Before I Say I Do

by Vicki Bradley

It’s Julia’s wedding day. Her nerves are to be expected – every bride feels the same – but there’s another layer to her fear, one that she cannot explain to her soon-to-be husband, Mark. She’s never told him the details – and she is determined he never finds out.

As she begins down the aisle, spotting Mark in his tailored suit, she knows she is taking her first steps to happiness – her past is behind her, it can’t catch her now. Mark turns to face her . . .

But it isn’t Mark in the beautiful suit – it’s his best man.

Because Mark is missing.  

And Julia’s past is closer than she thinks . . .

Perfect for fans of Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll and Now You See Her by Heidi Perks, this is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that asks the question, how well can you really know anyone?
 

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

Audiobook

First published May 28, 2020

About the author

Vicki Bradley is a detective constable in the Metropolitan Police. She has had a varied career, as a uniformed response driver in Brent and then as a detective in Southwark CID. She has managed High Risk Sex Offenders and worked on the Serious Organised Crime Command. She is currently on a career break while she focuses on writing.
Her debut novel, Before I Say I Do, will be published on 28th May 2020 and won the Write Here Right Now competition, came 3rd place in the First Novel Prize, and was been shortlisted for the Virago New Crime Writer prize.
She enjoys travelling the world and climbing mountains. She lives in London with her husband.

Reviews

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I Say I Do is a mystery novel featuring a Met detective Alana Loxton investigating the disappearance of a young man who went missing the night before his wedding. His fiancé Julia is worried that his disappearance is linked to her hidden past and the secrets she keeps. 

I have to say this book is better than I would expect a debut crime novel to be. It's obvious that the author as a Met police officer knows very well what she is talking about. Told from a dual perspective alternating between the detective and the bride, this is a gripping and addictive read. I especially liked the character of Alana who despite being a police officer is herself flawed but very likeable. I'm hoping Vicki Bradley will turn this into a series and we'll get to see Alana Loxton book 2.

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
The first half of the book was interesting and made me want to read more. After that it got more extreme and unrealistic. Halfway I guessed the perpetrator but not how it was done. Also one small part of the story line wasn't wrapped up (no spoilers so I'm keeping it vague).
Sorry Clemens, it obviously wasn't my book!

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous novel from, for me, a new author called, Vicki Bradley, is in my view an amazing suspenseful read.

Storytelling is of a top-notch quality, all figures involved in this thriller come vividly to life, while also the author's experience as a DC with the Met Police, and not to forget her knowledge about procedures within the force and during investigations, all these factors are coming together in a most splendid fashion within this great story.

It all starts when one of the leading figures, a woman named, Julia Talbot, formerly known as Jennie Hughes due to events in the past, is about to get married to the banker, Mark Rowthorn, while only his best man, David Steele, is in attendance at the ceremony.

The bridesmaid, Lucy Webb, formerly known as Kayleigh Webb, is also an important character, as a friend to Julia, but also as a central figure from events in the past.

The second leading figure is, Alana Loxton, formerly a member of the MIT, but now with the Southwark Borough CID, and one of the leading investigators for the missing Mark, and working alongside her is her new colleague, Dominik Kowalski, and under the supervision of DCI Winter.

When a man from the past turns up who goes by the name of, Jonathan (Jonny) Cane, and who's only just released on parole, his name and behaviour will also him a suspect about the disappearance of Mark, but he's certainly someone who's also connected with something that happened in the past, the murder of Julia's (then Jennie) younger sister, Rachel, in 2000, and that fact will run like a red thread throughout this whole psychological thriller.

What is to come is a suspenseful thriller in which Loxton and Kowalski will be truly tested in their investigations when dealing with this case of a missing person and everything that will unfold, f.e. the murders of Robert McGregor and Jonny Cane, and before they will be able to catch the culprit they will encounter some horrific and dangerous encounters with a deadly perpetrator and desperate victims.

Highly recommended, for this is an amazing debut novel from a very talented new author, and that's why I would like to say get yourself a copy of this great book and enjoy this gripping tale, and so to end this review I want to call it: "A Fantastic Psychological Debut Thriller"!

**A massive thank you to the author for gifting me a paperback copy with no strings attached!**

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts with Julia's wedding day. He fiancé, Mark is missing. Detective Alana Loxton is given the job to find out what happened to Mark. She's also new to the team and wants to make a good impression. She need to get to the bottom of Mark's disappearance before anything sinister happens to him.

This story is told from Julia and Alana's points of view. It has a cleverly crafted plot. I liked the relationship Alana had with her colleague Kowalski. There is plenty of twist and turns to keep you guessing and the ending was a surprise. This is a really good debut novel.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and the author Vicki Bradley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Before I Say I Do - a cleverly twisted psychological thriller that is perfectly paced and offers up a lot in terms of second guessing yourself as you read.

Left at the altar, discovering your fiancee isn't quite the person you thought they were, hiding a violent past yourself- that all faces our main protagonist here and Vicky Bradley does an excellent job of keeping things intriguing and addictive.

Overall a great read. Recommended.

[Charlotte Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is written in abit of a GSCE English style, and it certainly won’t win any awards for literature….but it was a classic “naff crime book” that I really love to help me get out of a reading rut. Although I guessed the killer (s?) from the first 2 chapters (too many bbc crime dramas for me!) I still couldn’t stop turning the pages. If you’re stuck and you need a quick dramatic fix, this is good

[Mellisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia has a traumatic past, which she has kept secret from her soon to be husband, Mark. It's now her wedding day, she's walking down the aisle, people around her whispering. Mark turns around... only it's not Mark, but his bestfriend, David. Mark's missing, and Julia's dark past is ready to be exposed...

The first in the series following DC Loxton and DC Kowalski. This story was an emotional rollercoaster, with parts that chilled me, shocked me, and left me speechless. It's not often a book can get this sort of reaction from me, but wow did this pull it out. This author is absolutely incredible and I can't believe I've only just heard of them, I need to get the second in the series ASAP! I need to see what's next for the detectives. I can see this being another good series I just have to keep up to date with - absolutely fantastic!

[Michael Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot of the story about a runaway groom was intriguing but after 6 or so chapters the story lost the plot speed and character and became very boring there were a lot of police procedures which made the story very slow and boring

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of twists

[Vaishali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a psychological thriller like no other, with its dark and twisty turns.

Julia Talbot is about to get married to the love of her life, until she walks down the aisle to find him missing. A simple case of the groom having second thoughts quickly spirals into something much deeper and darker. Everyone becomes a suspect and time is running out to find the missing groom.

I enjoyed the dual perspective between Julia Talbot and Detective Alana Loxton. It was interesting to see both perspectives side by side. I also enjoyed the varying lengths of chapters because they only added suspense. However, I found this really hard to get into and wasn’t entirely bothered by what happened. It was only in the second half that the plot really picked up and I felt compelled to finish it. It ended up being a lot darker than I thought and some of it just didn’t sit right with me.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut book full of twist and turns that is exciting from start to finish, I would definitely want to read more by Vicki Bradley. I loved the big twist, had me shocked and guessing!

[Helen Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've read this book before, although it's not in my Goodreads history. However, I still enjoyed it, having forgotten the ending. Easy to read, but couldn't put it down. Ready for the next one in the series.

[Sanjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging book that had me hooked. Reveals gagged me throughout

[Nadiah Razali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark is POS, the plot twist is nice :)

[Pgchuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlikeable characters and unlikely coincidences.

[Morgan Schulman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Generally not a police procedural kinda gal but I loved this one- the author’s time on the force really comes through. You can really get caught up in all the characters as well as the twists and I tore through it. Easy five

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia is getting ready to marry Mark, when she arrives at the aisle he isn’t waiting for her, he has disappeared. Detective Alana Loxton is new to the team after being transferred out of her MIT position and she wants to make a good impression. Things are not adding up for Alana with Julia and Mark. Can they find him before someone has to die?

Oh I loved this book. It was really gripping and a brilliant story. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Marni Smyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the layout of the chapters and I liked how each character was a plausible suspect. Although the culprit was one of the obvious ones from the beginning, the way they did it, what they did, and the reason for it weren't. Really gripping book, a follow up documenting the various characters' futures would be excellent!

[Paula Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read,wasn’t expecting the ending to be like that
Definitely 5*

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars!

I picked this book up from a charity shop I had never heard of the book or the author before but the premise sounded fascinating. Before I Say I Do was a fast paced, twisty, unpredictable thriller with an emotional story. I was so invested in Alana and Kowalski I have to admit I just kept hoping they were just going to make out and get it over with! This book was just fantastic one of the best thrillers I have read this year. It was just impossible to put down and the twist at the end was nuts! I had a feeling a certain character was strange but I never suspected the ending! Just fantastic I will definitely be interested to read more from this author in the future.

[Erin Rumney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid read, three and a half stars rounded up ⭐️

Plenty of plots twists and red herrings coupled with a good pace to keep you hooked. I found this more to be of a crime novel rather than a ‘dark, twisty psychological thriller’ so had to change my perspective of what I was expecting.

I wasn’t disappointed with the ending but I just felt it was a bit flat compared to the rest of the book. I didn’t guess who the bad person was, but I didn’t feel like it really tied in with the rest of the plot. There is being thrown off
the scent and being rather disjointed, hence the 3.5 stars.

But happy to give it the four stars for the review as I did want to pick it up and raced to find out what happened in the end.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part psychological thriller, part detective genre. I enjoyed this novel more than I initially thought I would - the first chapter, most of which consists of a bride's pre-wedding nerves, did very little for me. As I read on - the novel is nothing if not a page turner - I settled into it more. It was extremely well written, cleverly plotted, and on the whole very satisfying. If there's a but, it's the characterisation. I did not completely believe in the motivations of those who peopled the story. Still, an extremely enjoyable way to spend a few hours. And hours is what most of us currently have!

[Ana Decosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say this is quite a thriller. The plot thickens with each chapter, although sooner or later you are able to pinpoint a culprit. I enjoyed the story, but when it comes to writing, some descriptions were too extended. I also had problem with repetitions, going through similar scenes from Julia and Alana's POV, explaining how each of them felt, etc. (in addition, the fire scene at Lucy's house was so complex and confusing, I had to go back to the top, to get the visual idea of what was going on).
However, my biggest issue concerns Dominik Kowalski's native language. Ekhm... it happens I'm native Polish speaker and I had a couple of laughs reading Dominik's lines.
First of all, Kowalski wanted to call Alec 'a prick' and he used a Polish word "ukłucie", which unfortunately is a wrong word. 'Ukłucie' in Polish is like pinprick/a sting/a stab - it hurts physically. The word you should have used, dear author, is (a vulgar one) 'fiucie' - meaning a penis.
Second of all, 'gówno'? No one says that in Polish when he or she means "shit". You should have used, for example, a word 'cholera' - meaning "damn".
The last thing is a scene in Mamuśka Cafe, where Kowalski orders 'kawę i gulasz wieprzowy z cebulą', which in English is 'a coffee and a stew'. Let me tell you, no one here drinks coffee to a stew - it's gross to even think about it. He could have ordered a soda, a non-alcoholic beer or even tea (hellooooo, we're in London, aren't we?), but coffee is unacceptable.
I know Polish is not the easiest language ever, but the author claims she has used assistance with Polish language from a native speaker or at least someone speaking Polish, so it boggles my mind how the hell it resulted in such a mess?
Summing up, the book is not bad at all, but it has many flaws and needs heavy editing or re-editing.

[Lucy Perry Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t particularly excited about reading this book so when I started to really enjoy it, it was a pleasant surprise! I must say the first half totally captivated me. I found it compelling and it managed to stir up really empathy with the central character. I was rooting for her!! I also loved the side line police procedural which was believable and painted great characterisations which I found easy to visualise.

Then it fell into the trap of so many books in this genre - unbelievable deranged psycho character that you just totally can’t relate to that makes the whole thing fall flat.

This one went one step further once the case was closed, to go back and describe in great detail the horrific killing of a child. It completely turned my stomach. It was so gratuitous and unnecessary - maybe because I have a toddler this effected me more deeply than is normal but still... really?

Put both those halves together and you end up with something a bit underwhelming with enjoyable parts so a 3

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scene of a wedding is one of beauty and grace. A safe place where you feel nothing can go wrong. It is like stepping into a fairytale, the bride in white, the groom in tailored threads with flowers all around and nothing but pure joy. The reader has been invited to such an event as they meet a nervous Julia about to walk down the aisle towards her husband-to-be, Mark. You are led to believe that the reason she is a little on edge is just pre-wedding jitters. Normal wedding behaviour. Yet you get a small whiff of something that smells a bit off. You can’t put your finger on it but it’s there, hanging in the air like a silent but deadly aroma. As Julia walks towards Mark everything drastically changes. You realise that this isn’t going to be a lovey-dovey romance story about newlyweds. No, far worse you experience murder, drugs and revenge all neatly wrapped up as a wedding gift to the happy couple.

The narrative follows the two main characters Julia Talbot and CID Alana Loxton. Julia is narrated in first person while Loxton is told in third. Because of this style I felt more connected to Julia. However this didn’t mean that I knew everything about her and couldn’t rely on her as a truthful source. I respected Loxton from the moment I met her. She brought a strong sense of justice and dedication to her job that made me constantly cheer her on. With every knock-back she faces she pulls herself up and refuses to back down. I admire this in a character, the tenacity to not give up and the passion to fight for what is right. It was fascinating jumping from Julia’s head to observe Loxton’s investigation. They are two very different characters but have a few similarities that make them a force to be reckoned with.

At times Julia appears weak willed as her best friend Lucy is often at her side. They have known each since childhood but have an unspoken rule to not discuss their past. In the aftermath of Mark’s disappearance, Lucy is there every step of the way and offers to look after Julia, rushing home from work and bringing her food so she’s not alone. At first it can be seen as endearing but it only enhances how dependent Julia is. She can be excused for certain behaviour as the man she was about to marry has vanished into thin air, but the more you learn about her, the more you suspect something is amiss. She doesn’t know anything about her finances for her own jewellery shop and gets uneasy at the mention of her family, claiming they died in a car crash years ago. She comes across like a child and seems lost in her adult life. Events reach a point where something snaps inside her and she decides to tackle Mark’s disappearance alone which only leads her down a dangerous path. She starts lying to Lucy about her whereabouts and feels increasingly paranoid that someone is watching her. Whenever the police talk to her she is on edge, throwing up and feeling dizzy, she wants to run which only heightens our suspicions of her innocence. The reader begins to wonder if they know her at all or if she even knows herself. She is a complex character wearing many masks which only makes it that more interesting to decipher.

Bradley brings together a mixture of characters that you root for and want to succeed while others you just want to slap hard across the face for being such an arse. It’s a devious blend of innocence and guilt that drives their purpose throughout the narrative, leaving the reader to work out the wolves among the sheep. You think you know certain characters but are then shocked to discover their true identity and no longer trust anyone in the story. You feel a fool as you look back and see the signs. Very much like our own personal lives, you never can tell what lies beneath the surface. With every new discovery of the truth and secret told, the more you realise how wrong you were about everything.

Bradley has a talent for delivering the unexpected to the reader at the most crucial of moments. There are so many red herrings that leave you frustrated and desperate to find out the truth. I was compelled to read on, to know the fate of the characters and have everything explained at the end like your typical who-done-it. It’s exciting, heart stopping and so full of suspense that you won’t want to put it down.

Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break anymore, Bradley delivered another blow that cut deeper than the last. I was a mess towards the end and couldn’t stop the tears. It was heartbreaking to read about that fateful day in the woods. All the feelings, the atmosphere, and the innocence. It’s tragic and I was left feeling horrified at how far some people will go to get their own way.

I learned a lot from this story, most importantly that you can’t let your past dictate your future. Both Julia and Loxton constantly worry that their secret past will affect their present. They spend a lot of time fretting about the consequences of what would happen if word got out. They struggle to move forward and find themselves doubting everything they thought they knew. It is only when they confront their fear and refuse to go on living in a state of cryo-stasis that they are revived triumphantly. After all these two characters have been through, it was well and truly deserved and fulfilling to read how they developed and evolved.

I give Before I Say I Do By Vicki Bradley a Five out of Five paw rating.

Intense and addictive this book is hard to put down. You will find yourself racing towards the end and holding your breath with every revelation, desperate for answers. I couldn’t get enough and did not see the twists coming before it was too late. I was strongly invested in this story, the characters, for everyone to get their comeuppance and I was not disappointed. I felt emotionally drained by the end and loved every single second of it. More please! I am definitely going to be reading more of Bradley’s work, she is an exceptional writer.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Julia’s wedding day doesn’t go as planned. She is ready to walk down the aisle but Mark, the groom, is missing. No one has seen him since the day before. It seems to be more than cold feet and detectives Loxton and Kowalski grudgingly get involved in the investigation. Of course they and Julia uncover a lot more than they bargained for.

4.5 stars.

I like detective novels and this was a good one. We get the story from both Julia and Alana Loxton as they both investigate what happened to Mark. It turns out Julia has some secrets too. There was also some backstory on Alana that makes me think (hope) we may see her and Kowalski again. Overall a good novel with mystery and some suspense and I would read more from this author.

[Kalynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy from the author in return for an honest review.

This is an excellent debut book into the crime fiction genre. I do think it great when the author has a background in the subject as they know what they're talking about.

The story flows really well and the plot twists kept me guessing and fooled me which is great as I hate to be handed the plot. It was an engaging book that I read quickly as I wanted to see what happened. It could be quite dark in places and was intriguing, who was lying? Where is Mark?

I've been given numerous debut books to review in the past and this is by far the best. I'll be keeping a lookout for further works.

[Phil Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. As a debut novel - congratulations. As a “dark twisty psychological thriller” according to the blurb it isn’t. I’m rubbish at twists and I saw all of these a mile off, and for someone who can’t work out who the murderer is I’d worked it out by a third of the way through the book. Once I thought “hang on...” it all fell very swiftly and easily into place. I wasn’t particularly taken with any of the characters and didn’t much care what happened to any of them. An easy and not particularly enjoyable read.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

😊 This twisty, exhilarating thriller had me guessing the whole time, as it stampeded along. As soon as saw this novel I knew it had to be read, and it certainly did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed Before I Say I Do, a deeply engrossing tale of mystery, duplicity and suspense. The book is narrated mostly from two viewpoints, those of Julia Talbot and Detective Alana Loxton.

It is Julia Talbot's wedding day, however, there is a slight problem... her fiancé Mark Rowthorn is missing. DC Alana Laxton is new to the team at Southwark CID after being transferred out of her MIT position and she wants to make the best impression she can. But things are not ringing true for Alana with Julia and Mark.

Vicki Bradley has a very appealing style of writing and the characters she created were very credible. For me, Julia was ambivalent, weak-minded and appeared very dependent on her best friend Lucy. Alana came across as someone with tenacity and passion for her job, as well as possessing a strong sense of justice and I liked her rapport with team member DC Dominik Kowalski.

The story zips back and forth between the present and the past, building a complex, layered story full of twists and turns, giving a heavy tone of apprehensiveness and foreboding. I was immediately questioning the characters' motives as some were so secretive and unreliable, making for some exceptionally nerve-racking reading. I found Before I Say I Do totally riveting, the various unfolding of events and revelations making this book even more absorbing. The story-line was absolutely fantastic and the suspense was kept at a maximum level throughout. This tense début is a mesmerising story of betrayal, lies and harboured secrets, with other undesirable themes thrown into the mix, such as money laundering, drug abuse and gambling, all of which keep the reader guessing and completely attached to their e-reader. The author eventually wraps everything up very neatly in a thrilling, fulfilling and satisfying ending.

I loved this brilliant thriller and would have given it far more than five stars if I could. Would I read more from Vicki Bradley? Yes... the author is obviously a very good writer. My thanks must go to Vicki Bradley for writing such an awesome book! 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request, from Simon and Schuster via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

[Louise Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this novel begins like the recent Welsh ITV drama Keeping Faith. Missing husband who's been money laundering, suspicious friend, man's body found midway through that may or may not be his, a detective with something to prove who's hiding a past of her own, the possibility of police corruption. But thankfully the husband and his mate are accountants, not lawyers. And the wife is emotionally distant and withholding a secret which sets it apart from the television drama. And the premise leads to a tightly woven plot that maintains the theme of missing money laundering husband who's having an affair and adds a jealous friend of his wife, a prior crime and an ex convict linked to her to the mix which sends an original ripple throughout the story. I liked the fact this was a psychological procedural and the narrative alternated between the DC interviewing the suspects and the wife of the missing man. The procedure was top notch as the author is a detective. And the complexity of the plot will sell this title to any crime fiction lover. I did feel the DC was given a harder job than her job description would allow and I think she should have maintained her previous title as DS in this novel. Her narrative in parts was too passive for my liking: should we, I think... And the dialogue in parts mirrored her lack of self-confidence. I'd like to see this detective shine in her next case.

I struggled midway through when I started being told what the character thought and both the detective and the wife started questioning themselves. This is okay if not too heavily relied upon, readers need to be able to read between the lines or we're not doing any work and easily bore. But when the characters then failed to follow through on the knowledge they'd gained from their reflexive thinking and investigative work I wanted to jump into the book and yell at the character. I like strong female characters, who may have internal flaws (anxiety, perfectionism etc.) but who ultimately believe in themselves and their job (policing, care-giving etc.) and no matter what life throws at them (death, violence, missing husband) their principles, integrity, and self-esteem do not waiver. And I found it hard to sympathise with the wife, who's stilted narrative and dialogue, and self-sabotaging decisions almost led to her death. I really wanted both the wife and the detective to stick up for themselves more and not to be such push-overs.

I really enjoyed this title and I hope the author continues to hone her craft and writes more books, but I'd like to see more emphasis on trusting the reader to know what's being said without having to explain it, repeat it, then remind the reader they said it. I'd also like to see the future female and male characters confident, assertive, and more self-assured.