Betray Her

by Caroline England

'A twist that I didn't see coming!' T. M. LOGAN



'Kept me gripped' B. A. PARIS

'Incredibly twisty . . . deliciously satisfying' CLAIRE ALLAN

'A taut, tantalising thriller' SHERYL BROWNE

'Truly terrific!' MARTINA COLE

_______________

Best friends forever.

That's the pact you made.

You'd do anything for her.

And you have.

She's always had it all.

If you could take it for yourself . . . would you?

_______________

Lust, secrets and revenge are at the heart of this irresistibly twisted thriller. Perfect for fans of Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks and She by H C Warner.

What readers are saying about Betray Her:

'Wow! This kept me gripped right up until the last page!!' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

'Utterly fantastic. Sooo gripping and addictive' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

'Was blown away . . . what a book' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

'A very good twist that I was not expecting. Really had me hooked' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

'Wow . . . Completely gripping, you wont be able to put it down!' NetGalley reviewer

'Grabbed my attention and didn't let go till the shocking twist at the end' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

'I flew through this one and the ending had me shaken! Wonderful book!' NetGalley reviewer

'I absolutely thought that this was a fabulous read' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

'A great twist that I absolutely didn't see coming' NetGalley reviewer

'I was on the edge of my seat from the first page right up until the breathtaking finale' NetGalley reviewer

'A real page turner' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

'I was gripped from the very first page' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Horror Thriller, Fiction

366 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2019

About the author

CWA Dagger shortlisted Caroline England is known as the ‘Duchess of dark domestic noir’. Her psychological suspense thrillers are BENEATH THE SKIN, the top ten ebook bestseller MY HUSBAND'S LIES, BETRAY HER, TRUTH GAMES, THE SINNER, THE STRANGER BESIDE ME and THE RETURN OF FRANKIE WHITTLE. BEHIND HER SMILE hits the shelves on 27 Novembery 2025.

Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGE, THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE and THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE.

Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area.

Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!



Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-...
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

BETRAY HER is a psychological thriller, a tale of lust, secrets and revenge by Caroline England. This is a riveting character-driven novel.

Her Novels include:
The Wife’s Secret (previously Beneath the Skin) (2017)
My Husband's Lies (2018)
Betray Her (2019)
Truth Games (2020)

Jo and Kate were best friends forever, since meeting at the age of eight at boarding school. They would do anything for each other…but their relationship was full of jealousy and manipulation. They come from very different backgrounds; Jo's family are from Barnsley, her father is from working class stock and his successful construction business allows him to provide what he believes is the best education for his children, whereas Kate - or Catherine Bayden-Jones, is from old money.

The two women stay best friends for the next 30 years. Kate is married to the handsome Tom with a 6-year-old daughter, Alice. Jo widowed 2 years ago when her husband, Richard passed away suddenly and unfortunately wasn't able to have children which she so desperately wants.

This psychological thriller is set in both past (boarding school) and present, with a gradual buildup of tension with a realization that not everything is as it seems. To say more would be to risk spoilers.

The complex flawed characters are well drawn and realistic. I found myself racing towards what turned out to be an explosive and exciting ending, a twist that I didn’t see coming! Looking forward to reading more of her novels. Very enjoyable read.

Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewers request group (FB) for my digital copy.

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ A Dark and Twisty, Enthralling Psychological Thriller.

Betray Her is a Twisty Psychological thriller about, friendship, betrayal, jealousy, secrets, obsession and revenge.

The story is told between past and present which added depth as you got to understand why things were unravelling the way they were between best friends Jo and Kate. Secrets and jealousy has a way of wriggling to the surface and can be dangerous as they are about to discover.

The characters are complex, flawed and perfect for the storyline.
There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, but this is a slower paced read that builds tension layer by layer, so if you do like Pacy thrillers then just a heads up to stick with it.

So if you are looking for a slow, tense, twisty, gripping, psychological thriller that will keep you enthralled to the very end then I highly recommend reading Betray Her!



Thank you to Little Brown Books Publishers for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.




You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :

http://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/07...

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jo and Kate met when they were both 8 years old at a boarding school. Although there were lots of differences, they became good friends ... best friends forever.

Kate came from a wealthy family. She had the looks, the personality that drew people to her ... and Jo would do anything for her.

Now they're almost 40 years old and not much has changed. Kate still has the looks, and she has what Jo wants ... a husband, a child, a family, a nice home. And what she wants most of all is Kate's husband .. after all, she knew him first.

But she would never hurt Kate ... would she?

This is well written with a thorough look at two women' lifelong friendship. Chapters switch from the time they first met to the things that are happening today. Both women had issues and both were not that likeable. Kate, although having everything, spent most of her time drinking. Jo was hateful with her jealousy. There are many twists and turns leading to a surprising conclusion.

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Namita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betray her is a story full of secrets and lies. Jo and Kate had been best friends since boarding school but they have a toxic relationship full of jealousy and manipulation. A psychological thriller with complex flawed characters it made for an interesting read.

I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers request group & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo and Kate have been best friends since they were 8.

Oh, yes. I very much enjoyed Betray Her. It’s really effectively plotted with a dramatic opening that lingers right through the rest of the book so that the reader wonders exactly who was involved and what it means for the narrative. Caroline England has created a very effective sense of menace that hooked me in brilliantly and had the effect of making me think about Betray Her when I wasn’t actually reading it. This story gets right under the reader’s skin.

The plot has an interesting time frame so that the way Jo and Kate’s childhood pasts are revealed contributes to the reader’s understanding of who they become in the present, but equally adds to the uneasiness of the story. Betray Her is a tantalising read. I felt I had a complete understanding of what was happening only to be wrong-footed. Caroline England’s style is incredibly fluid and easy to read so that the action she packs into Betray Her is somehow all the more captivating and shocking.

I thought Caroline England’s characterisation was quite brilliant. Although I thought some of Jo’s behaviour was foolish at best, and often completely reckless, I understood absolutely why she behaved as she did. Similarly, Kate’s more affluent upbringing gave me a clear comprehension of her adult personality. That said, I was still given shocking surprises about both of them so that Betray Her felt like a sophisticated and utterly believable portrayal of the human psyche that I found fascinating. I loved the sexual tension surrounding Jo too as an added layer of intrigue.

Sexuality is only one of the cleverly explored themes of Betray Her. Jealousy, loyalty, family, friendship, parenthood and identity create a tapestry of intrigue that really appealed to me. Indeed, I’d like to go back and reread Betray Her immediately because I think there is more to discover now I know the outcomes of the cracking plot!

I feel I haven’t done justice to Betray Her because it’s so difficult not to give plot spoilers and saying too much about character and events will ruin the read for others. What I will say is that I found the book a compelling and entertaining read that I can recommend without hesitation. I only wish I’d read Caroline England’s writing earlier.

[Ruthy lavin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
A little underwhelming.
This book is a slow starter and I was confident that it would pick up pace towards the end.... it didn’t.
Quite disappointing after being reeled in with the synopsis.
I awarded it 2.5 stars because it is well written but it could have been so much more exciting, a bit boring if I’m honest.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good psychological thriller that is a slow burner, but builds up to some great final few chapters.
I enjoyed the flashbacks to Jo and Kate’s time at boarding school and felt this gave a good background to their friendship.
Jo and Kate remained friends after school but there’s
a bit of history between Jo and Kate’s husband, Tom, that just won’t go away.
I have to say I felt more empathy with Jo through most of the book rather than Kate, but both characters have their faults.
This is a gripping psychological thriller and I’d like to thank Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG what a book! I devoured it within a couple of hours, unable to put it down as I became completely and utterly addicted to the toxic friendship between these two very different women. Jo and Kate meet at the age of 8 when they become roommates at boarding school. Jo is the product of “new money” and her parents want the best education possible for her. She is the subject of taunts about her background and the fact her parents have money but no class. Kate is there for her on her first day and they become inseparable. Even though they don’t have much in common, their friendship surprisingly lasts through into adulthood. Jo is now a widow while Kate is living in a beautiful farmhouse with her husband and young daughter. But as we look back we start to realise that both women have history with Tom, Kate’s husband, and the echos of the past are sending vibrations into the present…

This is a dark and twisty slow burner that gradually builds to a shocking ending. I became completely immersed in the lives of these two women even though neither were particularly likeable at times. Jo was the more amiable of the pair but Kate seemed to be the one who was more comfortable with her life so I couldn’t put my finger on why I didn’t connect with her like I expected to. And don’t get me started on Tom!!!!

Betray Her is a compulsive page turner about friendship and lies, love, loss and jealousy. I lost myself within its darkly concealed secrets and didn’t surface again until the richly satisfying ending. Bravo! Another great read from Caroline England it definitely my favourite so far!

[Nicola Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betray Her is a twisty story of a friendship between two women which had me gripped as I read it.

The two women are Jo and Kate. They met at boarding school at the tender age of 8. Unlike the pleasant japes of children's stories, school life for these girls was not easy to deal with. I was horrified by some of what went on (I'm guessing there's a lot of truth in the writing though) and am extremely glad I never went to boarding school!

The repercussions of this early friendship are felt down the years. The two women stay best friends for the next 30 years and yet……I kept wondering to myself whether all was as it should be or was this really a toxic friendship?

Betray Her is not a fast paced thriller. It's a domestic noir with a gradual build up of tension and a realisation that there is much bubbling away under the surface. There are several strands to be pulled together including dealing with grief, childlessness, alcohol problems, sexual misdemeanours and more.

I couldn't say I took to either of the women. I found Jo quite selfish and Kate manipulative. I liked how the author made them polar opposites in terms of background and I particularly enjoyed the fact that Jo was from Barnsley, and my home city of Sheffield made a couple of appearances, along with the beautiful Peak District.

I found this book to be a well plotted story of jealousy, rivalry, desire and secrets. Whilst I sometimes found myself losing the thread of the story a bit, I was soon back on track and racing towards what turned out to be an explosive and exciting ending. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Caroline Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eek! I LOVED this book! An unstoppable thriller with more twists and turns than a corkscrew. This book had me gripped from the very first page! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five stars from me.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendships formed during the turbulent school years can be the most intense and that is certainly true for Jo and Kate who become best friends when they are thrust from their safe, loving homes and sent to boarding school at just eight years old. Many of us will have grown up reading Enid Blyton's books, dreaming of midnight feasts and tuck boxes but though Jo and Kate experience both, this frankly horrific school owes more to Dickens than to Blyton.
The short but unsettling prologue should warn readers that Betray Her will take a dark turn but this isn't a breathlessly fast-paced psychological thriller. Instead the darkness creeps in, almost insidiously until it has seeped into every aspect of this addictive, tantalising novel. The storyline shifts between the present day which finds Jo trying to come to terms with the loss of not just her husband but the dreams and plans they had made together, and the boarding school years, beginning with her first day when she and Kate meet and immediately strike up a friendship.
They come from very different backgrounds; Jo's family are from Barnsley, her father is from working class stock and his successful construction business allows him to provide what he believes is the best education for his children, whereas Kate - or Catherine Bayden-Jones, to give her her full name - is from old money. Jo is mocked for her accent and upbringing and even derided by the Matron as the 'ragamuffin from Barnsley' causing her to change who she is, adapting her speaking voice to assimilate with those around her. Kate should fit more naturally into their new world, following as she does her two older sisters. However, her weight and passive nature soon make her a target for the cruel bullies while Jo's fears cause her to stand by, rarely intervening. There are some disturbing revelations about their school years, particularly for Kate who was arguably even more altered by their experiences than Jo.
In the present day, the pair are still close - Kate and her husband, Tom have supported Jo since her terrible loss and Jo is the adoring godmother of their daughter, Alice. However, all is perhaps not as it seems and as we begin to see the consequences of what happened during those troubled years, there are hints that Jo isn't recalling everything that occurred back then. As distressing secrets come to light, Betray Her becomes progressively more chilling as the picture of a perfect friendship is gradually revised to expose the sinister truth.
This is domestic noir at its best, Caroline England's complex, flawed characters are by turns irresistible and repellent and the ending is deliciously shocking. Betray Her artfully twists and turns and is a beautifully written, multi-layered tale of jealousy, manipulation and passion. Just brilliant!

[Natalie Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great thriller that twists and turns right to the surprising climax.
Betray Her tells the tale of Jo and Kate who meet at boarding school at age 8 and remain best friends into adulthood. They both have their individual struggles and differences yet their friendship remains strong. Then the twists come into the story and will have you questioning everything with a surprise ending to boot. A great novel with an engaging storyline that will have you saying “just one more chapter” well into the night.

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one, but three massive twists had me stumped whilst reading "Betray Her."
I was completely engrossed in the plot, which surprised me because I didn't much like any of the characters! I loved the childhood past, the teenage past, the adult past and then the normal past flashbacks and the wonderful descriptions of farmland.
Jo and Kate have been best friends since they first met at St Luke's boarding school many years ago. Now grown ups, Kate has become a wonderful wife and mother and Jo is grieving the death of her husband and trying to finish writing her book.
However, on one of her many trips to stay with Kate and her husband Tom, Tom makes a shocking proposal to Jo, and Jo begins to wonder if her friendship with Kate is still as close as it was all those years ago.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly this book wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. Sure there are twist and turns a plenty in this book. Which is why I didn’t put it down. But I jut found it incredibly slow. I did hope that it would pick up the pace in the middle or the end. But this sadly didn’t happen. Sorry

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, there is much more going on than it seems at the start of the book. We meet with Johanna (Jo) and Katherine (Kate) as little 8 year old girls, starting boarding school. And of course they hate it, and of course they become best friends, and of course... thirty years later it is a whole different story. The story revolves around friendship and betrayal, about family love and hate, about the thin line between being friends for life or being enemies for life.
Basically it is a well-known story about love and betrayal with some surprises thrown in but I had a little trouble keeping concentrated while reading. There is so much not going on... there is so much thinking aloud, and drinking, drinking, drinking. This is the second book in a short time I've read where thirty-something people seem to fill their days with drinking. I have nothing against having a glass or two with friends, but I think it is too easy to have all characters do and say stupid things because they are drunk all the time.
So all in all a nice read but it lacks that 'special feeling' that would have earned it a star more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown for this digital review copy.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! This is a story about the long life friendship between Jo and Kate from the age of eight up until the present day when they are in their thirties. I am absolutely bursting to talk to people that have read this too because I am quite speechless at the moment, I definitely need a drink in my hand and one on standby!
Jo comes from a Yorkshire family who is a self-made success and they want to give Jo a good education, like they did her brothers, by sending her to boarding school. You get the feeling that her parents’ roots are never far away, her mum buying her clothes just a size bigger to grow into. Their wealth has been hard to earn.
Then there is Kate who comes from an established wealthy family, they are lovely but Kate wants for nothing. Kate has the pony, the exclusive holiday’s and every whim pampered.
The two girls have to share a room together at boarding school at age 8 and become inseparable. Where Jo learns to quickly adapt to survive the taunts, Kate falls victim to them but Jo is always there for her, even all these years later.
Oh wow! I was fascinated with these two women’s stories, the lives they had made and the friendship that they had kept going but there was so much more. Yes, this became one of my talkie books as I became quite vocal at times. I loved the gossip, reeled at the shocks and got to know the real them. Then just when I thought it couldn’t give me any more it bowled me over. They say it’s not over till the fat lady sings, well she gave one hell of a performance! A little belting read!
I wish to thank Beth Wright of Little Brown Book Group for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betray Her has such a chilling prologue that I actually got goosebumps when I read it. We then read the dual timeline story of school friends Kate and Jo who met at boarding school in 1988. Jo's accent and Kate's weight make them easy targets for the other girls to aim their verbal and physical abuse at. This adversity makes them life-long friends and we rejoin their stories when they're both married women.

I thought all-girls day schools were bitchy but they're a walk in the park compared to an all-girls boarding school. This is no Mallory Towers, that's for sure! It's so infuriating to read about bullying and how it can stay with you and shape your life; Jo's accent is the easiest to change but Kate's struggle with her weight is more disturbing. Caroline England doesn't dwell too much on this and very much like the real-life struggle, it lingers in the background and tries to remain hidden.

There's quite a lot of individual and shared histories to dig through as the story builds and both their lives intertwine over the years. Add a man to the mix and you've got a naked flame in a firework factory. I was going to say that they both love the same man but I'm not sure that they do. It could just be a case of wanting what the other one has and they both had him at one time or another. The poor man! I did feel a bit sorry for him; he's an unwitting pawn in their game and there can only be one queen left on the board.

Although for some reason (and I think maybe it was just me) I couldn't quite get into the rhythm of the book but there were so many twists and turns in the storyline that it easily held my interest. It's quite a slow-burn as there is a lot to unearth in Jo and Kate's history, especially the disturbing event in the chilling prologue.

Betray Her is a very intriguing story that is as much about friendship as envy, which are both often shockingly sides of the same coin; this is one green-eyed monster that has lain dormant and is about to awaken with a mighty roar. It's dark, disturbing and positively brimming with tension and Caroline England has one or two surprises up her sleeve to keep the reader on their toes. A really enjoyable read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Petrina Banfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that no book could have quite as many twists as My Husband’s Lies, but then I picked up Betray Her and instantly became lost in the gripping story. Caroline England’s second novel is expertly crafted to shock the reader as many times as possible and I found myself gasping several times as all the clues left in the novel fell into place.

Jo Wragg is in her late thirties, widowed and desperately longing for a child. Plagued by jealousy, she dreams of living the life of her childhood friend, Kate Bayden-Jones, with her handsome husband, Tom, and beautiful daughter, Alice. As Jo becomes more and more involved in Kate’s life, their friendship begins to deteriorate, and both women are forced to reflect on the choices they have made for themselves and their families.

The novel’s true strength is in the way England weaves past and present, returning to the girls’ boarding school days to show how Jo and Kate were shaped by the hardship they suffered there. The atmosphere of frozen winter at St Luke’s school is vivid and, without giving too much away, the final scene set in the past delivers a mind-blowing twist that makes you rethink everything that came before.

Betray Her has everything that you’d expect from a psychological thriller and much more; a whirlwind of jealousy, illicit relationships, secrets and lies that will sweep you up and carry you along until the end.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

my 1st book buy this author and was blown away what a book what a story I was gripped from 1st chapter very addictive two best friends from childhood one is kind one is controlling its is quite sad in some parts this book has it all twisty addictive and you so want the story not to end a brilliant read will be reading more from this author so recommend

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betray her is a excellent thriller that I highly recommend for a reader that likes those books. I found it to be a page turner,and a gripping book.
I would like to thank TBC group for the ARC of this book,and the author as well

[Ami-May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot/Narrative

Kate and Jo have been best friends since they started at St.Lukes ( Boarding School) at 8 years of age.
Now 30 years later. Kate is married to the handsome Tom with a 6-year-old daughter, Alice. Jo widowed 2 years ago when her husband, Richard passed away suddenly and unfortunately wasn't able to have children which she so desperately wants.

Characters

What stood out for me in this novel is how Caroline has written such engaging, powerful, captivating characters, This is a riveting character-driven novel. I love how two very different girls from different ends of society end up becoming best friends, I love how we follow them from girls to women. How their childhood shaped who they became and also how different their adulthood turned out. And how two best friends keep so many secrets etc from each other and everybody else. You soon learn that you can never truly understand or know anyone 100%.

I love how England portrayed the parts when they were young children and how hard it can be as young girls with other children. How very real bullying is and how this affects children and can shape who they become.

Writing Style/Pacing

This is told from Jo's point of view alternating from past to present day.

Caroline writing style is bloody superb, she knows how to write a cracking thriller that is unbelievably realistic and with some raw emotional dark themes weaved in but sensitivity achieved. This was a slow burner but was a hundred million per cent worth it for the shockingly explosive ending.

I'm still thinking about this book days later and to me, that is one incredible book. A book that still plays on your mind, is thought-provoking and extraordinary.


Themes/Settings

Setting: Ah, the setting was scarily real for me living in and around where this is set, The beautiful Peak District, Hope Valley, Buxton, Lady Bower, Manchester and more. But I can tell you it is honestly spot-on, she captured and described the locations just wonderfully. And one in a particular scene in this book was especially to real for me but so outstandingly terrific. These places may never be the same again.

Themes: Betrayal, Friendship, Loss, Jealously and Murder.

I can't say too much about the theme but it definitely delves into some pretty dark thought-provoking themes which may be triggering to some people most definitely. I don't really do trigger warning as such but I would say be cautious.

Cover

Beautiful cover. I love the blue and pink combo stunning and eye-catching.


Overall Thoughts

'This is a gritty, very dark plot with betrayal, friendship, loss and murder plus oh so much more packed into one thought-provoking psychological thriller.
I absolutely loved this book. And the ending came as quite an impactful shock and it was wholly powerful. Caroline did a brilliant job of weaving this story together and added plentiful of twist and turns throughout. What stood out for me in this novel is how Caroline has written such engaging, powerful, captivating characters. This is a riveting character-driven novel'

[Tina B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends for life. That was the pact Jo and Kate made as eight year old girls away at boarding school for the first time. As such, Jo would do anything for Kate. Even though Kate had everything she fancied for herself, such as beauty. A well-to-do-family. Nice things. The only thing greater than Jo’s loyalty was her jealousy.

But they were kids then… Now they’re approaching forty, and not much has changed. They’re still best friends. Kate still has everything Jo wants. Except this time it’s not wealth or pretty things. This time, Jo wants a family of her own — with Kate’s husband Tom. After all, she knew him first. But she would never hurt Kate just as Kate would never hurt her.

Or would she?

“Betray Her” by Caroline England is the English trifle of psychological thriller novels. The secrets, lies, and revenge go layers-deep… and only get more delicious the further you go. The story weaves back and forth between Kate and Jo’s childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. There are secrets around every turn, and revenge isn’t a dish saved until the end. Not completely.

The book seems slow moving in places, but it’s for a much needed reason. The characters are fully developed and, thus, fully deceptive. Author Caroline England relies on the strong characterizations to create tension and uncertainty, which is the recipe for any good psychological thriller. It’s also the strong characterizations which make the end so unexpected and jaw dropping.

I don’t read many books in one sitting, but I read “Betray Her” in four hours. There was always enough suspense and mystery to make it impossible to put down. The characters are aces at keeping secrets from each other, and England is an ace at keeping secrets from you, the readers. You can’t imagine what’s going to happen. Nothing (and I mean nothing) will prepare you for the final “what the heck just happened” twist at the end.

Thank you so much to Caroline England, her publisher, and her publicist for providing a review copy of “Betray Her".

[Sheryl Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betray Her is exquisitely written. I identified with the narrator so profoundly through her grief at one point, I literally stopped breathing. Alternating between present and past, this is a cleverly woven story, full of passion and intrigue, sexual tension and desperate longing. Two girls, poles apart in their early upbringing, are drawn together at boarding school to form an unlikely friendship that endures into adulthood. But as we examine the friendship, going back to the musty halls of the boarding school, forward into the girls’ teenage years, on to the present, it’s clear that the friendship is not all that it seems. There are secrets under the surface, secrets that shaped who the women now are. There is jealousy and manipulation, co-dependency to a degree. Their relationship is tumultuous and, with a man in the mix who is married to one friend, but has a history with the other, there is a tinderbox of emotion simply waiting for a spark to ignite it, bringing us the final explosive conclusion. I was fascinated by this book, in awe of the writing. Mesmerising storytelling. A taut, tantalising thriller and one I would highly recommend.

[Chloe Stradling - Back · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NeyGalley, Caroline England and Little Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read this one. 4/5 from me. You have to give this a read.

This psychological thriller had me hooked right from the very start. I sped through this book in 24 hours as I was desperate to get to the end and what an ending it was. It had my brain in overdrive but I didnt see that one coming. It's a shocking read and I felt it was a love story and a psychological thriller all in one.

With constant twists that shock you and keep you gripped you will not want to put it down. You follow the three main characters Jo, Kate and Tom and their lives from childhood. You follow their stories and emotions of love and betrayal on the edge of your seat.

I was already a Caroline England fan after reading My Husband Lies so when I saw Betray Her I knew it would be just as fantastic and it didnt disappoint.

[janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what can I say. After reading My Husbands Lies I didnt think I would read another book so conflicting and full of twists but how wrong I was.

Utterly intriguing with so many twists and turns your never quite sure what's happening! Caroline England has so cleverly left little clues throught the book that all suddenly fall into place and everything makes sense.

This book has everything youd expect from this genre, twists and turns, secrets and lies, illicit relationships, rivalry & jealousy and so much more.

Completely gripping, you wont be able to put it down!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betray Her by Caroline England.........WoW.......I just loved this book.......Its full of twists and turns with lots of secrets and lies, illicit relationships, rivalry & jealousy and so much more which I love in a book and I was hooked after reading the first few pages! Excellent read!

A brilliant gripping psychological thriller I highly recommend

Big Thank You to Netgalley, Caroline England and Little Brown Book Group UK for this opportunity to read Betray Her by Caroline England. Loved it.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

my 1st book buy this author and was blown away what a book what a story I was gripped from 1st chapter very addictive two best friends from childhood one is kind one is controlling its is quite sad in some parts this book has it all twisty addictive and you so want the story not to end a brilliant read will be reading more from this author so recommend

[Jane Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite prose and a roller coaster ride of secrets and lies.

[Gillian Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic novel from Caroline England. A brilliant, twisty drama. I loved it. The book was extremely well written and I particularly enjoyed the alternating past and present. We could really understand the relationship between the two main protagonists through learning about their shared past. An absolute whirlwind of a story with jealousy, secrets and lies. The book was dark and weird at times but that made it all the better.

[Samantha Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wonderful book. I bought this on recommendation and didn’t regret it at all. Beautifully written. Great twists. Couldn’t put it down.