which she was unaware of when younger. Each member of the family is put in the spotlight and each could have a personal motive in Edies death. Her last boyfriend and an infatuated admirer are also prime suspects.
This book had me believing I knew who was guilty only to find I had changed my mind another chapter in!! When I finally found out it was a complete surprise .
The chapters are short and alternate between past and present. I found the book well written and engaging, my first by this author will definitely not be my last. Overall a fantastic highly recommend read.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this book.
January 14, 2019
What a fabulous whodunnit! Twins Edie and Tess Piper have a special bond growing up, but as they get older, Edie starts to assert her independence and becomes tired of Tess constantly following her around and trying to do everything together. She gains new friends and Tess is excluded from their group. One day, Edie fails to come home. Tess saw her leave school through a hole in the hedge, but it appears nobody knows what happened to her after.
20 years on, and Tess receives a call from her father to say that a body has been found, and it is later confirmed to be Edie's. Devastated Tess has always clung to the hope that Edie was alive somewhere and is now determined to find out what really happened to her, but as her investigations progress, an intricate web of lies and deceit is exposed which could put her at risk.
Alternating between Tess in the present and Edie in the past, the chapters meld so well to bring about an engrossing mystery with plenty of twists and turns and some very well written characters. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to future stories from this author.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
20 years on, and Tess receives a call from her father to say that a body has been found, and it is later confirmed to be Edie's. Devastated Tess has always clung to the hope that Edie was alive somewhere and is now determined to find out what really happened to her, but as her investigations progress, an intricate web of lies and deceit is exposed which could put her at risk.
Alternating between Tess in the present and Edie in the past, the chapters meld so well to bring about an engrossing mystery with plenty of twists and turns and some very well written characters. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to future stories from this author.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 28, 2018
Someone You Know by author Olivia Isaac-Henry. This novel is shocking, intense and thrilling. Fast paced and great ending. The characters are well structured and the plot is thick. Great read!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Someone You know in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Someone You know in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2019
A new author with a lot to offer going on this book. I read this in one day as I was so engrossed in it. A book full of suspense, waiting for something to happen but all the time the reader is drip thread additional information as the book flips from character to character and from present to past. Don't get put off by that as it is easy to follow.
Twenty years ago Tess Piper's twin sister Edie disappeared on her way home from school and Tess has always believed that her beloved sister was still alive and living a glamorous life in some big city somewhere. Tess refused to believe that her sister was dead so is devastated when Edie's body is found in a reservoir and the police reopen their investigation. The police focus on the Piper family and others who were in Edie's life suspecting that her death was committed by someone close to her Someone they trust, someone they know..
I would like to thank Net Galley and Avon Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Twenty years ago Tess Piper's twin sister Edie disappeared on her way home from school and Tess has always believed that her beloved sister was still alive and living a glamorous life in some big city somewhere. Tess refused to believe that her sister was dead so is devastated when Edie's body is found in a reservoir and the police reopen their investigation. The police focus on the Piper family and others who were in Edie's life suspecting that her death was committed by someone close to her Someone they trust, someone they know..
I would like to thank Net Galley and Avon Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2019
For 20 years Tess has not known what had happened to her sister Edie when they were both 14 years old. When Edie’s body is finally discovered it brings with it a lot of uncertainty and loads of unanswered questions. Throughout the story, new questions are asked and most of them are answered.
This story is a back and forth one, alternating between present day and 20 years ago where it builds up a picture of the girls growing up and also of Tess as she is today. Tess and Edie had been close but, as they grew older they started to drift apart as their interests and like started to change. Edie was more outgoing of the two, but Tess found herself more isolated, the odd one out if you like and wanting to hang onto her sisters coat-tails. Tess was more old-fashioned, preferring things to stay as they were, while Edie wanted to discover new things and people.
All families have things that are not shared with their children. Parents don’t discuss their doubts and fears with them, wanting to keep their children’s childhood as happy and carefree as possible. The full details of their childhood only start to emerge as Tess starts to dig into the past and finally starts to discover hidden truths.
This story has a good pace to it and follows the lives of the girls and the key figures in their lives. It is a story that felt more like a murder mystery rather than a crime thriller for me. It is one I enjoyed and I had a character in my head for the culprit and, while I was right in my assumption I did have the odd wobble of doubt and thought I may have misjudged it. For me, this didn’t take away any enjoyment of the story, it is about the journey and the reason behind the truth rather than who was responsible.
It is one I would recommend!
This story is a back and forth one, alternating between present day and 20 years ago where it builds up a picture of the girls growing up and also of Tess as she is today. Tess and Edie had been close but, as they grew older they started to drift apart as their interests and like started to change. Edie was more outgoing of the two, but Tess found herself more isolated, the odd one out if you like and wanting to hang onto her sisters coat-tails. Tess was more old-fashioned, preferring things to stay as they were, while Edie wanted to discover new things and people.
All families have things that are not shared with their children. Parents don’t discuss their doubts and fears with them, wanting to keep their children’s childhood as happy and carefree as possible. The full details of their childhood only start to emerge as Tess starts to dig into the past and finally starts to discover hidden truths.
This story has a good pace to it and follows the lives of the girls and the key figures in their lives. It is a story that felt more like a murder mystery rather than a crime thriller for me. It is one I enjoyed and I had a character in my head for the culprit and, while I was right in my assumption I did have the odd wobble of doubt and thought I may have misjudged it. For me, this didn’t take away any enjoyment of the story, it is about the journey and the reason behind the truth rather than who was responsible.
It is one I would recommend!
February 17, 2019
This story is a fusion of family drama and psychological thriller and it works. Tess Piper is an unreliable protagonist, she is still grieving the disappearance of her twin sister twenty years later and lives her life on the edge as a memorial to her twin. She drinks and smokes too much and is estranged from her close family.
Told from the twins’ points of view, one historic and one present day, the background to Edie’s disappearance and its subsequent effect on Tess and her family’s life is explored. The characters are believable and in most cases hard to empathise, but you do understand why they are as they are.
When a body is found, Tess has to return home and confront the secrets she’s been hiding from. The story is easy to read but much of it is dark and you feel Tess and her family’s emotional angst. The plot is deceptively simple, but just as you think you know what happened, another piece in the puzzle is revealed and another player introduced.
This is an authentic family drama, full of poignant events. I did manage to work who betrayed Edie but not all the circumstances.
A well thought out domestic thriller with strong characters and a clever plot.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Told from the twins’ points of view, one historic and one present day, the background to Edie’s disappearance and its subsequent effect on Tess and her family’s life is explored. The characters are believable and in most cases hard to empathise, but you do understand why they are as they are.
When a body is found, Tess has to return home and confront the secrets she’s been hiding from. The story is easy to read but much of it is dark and you feel Tess and her family’s emotional angst. The plot is deceptively simple, but just as you think you know what happened, another piece in the puzzle is revealed and another player introduced.
This is an authentic family drama, full of poignant events. I did manage to work who betrayed Edie but not all the circumstances.
A well thought out domestic thriller with strong characters and a clever plot.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 23, 2019
On the surface this seems a fairly straightforward story...when they were fourteen, Tess’s twin sister disappeared. Nobody knows what happened to her - until her body is found years later and the case is reopened.
What we learn - through Tess’s investigations and Edie’s story told in flashback - is that the lives of these girls was far more complicated than we’re first led to believe. Their family harbours a number of secrets, some of which cause more of an effect than we realised.
This was a reasonably well-plotted novel, with characters that were (for the most part) interesting.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.
What we learn - through Tess’s investigations and Edie’s story told in flashback - is that the lives of these girls was far more complicated than we’re first led to believe. Their family harbours a number of secrets, some of which cause more of an effect than we realised.
This was a reasonably well-plotted novel, with characters that were (for the most part) interesting.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.
March 6, 2019
I was surprised to see this is Olivia Isaac-Hendry’s debut novel as it’s such a well written thriller with lots of twists and turns.
The narration is split between Tess in current day, and her twin sister Edie, in the lead up to her death. The characters are interesting but not always trustworthy, so it’s difficult knowing who to believe, especially in their friends and family.
The ending was hard to predict until the very end as you are lead down many different paths that turn out to be dead ends.
I look forward to reading more of Olivia’s work.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The narration is split between Tess in current day, and her twin sister Edie, in the lead up to her death. The characters are interesting but not always trustworthy, so it’s difficult knowing who to believe, especially in their friends and family.
The ending was hard to predict until the very end as you are lead down many different paths that turn out to be dead ends.
I look forward to reading more of Olivia’s work.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
February 20, 2019
Someone You Know was a long read for me. The characters felt remote, and despite all my attempts to get to grips with it, all effort to work out who the twins were and why we were here was wasted while my head spun with too many back stories.
Sorry, lots of readers liked this but not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK
Sorry, lots of readers liked this but not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK
January 4, 2021
Tess has been struggling to come to terms with her sister’s disappearance for years. Now, it’s all being brought back again, and she’s plunged back into the horror of that time, questioning everyone around her. She doesn’t know who to trust.
A fabulous twisty-turny thriller, with a great main character, ‘Someone You Know’ is a very accomplished debut. There are some clever red herrings, some very perceptive characterisation, and a real sense of time and place in those parts of the story that take place in the nineties.
I wasn’t completely convinced by the ending, if I’m honest, but this is certainly a great debut in the genre.
A fabulous twisty-turny thriller, with a great main character, ‘Someone You Know’ is a very accomplished debut. There are some clever red herrings, some very perceptive characterisation, and a real sense of time and place in those parts of the story that take place in the nineties.
I wasn’t completely convinced by the ending, if I’m honest, but this is certainly a great debut in the genre.
May 15, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon books and Olivia Isaac-Henry for the chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This thriller was a quick and gripping read. From early on there seemed to be a glaringly obvious culprit. But was this the case or was the author deliberately trying to mislead us so we are surprised by the truth? I vacillated between the two possibilities many times during this book and later on when I considered other suspects.
The dual timelines with different narrators works well for the story. In the present day we have Tess narrating and see how she remembers her sister, events leading to and surrounding her disappearance, and how it shaped her life and still affects her to this day. In the flashback chapters our narrator is Edie. This allows us to get to know her as more than a body that’s now been found and learn who she was, what she thought from her own perspective instead of through Tess’s eyes. The difference in how Tess remembers things and how Edie viewed things at the time, and how very different the two girls were, adds a greater dimension to the story and gives us more clues as to who could have killed her than if we had just had the one narrator.
One of the themes that runs through the book is the family’s mistrust of the police. This stems from how close family members were suspected back when Edie vanished and things they said were twisted. Determined to find out what happened to her twin Tess begins to investigate for herself, only for her family to dissuade her from doing that too. Could there be more to both these things? Are they actually trying to stop her from finding out a truth they’ve been hiding all these years?
Full of twists and turns this was a thriller that repeatedly surprised me. I recommend this to anyone looking for a good readable thriller.
This thriller was a quick and gripping read. From early on there seemed to be a glaringly obvious culprit. But was this the case or was the author deliberately trying to mislead us so we are surprised by the truth? I vacillated between the two possibilities many times during this book and later on when I considered other suspects.
The dual timelines with different narrators works well for the story. In the present day we have Tess narrating and see how she remembers her sister, events leading to and surrounding her disappearance, and how it shaped her life and still affects her to this day. In the flashback chapters our narrator is Edie. This allows us to get to know her as more than a body that’s now been found and learn who she was, what she thought from her own perspective instead of through Tess’s eyes. The difference in how Tess remembers things and how Edie viewed things at the time, and how very different the two girls were, adds a greater dimension to the story and gives us more clues as to who could have killed her than if we had just had the one narrator.
One of the themes that runs through the book is the family’s mistrust of the police. This stems from how close family members were suspected back when Edie vanished and things they said were twisted. Determined to find out what happened to her twin Tess begins to investigate for herself, only for her family to dissuade her from doing that too. Could there be more to both these things? Are they actually trying to stop her from finding out a truth they’ve been hiding all these years?
Full of twists and turns this was a thriller that repeatedly surprised me. I recommend this to anyone looking for a good readable thriller.
November 29, 2018
A slow burner of a story that’s gradually builds up offering snippets of information about just what happened to Edie.Told in two different timelines and alternating between Tess and Edie's point's of view the family secrets and lies unravel more and more leading to a very twisted ending making the book a real page turner. It’s brilliantly written and has a well thought out plot, the characters are portrayed exceptionally making it a very engaging and compelling read. So if you want a good read then you have it here and I can well recommend it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books Uk for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books Uk for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 28, 2019
The suspense was good, the plot great and the twists and turns kept me turning pages. Ray was a complete ass, Vince was an incompetent and irresponsible parent. And Becca was confusing. Tess on the other, the reader starts off with pity for Tess, but as you read, you really want to hit her on the head with a nice thick book. If only she drank more coffee, she would see what was right there under her nose. The fact that these characters can make you so passionately judgemental shows excellent writing and that makes Someone You Know a good book.
On the whole, Someone You Know is a good book. It does not have the gore that is off-putting to most readers, and it is suspenseful enough for readers who love this genre. Overall, Someone You Know can be enjoyed by all.
For the entire review, visit Frost At Midnite.
On the whole, Someone You Know is a good book. It does not have the gore that is off-putting to most readers, and it is suspenseful enough for readers who love this genre. Overall, Someone You Know can be enjoyed by all.
For the entire review, visit Frost At Midnite.
February 22, 2021
Tess was devastated by the loss of her sister years ago and no one knew what had happened. As the answers begin to surface so do secrets from the past.
I really enjoyed this I love a good mystery and this was not a disappointment. There were so many twists it kept me on my toes. The characters were well flushed out and I found myself liking or hating them along with the main character who despite having her issues I warmed to.
It is told from two perspectives the past and the present as the story unfolds and I really like this way of story telling. So if you want a great mystery crime book then this is for you
I really enjoyed this I love a good mystery and this was not a disappointment. There were so many twists it kept me on my toes. The characters were well flushed out and I found myself liking or hating them along with the main character who despite having her issues I warmed to.
It is told from two perspectives the past and the present as the story unfolds and I really like this way of story telling. So if you want a great mystery crime book then this is for you
April 28, 2022
This is a tricky one, I enjoyed the writing and the depth of characters kept me interested and absorbed, I felt the book was well written and well thought out.
However for me I felt the red herrings were a little obvious and I knew who was responsible from quite early on and why (or mostly why) but maybe that is just me and I read a lot of thrillers, still a Good read
However for me I felt the red herrings were a little obvious and I knew who was responsible from quite early on and why (or mostly why) but maybe that is just me and I read a lot of thrillers, still a Good read
February 7, 2021
Good solid story full of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
January 27, 2019
A missing twin, a 20 year old mystery, deception, grief and confusion - what’s not to love?! I devoured this book in a couple of days. Being a twin I adore reading about other twin sisters and I can’t resist a good mystery. This story lived up to my hopes and kept me guessing until almost the end. A top read! #NetGalley
January 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this one, Edie Piper disappeared on her way home from school one day, Tess her twin sister is devastated but never believes that Edie is dead.
That is until 20 years later when a body wrapped in plastic is found at the bottom of the local canal. Dna proves it is indeed Edie Piper.
Once again the police look into the circumstances surrounding Edies disappearance, her remaining family, Tess, her father, Aunt Becca and Uncle Ray coming in for intense scrutiny.
The story is told by flipping from present day with Tess and the past with Edie.
For a debut thriller the author has certainly mastered the art of keeping the reader guessing as she weaves a plot filled with family secrets, jealousies and lies.
A host of well drawn characters, most of whom came under my suspicion at one time or another.
The ending when it came was not one I saw coming, what more could anyone want from a mystery !
A well deserved 5 * from me, Cant wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
That is until 20 years later when a body wrapped in plastic is found at the bottom of the local canal. Dna proves it is indeed Edie Piper.
Once again the police look into the circumstances surrounding Edies disappearance, her remaining family, Tess, her father, Aunt Becca and Uncle Ray coming in for intense scrutiny.
The story is told by flipping from present day with Tess and the past with Edie.
For a debut thriller the author has certainly mastered the art of keeping the reader guessing as she weaves a plot filled with family secrets, jealousies and lies.
A host of well drawn characters, most of whom came under my suspicion at one time or another.
The ending when it came was not one I saw coming, what more could anyone want from a mystery !
A well deserved 5 * from me, Cant wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
January 13, 2019
Twins, Tess and Edie Piper are fourteen years old and their close childhood relationship is changing. Edie is interested in boys and parties whilst Tess looks younger than her age and is only interested in her relationship with Edie. One day when coming home from school alone, having fallen out with Tess, the unthinkable happens and Edie simply disappears. Twenty years later the case has not been resolved but new evidence emerges and the police start asking questions again. Tess has never wanted to believe the worst and is determined to discover the truth. She starts discovering facts about her close family that she wasn’t aware of when she was younger although it appears that Edie may have known.
The book switches between the past and present, slowly events unfold suspicion falling on one person after another. This had me hooked, an easy read, thouroughly engaging. I didn’t guess the outcome until the end.
The book switches between the past and present, slowly events unfold suspicion falling on one person after another. This had me hooked, an easy read, thouroughly engaging. I didn’t guess the outcome until the end.
February 24, 2019
Edie and Tess are twins but have drifted apart in teenage years, but when Edie disappears she is devastated. Twenty years on she gets the phone call she has always dreaded, a body has been found in a reservoir and they think it is Edie. The story is then told in two timelines Edie from 1998 and Tess from 2018, Tess has to come home and try to find out the truth of her sister's death...... but as the family secrets start to come out how close to home is it?
A good family saga/thriller there are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and although I didn't find the main characters particularly likeable I didn't think that detracted from the story
A good family saga/thriller there are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and although I didn't find the main characters particularly likeable I didn't think that detracted from the story
February 26, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy!
This book was just okay for me. I think this might be one of those cases where I've just read so so so many titles in this genre that they all start to blur together after a little while. Unless a book is really outstanding in some way, it's just hard to hold my interest.
I say that because I know the three-star rating is deceptive: it's not that this book is mediocre based on plot, because it's not. It's actually a very firm mystery with twists and turns and plenty of suspects to choose from. It's just that I never really felt connected to any of the characters. I felt like I was just plodding along until the end.
This book was just okay for me. I think this might be one of those cases where I've just read so so so many titles in this genre that they all start to blur together after a little while. Unless a book is really outstanding in some way, it's just hard to hold my interest.
I say that because I know the three-star rating is deceptive: it's not that this book is mediocre based on plot, because it's not. It's actually a very firm mystery with twists and turns and plenty of suspects to choose from. It's just that I never really felt connected to any of the characters. I felt like I was just plodding along until the end.
December 10, 2018
Dark, twisted, creepy, atmospheric, engaging, unputdownable brilliance. Read this book in 2019. I implore. You don’t want to miss this.
February 6, 2019
Aah, family! As Tolstoy said, 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way'. The difficulties of family have filled countless books and I have read a fair few of them across a wide variety of genres. But it's thrillers and mystery novels that really excel to bring out both the best and worst about family, which is why I am utterly loyal to novels like Someone You Know. Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A lot of the themes in Someone You Know are staples fot he genre. There are a lot of family secrets/scandals, a beloved twin/sister/best friend/mother is missing/has been missing/is dead and now our protagonist, who always has self confidence issues and drinks/smokes too much, has to find out the truth if she is every to truly live her life. If it is set in the UK then she is currently working creatively in London but has to return to her small home town to solve the mystery. (Her co-workers are almost always horrible people.) I'm not going to lie, I love those kinds of stories. I read them avidly and no matter how often the tropes and twists and turns are repeated, they still delight me. I think part of the charm of thrillers and mystery novels is exactly how predictable they are, while constantly shocking us.
Someone You Know is a roller coaster ride, but one where you're never entirely sure you trust the ride. The novel has a lot of promise and I was very intrigued by the blurb. Unfortunately it didn't quite meet my expectations. It follows all the expected tropes and does so quite interestingly, but the novel is confusing. I was never entirely sure just how much time was passing, I'm pretty sure there were timeline errors here and there, and many of the characters didn't feel entirely fleshed out. There are some great plot twists towards the end, but while one of them wasn't presented with the gravitas it deserved, the other left me utterly disappointed since there had been no build up. In the end I feel Someone You Know would have benefited from a harsher editor, who would have taken some gardening shears to parts of the novel. Isaac-Henry creates some interesting moments with her characters, most of which are not likeable but realistic. But in the end I didn't find myself connecting to any of them, which meant I sometimes found myself continuing to the end just for the sake of it, not because I was absolutely intrigued.
As far as I can tell, Someone You Know is Olivia Isaac-Henry's first novel. The main points where this shows is in the many sub-plots throughout the novel. Her main story is solid, but so much else is going on that you end up unable to care about any of it because you're overwhelmed. Isaac-Henry tells the story of the twins by flitting back and forth between the past, told by Edie, and the present, told by Tess. This is a great set up that could have brought a lot of emotion to the novel, showing us the deep bond the twins might have had despite their differences. We didn't really get that, unfortunately, but the idea is there. There are a lot of great ideas in Someone You Know, which I would say is the most important thing. I hope that in her future novels Isaac-Henry improves on the execution of those ideas, at which point I'm confident she'll give us a great novel. For now, Someone You Know is a great holiday read, a book you can race through and experience the thrills without getting to invested.
Someone You Know had a lot of promise and a great set up. Unfortunately Isaac-Henry loses the way here or there, which means I walked away from her novel slightly disappointed. For those looking for a quick read, Someone You Know will give you exactly what you need. Meanwhile I'll keep an open mind for Olivia Isaac-Henry's next novel!
A lot of the themes in Someone You Know are staples fot he genre. There are a lot of family secrets/scandals, a beloved twin/sister/best friend/mother is missing/has been missing/is dead and now our protagonist, who always has self confidence issues and drinks/smokes too much, has to find out the truth if she is every to truly live her life. If it is set in the UK then she is currently working creatively in London but has to return to her small home town to solve the mystery. (Her co-workers are almost always horrible people.) I'm not going to lie, I love those kinds of stories. I read them avidly and no matter how often the tropes and twists and turns are repeated, they still delight me. I think part of the charm of thrillers and mystery novels is exactly how predictable they are, while constantly shocking us.
Someone You Know is a roller coaster ride, but one where you're never entirely sure you trust the ride. The novel has a lot of promise and I was very intrigued by the blurb. Unfortunately it didn't quite meet my expectations. It follows all the expected tropes and does so quite interestingly, but the novel is confusing. I was never entirely sure just how much time was passing, I'm pretty sure there were timeline errors here and there, and many of the characters didn't feel entirely fleshed out. There are some great plot twists towards the end, but while one of them wasn't presented with the gravitas it deserved, the other left me utterly disappointed since there had been no build up. In the end I feel Someone You Know would have benefited from a harsher editor, who would have taken some gardening shears to parts of the novel. Isaac-Henry creates some interesting moments with her characters, most of which are not likeable but realistic. But in the end I didn't find myself connecting to any of them, which meant I sometimes found myself continuing to the end just for the sake of it, not because I was absolutely intrigued.
As far as I can tell, Someone You Know is Olivia Isaac-Henry's first novel. The main points where this shows is in the many sub-plots throughout the novel. Her main story is solid, but so much else is going on that you end up unable to care about any of it because you're overwhelmed. Isaac-Henry tells the story of the twins by flitting back and forth between the past, told by Edie, and the present, told by Tess. This is a great set up that could have brought a lot of emotion to the novel, showing us the deep bond the twins might have had despite their differences. We didn't really get that, unfortunately, but the idea is there. There are a lot of great ideas in Someone You Know, which I would say is the most important thing. I hope that in her future novels Isaac-Henry improves on the execution of those ideas, at which point I'm confident she'll give us a great novel. For now, Someone You Know is a great holiday read, a book you can race through and experience the thrills without getting to invested.
Someone You Know had a lot of promise and a great set up. Unfortunately Isaac-Henry loses the way here or there, which means I walked away from her novel slightly disappointed. For those looking for a quick read, Someone You Know will give you exactly what you need. Meanwhile I'll keep an open mind for Olivia Isaac-Henry's next novel!
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