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The Cahills #3
You Betrayed Me
The Cahills of San Francisco are famous for two things: their vast wealth, and the scandals that surround them. Murder, greed, deadly ambition...some people will do anything to get, and keep, the Cahills' kind of money. Not that James Cahill wants any of it. He's tried to make his own way, less interested in a future inheritance than in his construction company--and in enjoying the many women taken in by the easy charms of a handsome, soon-to-be-rich bad boy.
Perhaps there've been too many women. Waking up in a small hospital in Washington State, bandaged and bruised, James barely recognizes the gorgeous blonde who comes to visit. Through the haze of pain and medication, he recalls that she is Sophia, the woman he's been cheating with. Gradually memories return--his girlfriend, Megan, had found out about Sophia. Now Megan is missing, her sister is hounding him--and police and reporters are asking questions. James insists he has no idea what happened. Yet he can't escape a feeling of dread...
Meanwhile, in a locked room, a woman waits, trapped, petrified, desperate. She thought she knew who to trust. But the betrayal you can't imagine--or can't remember--may be the most terrifying weapon of all...
Perhaps there've been too many women. Waking up in a small hospital in Washington State, bandaged and bruised, James barely recognizes the gorgeous blonde who comes to visit. Through the haze of pain and medication, he recalls that she is Sophia, the woman he's been cheating with. Gradually memories return--his girlfriend, Megan, had found out about Sophia. Now Megan is missing, her sister is hounding him--and police and reporters are asking questions. James insists he has no idea what happened. Yet he can't escape a feeling of dread...
Meanwhile, in a locked room, a woman waits, trapped, petrified, desperate. She thought she knew who to trust. But the betrayal you can't imagine--or can't remember--may be the most terrifying weapon of all...
448 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2020
4025 people are currently reading
26756 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jackson
271 books9,573 followersLisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 680 reviews
September 17, 2021
I mostly enjoy Lisa Jackson’s skillful writing and her gripping, riveting page turner novels but I think this one has too much daytime soap opera dramas: those vindictive, wild, jealous twenty something women of the story made me agitated: I want to scream at their faces: stop cat fighting and find a decent guy who is not an assholish cheater!
The Cahills reminded me of Ewings meet Dynasty’s Carringtons: rich, powerful, old family of San Francisco with shady past which filled with scandals. And now we’re introduced to young and charming member of the family: we can define him with three words: playboy, pretentious,player: ladies and gentlemen, here’s James Cahill: His story starts at the hospital: his head is bandaged, attacked by someone, suffering from short time amnesia, remembering small glimpses about the fiery fight he had with a mad woman who scratched his face.
Later we learn that woman was his girlfriend Megan who went ballistic after she finds out he was cheating on her with Sophia: the mysterious blonde who recently visits him at hospital ( interestingly he also doesn’t remember her!) and after her vicious attack Megan leaves the house, pumps up the gas, nearly kills an innocent pedestrian and then she loses the control of the car. As soon as she gathers her composure to leave the car, she realizes there is a black gun aimed to her heart and a man in ski mask standing there to abduct her.
What happened to Megan? Could James be responsible for her abduction? And what about Rebecca who was also in love with James ( oh yes, James seems like more popular than Leo DiCaprio but at least he doesn’t date with underage girls), conducting her own investigation to find what happened to her sister!
The twists are well developed, but I truly hate the guts of the characters and I visualized to throw dart arrows against their foreheads.
Only two best things about the book were Rivers and Mendoza: perfectly developed detective characters.
Grumpy Rivers has special talent to visualize what happened at the crime scenes by touching objects. And Mendoza, smart, effective, straightforward, badass, a great partner to help him to solve the mystery.
Unlikable characters and way too much relationship drama made me cut my points. I still enjoyed twists, fast paced writing and I want to read more adventures of this detective duo but this time I’m giving three stars.
I still love the author’s books but because of the reasons I pointed at I liked this book less than her previous works.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sharing this exciting ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The Cahills reminded me of Ewings meet Dynasty’s Carringtons: rich, powerful, old family of San Francisco with shady past which filled with scandals. And now we’re introduced to young and charming member of the family: we can define him with three words: playboy, pretentious,player: ladies and gentlemen, here’s James Cahill: His story starts at the hospital: his head is bandaged, attacked by someone, suffering from short time amnesia, remembering small glimpses about the fiery fight he had with a mad woman who scratched his face.
Later we learn that woman was his girlfriend Megan who went ballistic after she finds out he was cheating on her with Sophia: the mysterious blonde who recently visits him at hospital ( interestingly he also doesn’t remember her!) and after her vicious attack Megan leaves the house, pumps up the gas, nearly kills an innocent pedestrian and then she loses the control of the car. As soon as she gathers her composure to leave the car, she realizes there is a black gun aimed to her heart and a man in ski mask standing there to abduct her.
What happened to Megan? Could James be responsible for her abduction? And what about Rebecca who was also in love with James ( oh yes, James seems like more popular than Leo DiCaprio but at least he doesn’t date with underage girls), conducting her own investigation to find what happened to her sister!
The twists are well developed, but I truly hate the guts of the characters and I visualized to throw dart arrows against their foreheads.
Only two best things about the book were Rivers and Mendoza: perfectly developed detective characters.
Grumpy Rivers has special talent to visualize what happened at the crime scenes by touching objects. And Mendoza, smart, effective, straightforward, badass, a great partner to help him to solve the mystery.
Unlikable characters and way too much relationship drama made me cut my points. I still enjoyed twists, fast paced writing and I want to read more adventures of this detective duo but this time I’m giving three stars.
I still love the author’s books but because of the reasons I pointed at I liked this book less than her previous works.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sharing this exciting ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 4, 2022
This is a fabulous thriller that involves an industrious eligible bachelor, James, who will receive a large inheritance at some point in the future. He has no trouble finding girlfriends but he is not skilled at ending relationships. One girlfriend describes him as a "man whore."
There is a significant physical altercation between James and one of his current girlfriends who ends up missing. There are many different characters in this mystery.
The book's pace speeds up significantly during the last 30% because there are multiple murders and the intersection of many different characters starts to be understood.
Overall a very good read. I rated it four stars because some elements seemed improbable.
There is a significant physical altercation between James and one of his current girlfriends who ends up missing. There are many different characters in this mystery.
The book's pace speeds up significantly during the last 30% because there are multiple murders and the intersection of many different characters starts to be understood.
Overall a very good read. I rated it four stars because some elements seemed improbable.
January 7, 2022
I love the way Lisa Jackson writes, so I was excited to read the third book in The Cahills series. You Betrayed Me was even better than the first two books. I love the crazy Cahill Family with all their drama, lies and murder!! Sign me up!! Jackson kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend starting with the first book so you don’t miss any details.
October 25, 2020
For many years now, I’ve been a faithful reader of the Three Thrilling Lisas — Lisa Unger, Lisa Jackson, and Lisa Gardner. All of them have been writing scary novels long before the current domestic thriller craze and all can dependably deliver the mysterious thrills.
This book is no exception. One of Jackson’s Cahill books, You Betrayed Me focuses on the golden boy of a wealthy San Francisco family with amnesia and the many women he has apparently left in his wake. And of course, some of them begin turning up dead.
Jackson’s Cahill family books lean into the “romantic” side of the romantic thriller vibe, and remind me somewhat of Danielle Steel in their focus on the glitz and glam of San Francisco high society and the high drama of relationships and broken hearts. So if you don’t like that kind of romantic drama, this one may not be for you. Me, I love any kind of book featuring my hometown of San Francisco, and I also sometimes enjoy reading about “rich people problems” — Jackson brings these along with both the drama and the murder.
This wasn’t one of my very favorites of Jackson’s - the typical hospital amnesia story is a little been there, done that, and many of the women in this story were a little too stereotypically lovestruck or nutty for my liking. And some of the twists were straight out of a soap opera (which I think was intentional and a bit of campy fun). However I as always did enjoy the Cahill family drama, especially James himself. Overall a reliable, well-written romantic thriller with some interesting new character development and growth ideal for fans of Jackson’s Cahill books. It will be interesting to see where the Cahill story will go from here, as a LOT of things happened. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Lisa Jackson for the advance copy! Out everywhere on October 27.
This book is no exception. One of Jackson’s Cahill books, You Betrayed Me focuses on the golden boy of a wealthy San Francisco family with amnesia and the many women he has apparently left in his wake. And of course, some of them begin turning up dead.
Jackson’s Cahill family books lean into the “romantic” side of the romantic thriller vibe, and remind me somewhat of Danielle Steel in their focus on the glitz and glam of San Francisco high society and the high drama of relationships and broken hearts. So if you don’t like that kind of romantic drama, this one may not be for you. Me, I love any kind of book featuring my hometown of San Francisco, and I also sometimes enjoy reading about “rich people problems” — Jackson brings these along with both the drama and the murder.
This wasn’t one of my very favorites of Jackson’s - the typical hospital amnesia story is a little been there, done that, and many of the women in this story were a little too stereotypically lovestruck or nutty for my liking. And some of the twists were straight out of a soap opera (which I think was intentional and a bit of campy fun). However I as always did enjoy the Cahill family drama, especially James himself. Overall a reliable, well-written romantic thriller with some interesting new character development and growth ideal for fans of Jackson’s Cahill books. It will be interesting to see where the Cahill story will go from here, as a LOT of things happened. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Lisa Jackson for the advance copy! Out everywhere on October 27.
October 17, 2020
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an ARC copy for review and comments.
An heir to the Cahill fortune discovers just how dangerous, and duplicitous, family can be. . . The Cahills of San Francisco are famous for two things: their vast wealth, and the scandals that surround them. Murder, greed, deadly ambition. . . some people will do anything to get, and keep, the Cahills’ kind of money. Not that James Cahill wants any of it. He’s tried to make his own way, less interested in a future inheritance than in his construction company—and in enjoying the many women taken in by the easy charms of a handsome, soon-to-be-rich bad boy. Perhaps there’ve been too many women. Waking up in a small hospital in Washington State, bandaged and bruised, James barely recognizes the gorgeous blonde who comes to visit. Through the haze of pain and medication, he recalls that she is Sophia, the woman he’s been cheating with. Gradually memories return—his girlfriend, Megan, had found out about Sophia. Now Megan is missing, her sister, Rebecca, is hounding him—and police and reporters are asking questions too. James insists he has no idea what happened. Yet he can’t escape a feeling of dread. . . Meanwhile, in a locked room, a woman waits, trapped, petrified, and desperate. She thought she knew who to trust. But the betrayal you can’t imagine—or can’t remember—may be the most terrifying weapon of all. . .
So.... Why only three stars for this mystery thriller. Although a good story, lots of characters I find this story, to slow, much too slow. The pace of the book, the lack of suspense, took away my interest. When a book takes me a week, just over to finish, that shows a lack of interest.
Sadly and with apologies to the author, too slow, not gripping enough, lack of excitement, action or surprises.
An heir to the Cahill fortune discovers just how dangerous, and duplicitous, family can be. . . The Cahills of San Francisco are famous for two things: their vast wealth, and the scandals that surround them. Murder, greed, deadly ambition. . . some people will do anything to get, and keep, the Cahills’ kind of money. Not that James Cahill wants any of it. He’s tried to make his own way, less interested in a future inheritance than in his construction company—and in enjoying the many women taken in by the easy charms of a handsome, soon-to-be-rich bad boy. Perhaps there’ve been too many women. Waking up in a small hospital in Washington State, bandaged and bruised, James barely recognizes the gorgeous blonde who comes to visit. Through the haze of pain and medication, he recalls that she is Sophia, the woman he’s been cheating with. Gradually memories return—his girlfriend, Megan, had found out about Sophia. Now Megan is missing, her sister, Rebecca, is hounding him—and police and reporters are asking questions too. James insists he has no idea what happened. Yet he can’t escape a feeling of dread. . . Meanwhile, in a locked room, a woman waits, trapped, petrified, and desperate. She thought she knew who to trust. But the betrayal you can’t imagine—or can’t remember—may be the most terrifying weapon of all. . .
So.... Why only three stars for this mystery thriller. Although a good story, lots of characters I find this story, to slow, much too slow. The pace of the book, the lack of suspense, took away my interest. When a book takes me a week, just over to finish, that shows a lack of interest.
Sadly and with apologies to the author, too slow, not gripping enough, lack of excitement, action or surprises.
October 24, 2020
The Cathills #3
The Cathills of San Francisco are famous for two things: their vast wealth and the scandals that surround them. Murder, greed and deadly ambition, some people will do anything to get and keep the Cathills 'kind of money. Not that James Cathill wants any of it. He's tried to make his own way. But he's enjoyed many women even more. When he wakes up in a small hospital in Washington State bandaged and bruised, he barely recognises the blonde who comes to visit. Then James remembers,she's the woman he's been cheating with. His girlfriend, Megan, had found out about Sophia and now Megan is missing.
I did not realise that this was the third book in the series when I requested it but it does read well as a standalone. There was a lot going on in the book. There's a mixed bunch of likable and unlikeable characters. James is a real cad and now his actions have caught up with him. The plotline was intriguing and twist filled. This is not your typical police procedural either. I quite enjoyed this story.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderAndStoughton and the author #LisaJackson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Cathills of San Francisco are famous for two things: their vast wealth and the scandals that surround them. Murder, greed and deadly ambition, some people will do anything to get and keep the Cathills 'kind of money. Not that James Cathill wants any of it. He's tried to make his own way. But he's enjoyed many women even more. When he wakes up in a small hospital in Washington State bandaged and bruised, he barely recognises the blonde who comes to visit. Then James remembers,she's the woman he's been cheating with. His girlfriend, Megan, had found out about Sophia and now Megan is missing.
I did not realise that this was the third book in the series when I requested it but it does read well as a standalone. There was a lot going on in the book. There's a mixed bunch of likable and unlikeable characters. James is a real cad and now his actions have caught up with him. The plotline was intriguing and twist filled. This is not your typical police procedural either. I quite enjoyed this story.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderAndStoughton and the author #LisaJackson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2020
Something important to take into account is that this story isn’t told in chronological order.
James Cahill wakes up in the hospital with a severe concussion and memory loss. His girlfriend is missing. Little by little they piece together that they had a massive fight about his infidelity and that she stormed off and called her sister to tell that she was on her way there. She never arrived there. James, who’s known for his wandering eye is the first and main suspect but the timeline doesn’t add up.
The reader knows that Jessica left the house and was taken at gunpoint some time along the road.
We also know that a woman (we assume she’s Megan) is locked up inside a tiny house by someone she used to love. The gender of the captor is very skilfully avoided but I had an inkling that she’s a woman. The only woman that Megan is close to is her sister Rebecca who used to be James’ girlfriend prior to her.
Rebecca has turned up in the small town with the idea that James is behind her sister’s disappearance. But Megan also has a history of disappearing after arguments to punish her boyfriend. So can it be mere drama?
There’s also the fact that James isn’t just hot, handsome and charming but he’s also a very wealthy young man and has much more coming in the future. He’s a true chick magnet and some women seem to be willing to kill for what they claim is theirs. And there are plenty of women who have an eye on him, some of them are weirder than others.
Detective Rivers who’s leading the investigation has a weird 6th sense when he touches objects belonging to suspects and victims. A useful trait that he has to hide from colleagues and superiors. His partner Mendoza notices his kleptomaniac tendency for items belonging to victims/witnesses. Will she tell on him?
Tiny houses must be really hot at the moment because this is the second book this summer that features them. I vouch that if you lived in a bedsit for 10 years, you appreciate the luxury of space a lot more. I seriously doubt that the rich people that purchase such a ‘house on wheels’ (what’s the difference with a camper or RV?) will last very long if they have to live there 24/7 and I’m sure most of them end up being a holiday luxury. The most positive thing about those cramped spaces is that you can’t collect too much clutter and have to be very selective in what you keep and what not. Hey, give me one of those and I won’t complain, though.
I must confess that there aren’t many likeable and sympathetic characters in this story. James is an arrogant and immoral rich man who doesn’t think twice about using and dumping women. The women are controlling, selfish, money-chasing, and jealous. Rebecca and detective Rivers are the most pleasant and relatable characters. James seems to have a change of heart towards the end of the book but the question is how long that will last. But not being a nice person doesn’t indicate that you’re a murderer.
This is one of the great books of 2020. It’s suspense from start to end. Literally everybody can be the culprit. You can’t be certain that the women are genuine when they tell their version of events. All of them have reasons to hurt Megan or to have her disappear. But when she screamed that James would never see her again, could she be alluding on an intentional disappearance like she pulled off in the past? When all things come together near the end, everything turns out even different from everything I imagined.
I can’t stress enough how good and intense this psychological thriller is. Lisa Jackson more than deserves her fame. Really everybody is a suspect in this story. And when someone is cleared, a bit further along something else turns up and that augments the suspicion all over again. I’ll definitely read more by her.
The end is ambiguous as well. There’s a large opening for a sequel somewhere in the future. Being caught doesn’t mean the end of an obsession. But as well, I have the feeling that detective Rivers’ story isn’t finished. He’s got all the qualities needed to carry his own series.
As I found out just now, this book is the 3rd in the series surrounding the Cahill family; so that sequel will no doubt happen. As there were a few things that referred to a tumultuous past, I should have known but it didn’t make a difference for my understanding of this book. If they’re the same quality as this one, it’s a shame to have missed them.
I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the free ARC they provided me with and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
James Cahill wakes up in the hospital with a severe concussion and memory loss. His girlfriend is missing. Little by little they piece together that they had a massive fight about his infidelity and that she stormed off and called her sister to tell that she was on her way there. She never arrived there. James, who’s known for his wandering eye is the first and main suspect but the timeline doesn’t add up.
The reader knows that Jessica left the house and was taken at gunpoint some time along the road.
We also know that a woman (we assume she’s Megan) is locked up inside a tiny house by someone she used to love. The gender of the captor is very skilfully avoided but I had an inkling that she’s a woman. The only woman that Megan is close to is her sister Rebecca who used to be James’ girlfriend prior to her.
Rebecca has turned up in the small town with the idea that James is behind her sister’s disappearance. But Megan also has a history of disappearing after arguments to punish her boyfriend. So can it be mere drama?
There’s also the fact that James isn’t just hot, handsome and charming but he’s also a very wealthy young man and has much more coming in the future. He’s a true chick magnet and some women seem to be willing to kill for what they claim is theirs. And there are plenty of women who have an eye on him, some of them are weirder than others.
Detective Rivers who’s leading the investigation has a weird 6th sense when he touches objects belonging to suspects and victims. A useful trait that he has to hide from colleagues and superiors. His partner Mendoza notices his kleptomaniac tendency for items belonging to victims/witnesses. Will she tell on him?
Tiny houses must be really hot at the moment because this is the second book this summer that features them. I vouch that if you lived in a bedsit for 10 years, you appreciate the luxury of space a lot more. I seriously doubt that the rich people that purchase such a ‘house on wheels’ (what’s the difference with a camper or RV?) will last very long if they have to live there 24/7 and I’m sure most of them end up being a holiday luxury. The most positive thing about those cramped spaces is that you can’t collect too much clutter and have to be very selective in what you keep and what not. Hey, give me one of those and I won’t complain, though.
I must confess that there aren’t many likeable and sympathetic characters in this story. James is an arrogant and immoral rich man who doesn’t think twice about using and dumping women. The women are controlling, selfish, money-chasing, and jealous. Rebecca and detective Rivers are the most pleasant and relatable characters. James seems to have a change of heart towards the end of the book but the question is how long that will last. But not being a nice person doesn’t indicate that you’re a murderer.
This is one of the great books of 2020. It’s suspense from start to end. Literally everybody can be the culprit. You can’t be certain that the women are genuine when they tell their version of events. All of them have reasons to hurt Megan or to have her disappear. But when she screamed that James would never see her again, could she be alluding on an intentional disappearance like she pulled off in the past? When all things come together near the end, everything turns out even different from everything I imagined.
I can’t stress enough how good and intense this psychological thriller is. Lisa Jackson more than deserves her fame. Really everybody is a suspect in this story. And when someone is cleared, a bit further along something else turns up and that augments the suspicion all over again. I’ll definitely read more by her.
The end is ambiguous as well. There’s a large opening for a sequel somewhere in the future. Being caught doesn’t mean the end of an obsession. But as well, I have the feeling that detective Rivers’ story isn’t finished. He’s got all the qualities needed to carry his own series.
As I found out just now, this book is the 3rd in the series surrounding the Cahill family; so that sequel will no doubt happen. As there were a few things that referred to a tumultuous past, I should have known but it didn’t make a difference for my understanding of this book. If they’re the same quality as this one, it’s a shame to have missed them.
I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the free ARC they provided me with and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
November 14, 2020
This is an entertaining, well-written suspense novel. It is a real page turner with mystery, intrigue, suspense, small town and family drama, twists and turns and murders. It is the third novel in Ms. Jackson's "The Cahills" series, and can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I am looking forward to reading the first two novels in this series with great anticipation.
January 28, 2021
Second time writing a review, this book had me at the beginning it quickly pulls you in until the very end. I enjoyed everything about this book and i highly recommend this book.
July 6, 2023
Too dragged out, repetitive and unnecessarily long at 444 pages. I didn't like any of the characters, especially the man-whore, James Cahill. And repetitive? The exact same sex scene is played out twice in the book only at different times, complete with "spasms." (eye-roll) All in all, it was pretty boring. I am tired of authors dragging out their books to get higher page counts. I understand many authors are paid by the word. If this is true, it's a damn shame because it ruins many potentially good books that may have been better if they weren't so long. Jackson's next release is called DISTRUST, but at 506 pages, I am going to pass.
Want to read
October 28, 2020This was book 3 in the Cahill series. There are too many characters to sort out and there is no depth to them. The story falls flat and you can figure out the entire story in the beginning. This book would have benefited if it wasn't stretched out so long.
October 5, 2020
Whew! Reading this book, I felt like I was sixteen again watching my favorite soap operas; All My Children and General Hospital. There were many characters to keep track of in this story, and most of them are running around doing crazy things like sneaking into hospitals and crawling through doggy doors. Women perpetrated most of the craziness trying to get the attention of rich, handsome James Cahill, who starts new relationships before ending the old ones. It seems this makes women lose their minds. Imagine that.
The basis of the story is that James wakes up in the hospital, having hit his head after an argument with his girlfriend, Megan after she found out about his new paramour Sophia. Now Megan is missing, and he is a suspect. James doesn’t remember what happened, and everyone, including the police, wants answers. Sophia is quickly moving in on him, Megan’s sister Rebecca shows up, and it seems he used to have a thing with her as well. Are you still with me?
Murdered women start popping up, and there is also a mystery woman locked in a cabin by someone she knows, but we don’t find out who until the end. I was confused up until the very end as to what was going on, so points for that. You Betrayed Me was not my favorite Lisa Jackson book to date, but it was enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read it. I gave it three and one-half stars rounded down to three.
The basis of the story is that James wakes up in the hospital, having hit his head after an argument with his girlfriend, Megan after she found out about his new paramour Sophia. Now Megan is missing, and he is a suspect. James doesn’t remember what happened, and everyone, including the police, wants answers. Sophia is quickly moving in on him, Megan’s sister Rebecca shows up, and it seems he used to have a thing with her as well. Are you still with me?
Murdered women start popping up, and there is also a mystery woman locked in a cabin by someone she knows, but we don’t find out who until the end. I was confused up until the very end as to what was going on, so points for that. You Betrayed Me was not my favorite Lisa Jackson book to date, but it was enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read it. I gave it three and one-half stars rounded down to three.
January 25, 2021
I struggled to get through this book at times as there were some plot holes and it was repetitive in several places. I pushed through and the great reveal and action sequence in the end was not bad, but I’m left feeling like I could have stopped or finished and it was all the same. I liked some of the side characters, my favorite was the detective that had unique tricks to putting himself into the mindset of his suspects and victims. The basic premise is we have a poor little rich boy, James, who can’t seem to date only one woman at any given time, but even knowing this, sometimes before the relationship starts, they all seem to think he’s irresistible. Lots of family and relationship drama and a decent mystery mostly revolving around a missing girls, Megan, James’ latest official girlfriend.
January 11, 2021
This read like a bad soap opera.
February 18, 2021
The plot seems overly familiar
October 8, 2020
This is a book with no really likable characters, which means two things to me: First, it's a rare opportunity to root for a bad guy (or gal), and second, I really didn't care who got bumped off.
This is the third in the author's "Cahills" series, but it's my first; that said, I never felt as if I should have known something that wasn't here, meaning it stands alone just fine as far as I'm concerned. The Cahills, for the record, are obscenely rich; most of the remaining family, whose lives are riddled with scandals of various kinds, reside in the San Francisco area. One son, James, is a relatively successful businessman in Washington state; he expects to inherit a bundle of dough at some not-too-distant point. And he is the central player in this book.
Speaking of players, James is an active participant when it comes to romance. As the book begins, he's trying to divest himself of current girlfriend Megan - sister of Rebecca, with whom he (gasp!) had a prior fling. Megan has learned that she's being cast off for Sophia, another young beauty, and she's none too happy. But suddenly, Megan goes missing - and James wakes up in the hospital with fairly serious injuries but no recollection of how he got them. Even when he gets a visit from Sophia, he doesn't remember who she is (or so he claims).
Detective Brett Rivers and his partner, Wynona Mendoza, are charged with solving the case and finding the still-missing Megan. The only sure thing at this point is that they aren't convinced that James isn't faking his memory loss. Megan's sister Rebecca breezes in from her Seattle home - Megan was on her way there when she and her car disappeared - and she's determined to find her sister with or without help from the detectives.
The chase goes on - and on - and it takes several tantalizing directions before the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is revealed. All told, it's an action-packed adventure that kept my mind off political rhetoric for a wonderful half-dozen hours or so. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy to read and review.
This is the third in the author's "Cahills" series, but it's my first; that said, I never felt as if I should have known something that wasn't here, meaning it stands alone just fine as far as I'm concerned. The Cahills, for the record, are obscenely rich; most of the remaining family, whose lives are riddled with scandals of various kinds, reside in the San Francisco area. One son, James, is a relatively successful businessman in Washington state; he expects to inherit a bundle of dough at some not-too-distant point. And he is the central player in this book.
Speaking of players, James is an active participant when it comes to romance. As the book begins, he's trying to divest himself of current girlfriend Megan - sister of Rebecca, with whom he (gasp!) had a prior fling. Megan has learned that she's being cast off for Sophia, another young beauty, and she's none too happy. But suddenly, Megan goes missing - and James wakes up in the hospital with fairly serious injuries but no recollection of how he got them. Even when he gets a visit from Sophia, he doesn't remember who she is (or so he claims).
Detective Brett Rivers and his partner, Wynona Mendoza, are charged with solving the case and finding the still-missing Megan. The only sure thing at this point is that they aren't convinced that James isn't faking his memory loss. Megan's sister Rebecca breezes in from her Seattle home - Megan was on her way there when she and her car disappeared - and she's determined to find her sister with or without help from the detectives.
The chase goes on - and on - and it takes several tantalizing directions before the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is revealed. All told, it's an action-packed adventure that kept my mind off political rhetoric for a wonderful half-dozen hours or so. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy to read and review.
August 23, 2021
Lisa Jackson’s You Betrayed Me is not a story of good vs. bad, but bad vs. worse. As the title indicates, it is a tale of betrayal and its spiraling effects. With a womanizing protagonist, a kleptomaniac detective, a fortune-hunting girlfriend who steals her sister’s boyfriend, and obsessed and deranged women who feel plucked out of a Lifetime movie, the story didn’t provide a single likeable character.
While I will do my best to avoid spoilers, I do believe the following potential triggers need to be addressed. One character wakes up to find another straddling him/her having sex. While the two had been previously involved, it was extremely disturbing; especially considering Character A had been asleep and on medication so there had been no consent. It was rape, plain and simple. Yet the story never addressed it as such. While Character A seemed a bit put off, s/he never seemed overly upset and disregarded the severity of it, even going on to think of Character B in ways that didn’t acknowledge what had occurred. If all this weren’t bad enough, it didn’t happen once, or twice, but three times.
While the writing itself is solid and the settings vividly portrayed, the lack of characters to root for and the unsettling way in which worrisome events were handled had me setting aside the book multiple times and struggling to review it. You Betrayed Me is one novel I will do my best to forget and unfortunately cannot recommend.
Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!
While I will do my best to avoid spoilers, I do believe the following potential triggers need to be addressed. One character wakes up to find another straddling him/her having sex. While the two had been previously involved, it was extremely disturbing; especially considering Character A had been asleep and on medication so there had been no consent. It was rape, plain and simple. Yet the story never addressed it as such. While Character A seemed a bit put off, s/he never seemed overly upset and disregarded the severity of it, even going on to think of Character B in ways that didn’t acknowledge what had occurred. If all this weren’t bad enough, it didn’t happen once, or twice, but three times.
While the writing itself is solid and the settings vividly portrayed, the lack of characters to root for and the unsettling way in which worrisome events were handled had me setting aside the book multiple times and struggling to review it. You Betrayed Me is one novel I will do my best to forget and unfortunately cannot recommend.
Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!
May 29, 2022
Ugh it was so long and so bad. I should have abandoned it before I wasted so much time on it, but I did just want to see how it ended; I was not rewarded for my patience. From the cliché title to the absolutely unlikable characters, there was not one redeeming quality of this book. James has 0 attractive qualities, yet is this huge lady magnet. All of the women characters are wimpy, idiotic, and embarrassing. Truly, at the end, I wouldn't have been upset if they all kicked it. Do not recommend, unless you're looking for a book to rip on.
December 21, 2020
Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book for an honest opinion.
I was very intrigued by this book from the blurb and enjoyed it from the outset. There is a lot of drama from the start and throughout. It seemed a bit like a soap opera and leaves you wondering what might happen next and to whom. There were also some truly crazed characters and the rich James Cahill doesn't come off too well either. Maybe it's his womanising ways with every woman in town trying to throw themselves at him. He did after all wake in a hospital, having lost his memory and then all he can remember is cheating on his girlfriend who now seems to have disappeared.
I loved the location in this book, the Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington and almost felt I could be there.
The book did appear out of order at times as did go back to deal with another character, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I wouldn't say I loved the characters, but they were very well written and I loved all the twists and turns throughout. I couldn't wait to see "who had done it!. Thanks for a great book to switch off from the real life issues we're currently facing. Looking forward to the next and to try out others by this author and I hadn't realised it was part of a series as could easily be read as a standalone, but I'm very keen to read the others now. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I was very intrigued by this book from the blurb and enjoyed it from the outset. There is a lot of drama from the start and throughout. It seemed a bit like a soap opera and leaves you wondering what might happen next and to whom. There were also some truly crazed characters and the rich James Cahill doesn't come off too well either. Maybe it's his womanising ways with every woman in town trying to throw themselves at him. He did after all wake in a hospital, having lost his memory and then all he can remember is cheating on his girlfriend who now seems to have disappeared.
I loved the location in this book, the Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington and almost felt I could be there.
The book did appear out of order at times as did go back to deal with another character, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I wouldn't say I loved the characters, but they were very well written and I loved all the twists and turns throughout. I couldn't wait to see "who had done it!. Thanks for a great book to switch off from the real life issues we're currently facing. Looking forward to the next and to try out others by this author and I hadn't realised it was part of a series as could easily be read as a standalone, but I'm very keen to read the others now. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
November 6, 2021
It would be too generous to give this book three stars so I'm sticking with two. I read this because my grandma gave it to me to read while I'm staying with her and like... oh boy. Like at the very least, this book was batshit insane and I just had to know what the hell was going on. That's why I finished it. Literally no other reason.
The author could have made this book like 200 pages instead of 400 but that's how much goddamn repetition was in it. Like, something would happen, and then three separate characters over the next several chapters would go over it again. Like babe. You don't need to remind me. I literally just read that. Plus Ms. Jackson literally used the same sentences over and over. One I won't forget is, "The cold slapped him/her in the face." That one was used at least seven times. I counted. We get it. It's winter.
This read like a Lifetime thriller, and not really a good one. Too many red herrings. Too many tropes. But like I said, I needed to know what happened. To sum up: multiple murders, attempted murder, kidnapping, the repeated sexual assault of a male main character that's completely and totally not treated like assault AT ALL, an evil twin, stalking, sex, betrayal, a psychic cop, surprise pregnancy, and incest. Yes. You read that right. That was all this one book.
I'd be mad I wasted my time reading it, but at least I get to count it towards my Reading Challenge goal. If you see this review and get curious, don't waste your time reading it. I'll sum it up for you.
The author could have made this book like 200 pages instead of 400 but that's how much goddamn repetition was in it. Like, something would happen, and then three separate characters over the next several chapters would go over it again. Like babe. You don't need to remind me. I literally just read that. Plus Ms. Jackson literally used the same sentences over and over. One I won't forget is, "The cold slapped him/her in the face." That one was used at least seven times. I counted. We get it. It's winter.
This read like a Lifetime thriller, and not really a good one. Too many red herrings. Too many tropes. But like I said, I needed to know what happened. To sum up: multiple murders, attempted murder, kidnapping, the repeated sexual assault of a male main character that's completely and totally not treated like assault AT ALL, an evil twin, stalking, sex, betrayal, a psychic cop, surprise pregnancy, and incest. Yes. You read that right. That was all this one book.
I'd be mad I wasted my time reading it, but at least I get to count it towards my Reading Challenge goal. If you see this review and get curious, don't waste your time reading it. I'll sum it up for you.
August 31, 2022
Für mich war es das erste Buch der Autorin, hier hat mich sowohl das Cover als auch der Klappentext zum Buch greifen lassen, da beides eine spannende Geschichte versprach.
Der Auftakt ist gut gemacht, man wird sofort ins Geschehen geworfen und erlebt das eigentliche Drama hautnah mit, ohne zu dem Zeitpunkt natürlich bereits irgendwelche Details zu wissen.
Die kommen erst nach und nach zum Vorschein.
Als Leser erlebt man die Geschichte immer wieder aus verschiedenen Perspektiven, so tauchen wir unter anderem immer wieder in die Gedanken von Megan, James, Rebecca und Sophia ein.
Dieser ständige Wechsel macht es meiner Meinung nach leider auch etwas schwierig, dem ganzen Ablauf richtig folgen zu können, zumal wir auch immer wieder mit kleinen Zeitsprüngen konfrontiert werden.
Insgesamt fand ich die Geschichte gut für zwischendurch, sie war durchaus spannend - aber für meinen Geschmack war es zuviel durcheinander und leider auch nichts wirklich besonderes.
Der Auftakt ist gut gemacht, man wird sofort ins Geschehen geworfen und erlebt das eigentliche Drama hautnah mit, ohne zu dem Zeitpunkt natürlich bereits irgendwelche Details zu wissen.
Die kommen erst nach und nach zum Vorschein.
Als Leser erlebt man die Geschichte immer wieder aus verschiedenen Perspektiven, so tauchen wir unter anderem immer wieder in die Gedanken von Megan, James, Rebecca und Sophia ein.
Dieser ständige Wechsel macht es meiner Meinung nach leider auch etwas schwierig, dem ganzen Ablauf richtig folgen zu können, zumal wir auch immer wieder mit kleinen Zeitsprüngen konfrontiert werden.
Insgesamt fand ich die Geschichte gut für zwischendurch, sie war durchaus spannend - aber für meinen Geschmack war es zuviel durcheinander und leider auch nichts wirklich besonderes.
October 30, 2020
Lisa Jackson spins a story that takes you slowly into it and pulls you into it in such a way that by the end of it I just was not able to stay away from the story!
James Cahill is a member of the Cahill family of San Francisco who are famous for their wealth and scandals in their life. When James Cahill finds himself in the hospital not remembering what has happened before that day, with a suspicion of harming his girl friend Megan, he finds himself in a place difficult to squirm out.
Many past girl friends come out and along come Detectives Rivers and Mendoza trying to solve the case. To add to this is Detective Rivers out of the box ability to get into the opposite persons mind.
The author kept me hooked to the story with its many characters who are aptly placed in the plot. Each having their own past and a role in the story. Not a single character seemed out of place or unnecessary. With a scope for sequel, the author has kept me waiting for the next one.The story does seem a bit long and it took me some time to get into the story, but then no regrets. What could have been different was that the role of the detectives seemed a bit underplayed.
If you love to read mysteries with many characters and many potential suspects, detectives and story that keeps giving you different angles then you will enjoy the story.
I thank Kensington publishers, author and Netgalley for approving me to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are wholly mine
James Cahill is a member of the Cahill family of San Francisco who are famous for their wealth and scandals in their life. When James Cahill finds himself in the hospital not remembering what has happened before that day, with a suspicion of harming his girl friend Megan, he finds himself in a place difficult to squirm out.
Many past girl friends come out and along come Detectives Rivers and Mendoza trying to solve the case. To add to this is Detective Rivers out of the box ability to get into the opposite persons mind.
The author kept me hooked to the story with its many characters who are aptly placed in the plot. Each having their own past and a role in the story. Not a single character seemed out of place or unnecessary. With a scope for sequel, the author has kept me waiting for the next one.The story does seem a bit long and it took me some time to get into the story, but then no regrets. What could have been different was that the role of the detectives seemed a bit underplayed.
If you love to read mysteries with many characters and many potential suspects, detectives and story that keeps giving you different angles then you will enjoy the story.
I thank Kensington publishers, author and Netgalley for approving me to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are wholly mine
December 1, 2024
Lisa Jackson always tells a good story. She usually throws me off on who the murderer is with all her twists and turns. This time I got it right. Except for the male accomplice, I didn't picture him in the mix. James Cahill the next heir to the Amhurst/Cahill fortunes, he's a player amongst women. Tall good looking and soon to inherit 100's of millions of dollars. The fairer sex just can't resist him or his money. When one of his girlfriends goes missing after a huge fight they had he's the number one suspect. He's starting to look like he is the killer when several of his female employees start getting killed as well. Employed by Cahill industries, the company James started with some of the Cahill trust fund he borrowed from. He has a hotel, Christmas store, a cafe and a construction company. He may be a player but he does work hard and makes his own money too. After the huge fight with Megan he ends up in the hospital with a severe head injury, broken ribs, scratches all over his face. The problem is he has temporary amnesia and can't remember the day of the fight. When he starts getting pieces of his memory back and women start dropping like flies around him, he wonders who is framing him and why? Will the detectives ever find the real killer, or is he going to wind up in prison for a crimes he didn't commit? I loved this book. You need to read this book as soon as possible.
October 31, 2020
An entertaining and complicated mystery thriller that involves murder, greed, revenge, big money, and fatal attraction.
James Cahill is the son of a San Francisco family with vast wealth but he has moved away to Riggs Crossing, Washington, to start his own enterprises -- building tiny houses, a Christmas tree farm, and a quaint little inn. Unfortunately, he's the target of a lot of gold diggers due to his good looks and eventual inheritance. He wakes up in the local hospital with a head injury and amnesia. His current girlfriend, Megan Travers, is missing. Detective Brett Rivers and his partner, Wynonna Mendoza, soon come calling with many questions. It quickly becomes clear that Megan was not James's only girlfriend and this complicates the investigation into Megan's disappearance. NO SPOILERS.
What a convoluted tale full of a huge cast of characters told in multiple viewpoints. I struggled to find even one character that I liked as they were all complex and some were very nasty. Although it was fast-paced, there was a lot of repetition and my least favorite parts were those written italics. I had not read the previous 2 books in this series, but this felt OK as a standalone and seemed complete.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
James Cahill is the son of a San Francisco family with vast wealth but he has moved away to Riggs Crossing, Washington, to start his own enterprises -- building tiny houses, a Christmas tree farm, and a quaint little inn. Unfortunately, he's the target of a lot of gold diggers due to his good looks and eventual inheritance. He wakes up in the local hospital with a head injury and amnesia. His current girlfriend, Megan Travers, is missing. Detective Brett Rivers and his partner, Wynonna Mendoza, soon come calling with many questions. It quickly becomes clear that Megan was not James's only girlfriend and this complicates the investigation into Megan's disappearance. NO SPOILERS.
What a convoluted tale full of a huge cast of characters told in multiple viewpoints. I struggled to find even one character that I liked as they were all complex and some were very nasty. Although it was fast-paced, there was a lot of repetition and my least favorite parts were those written italics. I had not read the previous 2 books in this series, but this felt OK as a standalone and seemed complete.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
August 7, 2020
The setting is the Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington. In the 1st chapter, someone is being held captive in an isolated cabin. In the 2nd chapter, Megan has discovered that her boyfriend James Cahill is cheating and she heads to her sister's home in Seattle in a snowstorm. She doesn't make it there. In chapter 3, James Cahill wakes up in the hospital, injured without a memory of what happened.
I liked the setting of cold, ice, and snow. James Cahill was a louse and the women were all full of anger so it was hard for me to root for any of the characters. I thought the first half of the book was too long and the plot moved too slowly. The last 1/3 of the book was better with all the reveals.
I love Lisa Jackson's books with Pescoli and Alvarez but this Cahill series is not for me. If you like a romantic suspense with lots of drama, give this one a try.
I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I entered and won back in March. We all know what also happened around that time --Covid 19. New York went into lockdown and the publisher was not able to get to the books to mail out. I only received my copy this past week but I appreciate the publisher keeping up with those who won and following through.
I liked the setting of cold, ice, and snow. James Cahill was a louse and the women were all full of anger so it was hard for me to root for any of the characters. I thought the first half of the book was too long and the plot moved too slowly. The last 1/3 of the book was better with all the reveals.
I love Lisa Jackson's books with Pescoli and Alvarez but this Cahill series is not for me. If you like a romantic suspense with lots of drama, give this one a try.
I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I entered and won back in March. We all know what also happened around that time --Covid 19. New York went into lockdown and the publisher was not able to get to the books to mail out. I only received my copy this past week but I appreciate the publisher keeping up with those who won and following through.
October 9, 2020
This was not the usual Lisa Jackson fare that I’ve enjoyed so much in the past. This was the 3rd in a series, but felt more like an episode of a TV soap opera.
I’ll look forward to more of her old style plotting. This was simply not for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll look forward to more of her old style plotting. This was simply not for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2021
The kind of mystery/thriller I like, not too much thriller lol. Even with so many characters, it was easy to follow and kept my attention.
January 27, 2021
I won a copy of You Betrayed Me by Lisa Jackson from Goodreads.
Who? That is the question readers keep asking themselves as they read You Betrayed Me by Lisa Jackson. As the gripping story unfolds, readers keep guessing not only who is the perpetrator, but also who are the victims. A complex whodunit and a complicated who is it, You Betrayed Me delivers twists that surprise and turns that thrill.
Who? That is the question readers keep asking themselves as they read You Betrayed Me by Lisa Jackson. As the gripping story unfolds, readers keep guessing not only who is the perpetrator, but also who are the victims. A complex whodunit and a complicated who is it, You Betrayed Me delivers twists that surprise and turns that thrill.
February 3, 2025
It started out very engaging and suspenseful, but then about 75% completed, I felt like there were too many characters to keep up with and it got confusing at points. I think the book would have been better with half of the characters and cut shorter.
July 31, 2020
What a puzzle! So many moving pieces and so many characters who seem to all have a different agenda, all wrapped up in this book.
A storyline with constant surprises and an ending that would come in and out of focus.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A storyline with constant surprises and an ending that would come in and out of focus.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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