The Accident

by C.L. Taylor

To the outside world Susan Jackson has it all – a loving family, a successful politician husband and a beautiful home – but when Charlotte, her fifteen year old daughter, deliberately steps in front of a bus and ends up in a coma Sue questions whether any of it was real.

Desperate to find out what caused Charlotte’s suicide attempt, she is horrified by an entry in her diary – ‘Keeping this secret is killing me’. As Sue spins in desperate circles, she risks everything to discover the truth and finds herself immersed in a shady world she didn’t know existed. The deeper she delves the darker the world becomes and the more danger she puts herself in.

Can Sue wake up from the nightmares that haunt her and save her daughter, or will ‘the secret’ destroy them both?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Psychological Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

432 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2014

About the author

C.L. Taylor is an award winning Sunday Times bestselling author of ten gripping psychological thrillers including THE GUILTY COUPLE, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for summer 2023 and SLEEP, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for autumn 2019. Her books are not a series and can be read in any order:

2014 - THE ACCIDENT / Before I Wake (U.S.)
2015 - THE LIE
2016 - THE MISSING
2017 - THE ESCAPE
2018 - THE FEAR
2019 - SLEEP
2020 - STRANGERS
2021 - HER LAST HOLIDAY
2022 - THE GUILTY COUPLE
2024 - EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE
2025 - IT'S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND

She has also written two Young Adult thrillers, THE TREATMENT and THE ISLAND.

C.L. Taylor's books have sold in excess of two million copies, been number one on Amazon Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play and have been translated into over 25 languages and optioned for TV.

She lives in Bristol with her partner and son.

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Reviews

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This intense psychological thriller has everything I crave. First of all the way the cycle of abuse was described was textbook perfect, and I could feel the desperation of being trapped and afraid. I knew what would happen, but not how and I desperately wanted to see how it played out. I felt so satisfied with the pace, it was the thrill of riding a bike downhill with the uncertainty of falling. My pulse was racing the same way, but luckily no heart attack from all the suspense (and I don’t want to die, because then I can’t discover more gems like this one).

[Shirley Revill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan Jackson's 15 year old daughter Charlotte deliberately steps into the path of a bus and ends up in a coma. Her father Brian thinks it was an accident but Susan just isn't convinced that this is the case and feels that maybe something more sinister happened. Just why did her daughter want to end her life in this way, it just doesn't make sense. She sits at her daughter's bedside watching and listening to her heart monitor and she fears for her daughter's life. There is no reason why Charlotte hasn't started to recover but the chances are looking grim with each passing day.

In Susan's search for answers she comes across Charlotte's diary and the words that are written on the page,"Keeping this secret is killing me" seems to be becoming a reality for Charlotte. Will Susan likes what she finds as the truth emerges and will Charlotte ever recover from her ordeal.

This is the second audiobook that I have listened to by this author but sadly it wasn't as good as The Missing which I previously read. However it was still a very interesting audiobook and i did enjoy the story. The narration was by Jenny Funnell and Jenny really added to the story for me. I will definitely be listening to more stories by this author in the future.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was frankly just so busy. Flicking between stories it just felt extremely long. This is the first CL Taylor book i didnt like very much and I am ok with that.

[Reading Corner · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Accident is a simple read with some interesting descriptions and characters.Sue is an engrossing character at the start who I genuinely liked but after about 70 pages she really got annoying along with the flashbacks to her past, it just felt completely cliche. 
 
The book is about Charlotte, Sue's daughter, who walked in front of a car and is now in a coma and Sue is determined to uncover the truth. I bought this book because it was in a deal and I really did regret it! It was easy to fly through as some aspects of the story reel you in but then there's just so many ridiculous moments and badly written dialogue that come hand in hand with cliche characters like James, Sue's ex. 
 
I was delighted when I came to the end only to be met with the most ridiculous and hilarious ending ever which made me want to throw the book at the wall, I can't believe someone would ever consider it as an ending!
 
I've read Before I go To Sleep and Gone Girl and I'd say they're nothing alike as both other books are captivating and intriguing and ten times better than this trash!

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why does Sue Jackson’s 15 year old daughter Charlotte deliberately step out in front of a bus, resulting in a coma? All the doctors tests indicate that she should wake up but she doesn’t. Sue sets out to investigate what causes Charlotte to take such devastating action. The story is told from Sue’s point of view and goes backwards and forwards effortlessly from the present to the past in this excellent psychological thriller.

This is an incredible read, the plot is fast paced and is full of twists and shocks. Sue seems to have a perfect life and a comfortable home but all is not what it seems. You learn things about Sue’s past that are chilling but she proves to be a stronger woman than people give her credit for and she is a devoted mother.

This is a clever, intriguing story that covers a number of issues and is well written and I found it hard to put down.

[Li'l Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Accident from cover to cover, well into the night, but it was well worth it!

Fifteen year old Charlotte lies in a coma after stepping in front of a bus six weeks ago. All the tests show that there is no physiological reason why Charlotte hasn't woken up and both Sue and Brian remain resolute in their belief that their daughter will wake up. Yet, she hasn't. Why?

Charlott's mother, Sue, feels endlessly guilty for not being able to connect with her daughter before the accident, even if Charlotte shut her out, she feels she should have tried harder.
Sue is adamant that something happened that made her daughter purposely step in front of a bus while her father, Brian, refuses to believe that it was anything other than a tragic accident.

The day after the accident Charlotte gets a visitor, Keisha, that neither parent has ever heard of. Suddenly, through tears, Keisha says something alarming as she runs from the room. 'She trusted me, she thought I was her best friend, and look what happened to her. '
Sue also wonders why neither of the people that were closest to Charlotte, Liam and Ella haven't been to visit.

As Sue begins digging into Charlotte's past she turns up more questions than answers.
Charlotte's boyfriend, Liam, whom her daughter idolized, shows Sue a heartbreaking text message he received the day before the accident. 'It's over between us, Liam. If you love me you'll never contact me again.'
Liam is crushed and has no idea why Charlotte would break up with him.
Then, when Sue visits Charlotte's best friend, Ella, who has been Charlotte's best friend since grammar school, hoping to find out what the secret was, Ella takes her completely by surprise when she gives Sue a venomous response that she and Charlotte are not friends anymore. Sue begs Ella to tell her what happened that would end such a friendship Ella explodes 'Nothing happened, Sue!' Ella screams. 'Okay? We just stopped being friends.'
Neither Liam or Ella will say they don't know Keisha.

Without coming any closer to uncovering Charlotte's secret, Sue begins to unravel, feeling that her past may be catching up with her causing a recurrence of paranoia, severe anxiety attacks, and near hysterical episodes. It's no longer possible to keep her fears hidden from her husband, Brian. Now everyone, including her husband and stepson, Oli, think she's unhinged and 'crazy'. So, terrified and on her own, she refuses to give up on her daughter. Again.
Even if it kills her.

This story is told from Sue's point of view, going back and forth between her past and present life and it's never confusing which one is which. Far from it.
Sue's past is absolutely horrific and it made my skin crawl, so much so that I had trouble keeping my own anxiety in check. All the while hoping upon hope that Sue can fight off her demons, real or imaginary, and reveal the secret that nearly took her daughter from her, and bring her child, Charlotte, back from the brink of death.... before it's too late. For either of them.

C.L. Taylor is extremely talented at bringing down your defenses, making your heart race, your breaths short, and your anxiety high as a kite!
I Loved it!
I'm anxious to read another of her books, The Missing.

[Jood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh dear, poor Sue, has she ever got her plate full! Brian, her MP husband, who was unfaithful a few years ago, may be cheating again; her mum is in a care home suffering, from some sort of dementia; her daughter Charlotte is in hospital in a coma having deliberately walked into the path of a bus, and if this is not enough we have James, a violent, obsessive ex-boyfriend from twenty years ago, who is suddenly stalking her....after twenty years. Why? How much can a girl take! It's no wonder she's going off the rails. Or is she?

Sue gets herself into all sorts of improbable situations in an attempt to unravel the mystery of why her daughter would attempt to kill herself. Along the way she accuses her husband of sexually molesting his own daughter, which does nothing to her slightly shaky marriage; she becomes convinced that James the stalker is working as a teacher in Charlotte's school. She then meets some rather unsavoury characters and decides to ramp up her investigation by going to a well know London nightclub, a watering hole for the rich and famous, to confront the man she believes is responsible for her daughter's demise - the notion of this is preposterous: lying to her husband, getting dressed up in what she thinks is suitable nightclub gear, and blagging her way in. Is there an upper age limit to these clubs? She is only forty-three - hardly a granny, glamorous or not but the bouncers seem unwilling to let her in merely on the grounds of her age! In alternate chapters Sue relates all the gory details of the two year reign of terror at the hands of James; these, apparently, are diary entries - extremely long diary entries I must say. It becomes apparent that Sue had been around the block before she met James, and although he professes to worship and adore her, he is obviously the archetypal violent villain most normal people would not just walk away from, but run - and fast. To be honest I began skipping some of these diary entries because I got so angry at Sue for staying in such an abusive relationship - and reading about it just became tedious.

Apart from the fact that I had worked out the plot halfway through the book, the final confrontation, in Charlotte's hospital room, frankly had me laughing out loud. Pure nonsense. Whilst the writing isn't bad, it is at times, clunky, for example: "...pick my book back up again"; I also found the use of "I" where "me" should be used, really irritating.

This whole book is just too silly - there are far too many things going on at once; the characters are not likeable at all, in fact I couldn't have cared less what happened to any of them. The situations Sue finds herself in are too far-fetched and with an ending so neat, tidy and cheesy this is not the "terrifying psychological thriller" it wants to be. And finally, are we to assume that all's well that ends well - without wanting to add a spoiler here, there is one glaring omission.

Once again we have a book that is described as "perfect for fans of Gone Girl" I wish publicists would stop doing this; Gillian Flynn's book is one on its own and is in no way anything like this novel. If comparisons are to be made, they should be to Lucie Whitehouse's "The Bed I Made" and "The Book of You" by Claire Kendal.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by the members of #TBConFB, I've never read a book by C.L. Taylor before so I didn't know what to expect but I will now be checking out her other titles. .

From the very start I was drawn into the plot and I had no idea where the story line was going. At times my heart was pounding but I couldn't stop reading it.

Five stars.

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was voted for my PIck It For Me Book for May, so thanks to those who voted for this book.

Fast-paced and suspenseful The Accident is perfect for fans of Before I Go to Sleep, Gone Girl and Sophie Hannah. A gripping psychological thriller about the deadly secrets your children can keep ...Sue Jackson has the perfect family but when her teenage daughter Charlotte deliberately steps in front of a bus and ends up in a coma she is forced to face a very dark reality. Retracing her daughter's steps she finds a horrifying entry in Charlotte's diary and is forced to head deep into Charlotte's private world. In her hunt for evidence, Sue begins to mistrust everyone close to her daughter and she's forced to look further, into the depths of her own past. Sue will do anything to protect her daughter. But what if she is the reason that Charlotte is in danger?


The story flickers between the heart-breaking events of the present and diary entries from Sue’s past, allowing two events to unfold before us. In the present day Sue is dealing with the events surrounding her daughter having walked in front of a bus, and in the past we see the abusive relationship which Sue suffered in her earlier years. Sue is convinced that there is a link between the two, even if it is only something as tentative as her daughter having a relationship which mirrors her past in the smallest of ways, and that there must be some reason for her daughter having made the choice that she did, however being somewhat unreliable it is difficult for anyone – including Sue – to tell whether she is seeing connections or whether she is simply imagining things to be there.

The main characters were so well written and convincing I had to remind myself I was reading a novel and not about a real life event. Sue's past life makes for chilling reading and is at times quite scary; once you know the full history it really is no surprise why she has so many mental scars. I really enjoyed this excellent thriller and look forward to reading more her next book The Lie.

Give this book an easy 4 stars.

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am genuinely angry with myself for having wasted several hours finishing this turkey. Altho' before half-way through it was obvious the characters were totally implausible, the plot was intriguing & pulled me along. The ending, however, is utterly unbelievable - even for something that's supposed to be happening in a NHS hospital. The publishers are apparently trying to market this as a Gone Girl or Before I Go to Sleep (hence the new American title) knockoff. It does not resemble either but in spots it's a sort of Hong Kong Rolex of Elizabeth Haynes's Into the Darkest Corner with Susan as an even bigger doormat than Cathy & much less attractive.

Tho' a waste of time, this book was not totally useless & offered some unintended (I assume) humour:

1. Best unintentionally funny phrasing: "I'd . . . had a pot roast happily bubbling away in the oven." I can just imagine a pot roast "bubbling" - but enjoying being roasted "happily"?

2. Best inept literary allusion. The narrator's husband fears she's suicidal: "He probably thinks I'm about to do a Sylvia Plath and walk into the sea." No, that's doing a Virginia Woolf. You do a Sylvia Plath in your kitchen!

3. Best ironically appropriate punishment for a villain that attempted to commit a murder in a NHS hospital: I'll not tell you but if you'll find it on p. 394.

[Freya Nightingale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. A little bit predictable but nonetheless a very good read and would for sure recommend as a fast paced thriller. It reminded me a little of Into the darkest corner by Elizabeth Haynes which is one of my favourite books.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 3rd CL Taylor and I can honestly say that I have enjoyed them all.
I don't think this was as well written as the previous two but this fast paced novel made me want to keep reading to find out more.
The novel follows Sue Jackson whose teenage daughter Charlotte deliberately steps in front of a bus and ends up in a coma. Sue wants answers to what made her do it and the torment of did Sue cause it.
In her efforts to find out the truth she retraces her daughter’s steps and finds a disturbing entry in Charlotte’s diary that forces her to dig deeper into Charlotte’s secrets.

This was CL Taylor's debut Crime novel which may explain why I found it less impressive than my other two reads but it was still an enjoyable book by an author I plan to read more of.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honoured to read and review this book for the author. I had also received this from HarperCollins UK, Avon Via Net Galley.

I couldn't wait to get around to reading this book as I loved the sound of it. I was not mistaken in my choice.

It starts off in such a way it takes you right into the centre of the story, you need to keep reading, nothing else matters until you finish this book, I am not exaggerating either!

Some of the chapters go back a step in time, but this is NOT confusing, its VITAL to the storyline.

You learn of this woman, who starts off pretty weak, and very dominated and in love to someone who gets stronger. When her past life is left behind, married and with a daughter she has seemingly everything, or does she? I can't give the story away, I won't, because I don't like spoilers myself, so all I am going to say is, that her past comes back to haunt her, and not always in the way you think is straight forward!!! Her immediate family think she's on the verge of another nervous breakdown, but this woman is proving to be stronger than anyone can imagine.

READ IT, you MUST. I can't wait for any other books in the genre C L Taylor writes as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

In very much in a similar vein to Claire Kendal’s The Book of You or Elizabeth Haynes Into The Darkest Corner, author Cally Taylor in a new guise, launches her crime writing career with this dark psychological thriller. In this increasingly overcrowded sub-genre of crime writing, with many books treading a similar path, how did The Accident fare?

The book opens with a seemingly settled, middle aged married woman, waiting at the bedside of her comatose teenage daughter, who has been involved in an accident, and is currently hovering between life and death. The story hinges on what has driven Sue’s daughter, Charlotte, to the brink of suicide, and charts the former life of Sue and her former unbalanced mental state, precipitated by a destructive and bullying relationship some years previously. Taylor implements a dual narrative structure with a twenty year lapse between the two, using Sue’s diaries charting the course of this damaging relationship with the manipulative James, in the 1990s, and in a symbiotic circle, using the reading of Charlotte’s diary in the present time, to provide some insight into her daughter’s attempted suicide. As the story unfolds, we observe the level of distrust and suspicion inherent in Sue’s current marriage to Brian (a member of parliament who has strayed on occasion), the effects of Charlotte’s secret life revealed by her diary, and the possible reappearance of the evil James in Sue’s life, reawakening Sue’s previously fragile mental state.

Structure wise, the tried and tested method of diary entries from the past interspersed into the current narrative, was certainly the strongest aspect of the narrative, charting Sue’s relationship with James, but quickly signposting the erratic and destructive aspects of James’ character. As any woman who has suffered in an abusive relationship knows, what initially seem to be relatively harmless indicators can quickly escalate into a claustrophobic and fearful situation, and Taylor captures well the denigration of Sue’s mental state within the confines of this relationship. and her efforts to escape from it. Less successful for me was the current storyline, and I cared little for the secrets harboured in her daughter’s life, and Sue’s faintly ridiculous attempts to be ‘down with the kids’ in an effort to uncover the reasons for her daughter’s accident. I found this a little clunky, and a bit far fetched to be honest but, as the whole book gravitated quickly between both narratives, my annoyance was quickly quashed by the balance between the return to the diary entries. The characterisation throughout was relatively successful, and I felt that the author had invested much effort into Sue herself and her mental anguish, but did find the surrounding protagonists a little less well-formed, conforming to a status of mere bit players in the overall plot, with only really James being more vital, interesting and downright sinister, within the plot.

I will put my hands up, and admit to being a little jaded by this genre of crime, following the plethora of releases, so similar in style and narrative structure. However, I think the comparisons to Gone Girl, Before I Go To Sleep and The Silent Wife, are justified as this is very much in a similar vein to these, and will be enjoyed by readers of this genre. You will be hooked instantaneously, and the pace that Taylor affords to the narrative will keep you reading despite the minor flaws in the present day storyline, and the slightly less depth inherent in the overall characterisation. An entertaining enough read, and perfect for fans of the psychological thriller.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I read this in hours, could not put it down, it was so much better than I had expected.

Great plot, characters that had depth, fast pace, twist and turns, page turning hold your breath moments and a few gasps. Yes, a brilliant read.

This psychological thriller tackles some tough and raw real life issues like emotional abuse in a way that may educate those who know nothing of how insidious it is.

With her daughter in a coma after seemingly stepping in from of a bus, her mother, Sue is compelled to find out why, no matter what the cost. The book flits back to diary entries that give us background on who Sue is today and why she's the woman she is. She's like any true loving mother, unwilling to give up on her child.

The ending is nail bitingly thrilling, as are other parts of this clever novel too, I felt like I was right there with Sue on the journey.

There are some shocking scenes in this book but very realistic too, don't let that put you off, grab on to this book, turn off your phone and emails and just read it.

Absolutely loved it.

[Patrice Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been finding it harder and harder to rate certain books nowadays. Usually I am sure during the first 40% whether I'm in love with a novel or am sure it should be banished to my "did-not-finish" pile. For more than half of Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor, I wasn't sure which way I was going with this one.

From page one Taylor takes hold of readers by revealing that the narrators daughter may have botched her own suicide and as a result is now in a coma. Apparently stepping in front of a bus isn't as final as a shot to the head or... something even more precise. I digress.

Sue Jackson is confident that her snooping in her daughter Charlotte's diary, alluding to a secret she can no longer live with, is the reason she has decided to commit suicide. On a quest to figure out what that secret is, Sue begins questioning any person who may be involved with this secret. The only problem is that much of the time we can't trust her narrative because she reveals at some point in her past she's experienced "episodes" where her break from reality could also be the cause of her anxiety.

As Sue's narrative moves the story forward, she also recalls a time in her past where she was in an abusive relationship. It is clear that the man she once loved and loathed is the cause of her anxiety rendering her unreliable as a guide through the mystery surrounding her daughter's demise. Usually I'm more interested in novels featuring a narrative by a crazy person, but for some reason, I never warmed up to Sue.

What was done perfectly is the gradual build of suspense and tension surrounding Charlotte's life. There are enough red flags thrown into the mix that it makes putting the novel down impossible. Although I was not impressed with Sue, Taylor forced me to read this novel until its end. It could possibly be because the writing is fluid. Possibly it could be that I just had to know whether or not Sue was/is crazy afterall. I can't call it. All I know is that after more than 40% in, I could not for the life of me understand what was holding me captive to this story.

In conclusion, Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor is an interesting psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre. It explores matters surrounding mental health while suggesting there's no easy way to escape our pasts. I know my review is all over the place but I definitely did enjoy reading this novel. I look forward to reading more by C.L. Taylor.

Copy provided by Sourcebooks Publishing via Netgalley

[bookswithpaulette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this one 3.5 stars. Enjoyable read but not my favourite from Cally. There is a lot of tension reminded me of The Fear just fell a little short for me

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible writing. Seriously, terrible. I walked away from this mad that I even spent any time on it, and feeling compelled to rate it just to add some realism to goodreads reviews.

Wait, let me write that like C.L. Taylor:
"This book was so terrible that I felt compelled to write a long run on sentence much like the author who doesn't seem to understand that run on sentences should have been weeded out of her writing in primary school or perhaps middle school when most of us were learning the basics and I think Ms Taylor was playing with toys or perhaps staring at the wall thinking of how incredibly easy it would be to write and publish books once it became easy enough for any hack to do it."

See all that annoying repetition? The blathering on? Add some unlikable characters, some ridiculous scenarios, a caricature of a 50 shades freak (who is himself a caricature starring in a possibly worse book), a shaky and unbelievable plot, and you've got this book in a nutshell.

At the end of the one I got, there is a question/answer interview from the author, where she mentions she was sleep deprived when she wrote a lot of this. When I read that, I went, "Aha!" The first few sentences are very good. She came up with those long before she finished the book. Reading this, I felt like perhaps if she had written it during that initial burst of inspiration...it might have been ok. As it was...well. No. Just no.

[insert your favorite Nope Nope Nope gif here]

[Yoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I don't really read thrillers, but I had to try this one as it sounded intriguing! And I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Normally I guess the ending, which is demotivating, but this time not only I didn't guess the ending I couldn't figure out the middle either. It was a plot twist after plot twist which was great! Overall it was an easy read, I only ever put it down while I was working.

[Lucy'sLilLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a mystery/thriller this book was enjoyable but has a fairy average plotline.

The narrator is unreliable which I really enjoy and this reminded me of the Woman in the Window in that aspect as a reader you find yourself questions the narrator, their sanity and their trustworthiness.

Although this book was an average length of 400 pages I struggled to connect with any of the characters and felt a little uninterested in what their future would hold. The plot was good but nothing ground breaking and it was very easy to figure out the twists before they happened.

There is a lot of controlling behaviour displayed in this book, which in parts was hard to read. This book switches between present day and the main characters past which I liked and it didn't get confusing this was a very easy read.

Although I wasn't that interested in the characters I still wanted to know what had happened.
However, this book ended abruptly and I felt a little cheated, I don't think I got the full closure I needed from this ending. I do have more books on my shelf by C.L. Taylor, I will be reading them to see if any of her other books give me more Umph.

[Melissa In The City · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling.
Fast paced.
TWISTY.

I loved it. If it’s a psychological thriller of a ride you’re looking for...this is it! I had chills in my bones most of this book..😱

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Publication Date: April 14th by Avon Harper Collins

Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.

Sue Jackson has the perfect family but when her teenage daughter Charlotte deliberately steps in front of a bus and ends up in a coma she is forced to face a very dark reality.
Retracing her daughter’s steps she finds a horrifying entry in Charlotte’s diary and is forced to head deep into Charlotte’s private world. In her hunt for evidence, Sue begins to mistrust everyone close to her daughter and she’s forced to look further, into the depths of her own past.

An extremely clever and involving past/present mystery story – absolutely addictive, I practically got paper cuts as I avidly turned the pages, following along with Sue as she begins to uncover the hidden layers of Charlotte’s world.

I’m a huge fan of well constructed psychological stories, where nothing is ever as it seems and this is an extremely good example of that kind of tale. Sue has issues of her own, she frequently has breakdowns, so even as she discovers something twisted going on that may be related to her own past, will she get anyone to believe her? Will YOU the reader believe that there is any more going on here than a teenager letting general life woes get on top of her and making a snap, impulsive decision to end her life..

I loved the characters – I sympathised with Sue utterly as she struggles to keep it together in the aftermath of a heart wrenching event, and the well drawn background of her previous experiences that colour and shape how she reacts is perfectly placed to leave you slightly off kilter and wonder if she isnt, perhaps, just losing her mind. Cleverly done – I say no more, I would not want to inadvertantly spoil it.

Told in present time, with flashbacks fleshing out Sue’s history both as a young woman and her life with her Husband, this is truly terrifying in a lot of ways and encompasses an authentic look at issues involving post traumatic stress – clever, intriguing, beautifully flowing and captivating, this is definitely one to watch.

Happy Reading Folks!

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bog-standard psycho thriller that becomes frustratingly predictable from halfway.

Having previously read several of C.L. Taylor’s psychological thrillers my expectations ahead of The Accident weren’t overly high for the “rollercoaster of suspense” promised, however the novel started well before reverting to type. From the halfway point the protagonists behaviour became more implausible and the outcome frustratingly predictable, with the prose turning noticeably clunkier.

Six weeks after stepping in front of a bus, fifteen-year-old Charlotte Jackson has shown no sign of emerging from a coma with doctors unable to give her forty-three-year-old mother, Sue, and her MP father, Brian, any assurances as to when or whether she will wake up. Whilst Brian believes Charlotte’s accident was just that, Sue’s first-person narrative tells of reading Charlotte’s final diary entry before the incident which claimed that ‘keeping a secret was killing her’ and having her fears that it was intentional confirmed by the bus driver. Although not particularly clued-up on her daughter’s social life or personal worries, Sue has a history predisposing her to fear the worst from an abusive relationship which has left a legacy of PTSD making her a classic unreliable narrator. Added to this Brian’s own infidelity six years earlier has impacted on her self-esteem and made her quick to suspect betrayal. Sue is intent on investigating and her discoveries quickly paint a worrying picture of a girl dabbling in murkier pursuits. These revelations, together with subtle ‘gifts’ that recall some of her nastier experiences at the hands of her manipulative ex-boyfriend, James, are enough to strike fear into her heart and suspect that her ex is back for revenge.

After each chapter a second narrative follows that presents Sue’s diary entries during the entirety of her four year relationship with James Evans from 1990 onwards and illustrates how their relationship descended from manipulation and coercive control into outright abuse with moments of violence. These alternating chapters, despite leaving the reader sympathetic towards Sue and supportive of her right to be on high alert, also serve to make the outside observer sceptical and suspicious that she might be reading more into events than meets the eye and overreacting.

Whilst Sue initial investigations start out in believable territory her antics soon become pretty unrealistic and the main stumbling block for me was why she failed to confide in Brian or contact the police with her concerns that a violent ex-boyfriend had discovered her whereabouts. Given this history, albeit unsubstantiated by the police, I found Brian simply poo pooing her with anti-anxiety medication insulting given their sixteen year relationship and I never got the sense that he was distressed by his daughters serious condition. Before the halfway point the novel becomes eminently predictable and there is no attempt to disguise the direction it is heading in and the chapters started to feel unnecessarily drawn-out. Neither Sue nor Brian felt wholly credible and despite the story revealing much about Charlotte’s recent behaviour I never felt like I got a sense of the teenager at the eye of the storm and surely would have expected Sue to be a little more distraught about her daughters none too angelic behaviour.

The ending proved unsatisfactory and left several questions unresolved with the second half limping to a finish. Overall a mixed bag but a very readable and undemanding novel.

[Jazz Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of C.L Taylor and this was the last of her books I had left to read. I was so excited but unfortunately my least favourite out of all her novels.

The accident is centred around Susan. Her 15 year old daughter steps out in front of a bus and is in left in intensive care. Susan is convinced there is a reason why her daughter stepped out into the road and she thinks her past has come back to haunt her. No one believes her though and she starts to doubt herself.

I managed to get through the book quite quickly but I think I was just waiting and waiting for something and nothing. I felt so let down by the ending and I think I understood why i put this book of so often.

The storyline is interesting and I can see a mother wanting to find the truth. She knows her daughter wouldn't accidently get hit by a bus. So throughout the novel we flip from 20 years earlier to present day. We find out about her past relationship and why she thinks this is linked.

In conclusion, I didn't love this book. It was predictable and slow if I'm honest. But I love CL Taylor!!! So I will be a loyal reader as all her other books have been 5 star reviews. 🌟

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins with Sue Jackson sitting by her 15 year old daughter Charlotte’s hospital bed. Charlotte has been in a coma for the previous six weeks and the doctors have no idea if, or when, she will wake up.

Sue however, believes her daughter is too frightened to wake up. Ever since she discovered an entry in Charlotte’s diary “Keeping this secret is killing me…” she is convinced that her daughter deliberately stepped in front of the bus, unlike her husband Brian who believes it to be an accident. Was it a deliberate act, or just a tragic accident?

Sue Jackson seems quite ordinary. Married to Brian, a Member of Parliament and mother to Charlotte and stepmum to Brian’s son Oli she appears to have a pefect family life. However all is not what it seems, Events from Sue’s past have left her feeling paranoid and scared and her fragile mental state has impacted on her marriage and family. In order to help Charlotte, Sue must dig deep to find the mental strength needed to involve herself in Charlotte’s life and try to find answers from Charlotte’s friends - someone knows something but is not talking. What she does discover makes her wonder just how well she knew her daughter.

Using Sue’s diary entries going back over 20 years together with present time narration by Sue, C L Taylor has written a cleverly crafted and disturbing psychological thriller with tension, twists and turns and red herrings leading to a dramatic conclusion. There were times when I was so frustrated with Sue, particularly during the diary years, and in my head I was shouting at her, “no don’t do that”, I don’t want to spoil the plot for anyone so won’t give any examples but I’m sure you will see what I mean when you read it. The main characters were so well written and convincing I had to remind myself I was reading a novel and not about a real life event. Sue's past life makes for chilling reading and is at times quite scary; once you know the full history it really is no surprise why she has so many mental scars. There were one or two occasions when I was a little less convinced by the storyline but these certainly didn't spoil this 5* read for me. I really enjoyed this excellent thriller and look forward to reading more by C L Taylor.

This is C L Taylor’s debut crime novel, other books in a different genre have been written under the name of Cally Taylor which I have on my bookshelf.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been on my list for a long time, and wow! What a tense and suffocating ride that was... There were two timelines, with the first being present day. Sue is married to Brian, a politician, and their 15 year old daughter is in a coma after walking in front of a bus. The other timeline is 20 years ago when Sue was dating James, an abusive narcissistic psychopath.

The former storyline was action-packed and riveting. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen next. The author used mental illness and paranoia in creating an unreliable narrator, which I usually don't like, but in this instance, it worked.

The latter plotline was dark and creepy. It was difficult to read at times. Readers sensitive to trigger warnings should be aware there was domestic violence and rape.

The story as a whole worked well, with the mystery resolving itself in a satisfying way. I will definitely be checking out more by this author.

[Michael Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely hated this book I did not enjoy it whatsoever couldn't get past the first two chapters so boring

[Zuzana Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Accident by C.L. Taylor @cltaylorauthor


Me and @aurobooks chose The Accident for our buddy read the last week! This novel was not just my first buddy read with Aurora but also my first novel by C.L. Taylor and I am so glad that we chose this book!

The novel has great start and is gripping from the first page! It's about Sue and her perfect family which is not perfect at all. Something has happend to Sue's daughter and now she is in a coma. Sue has to find out from her daughter's diary what has happend to her and who hurt her. Unfortunately, like daughter her mother has secrets too.

The novel is very well written and the chapters are perfectly separated that you are always hungry for another one! The main character is very lovable and I felt for Sue a few times! I have rated the book somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars, it is not 5 stars just because the end was predictable for me.

Count my recommendation on this novel and I cannot read another book by @cltaylorauthor !

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a good book could of had more twists and turns in this book I did enjoyed reading this book.

[Zoe_reading_queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first CL Taylor book and I loved it. Great story & characters. Kept me hooked and couldn’t put it down. Cannot wait to read more of hers x