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The Accusation
They say she’s guilty. She says she’s not. Who do you believe?
‘Help me! Help me, please!’
When Jenna hears the cry in the park one night, she feels she has no choice but to run and help. Cradling the injured woman in her arms, the attacker nowhere to be seen, all Jenna wants is to keep her alive until the ambulance arrives and for the ordeal to be over.
But the nightmare begins when the victim wakes up…
Jenna’s relief turns to horror when the finger is pointed at her. There must be some mistake: she’s never seen the woman before in her life, and Jenna tried to save her life. Why would she accuse Jenna of a crime she didn’t commit?
As the case against Jenna grows, her world starts to fall apart. Her teenage daughter is keeping secrets and her husband is growing more distant every day. To save her family and clear her name, Jenna has to prove she didn’t do it. But someone knows something Jenna did do. And they want to make her pay…
The Accusation is an addictive psychological thriller that asks how far you would go for justice. Perfect for fans of He Said/She Said, The Silent Patient and The Woman in the Window.
‘Help me! Help me, please!’
When Jenna hears the cry in the park one night, she feels she has no choice but to run and help. Cradling the injured woman in her arms, the attacker nowhere to be seen, all Jenna wants is to keep her alive until the ambulance arrives and for the ordeal to be over.
But the nightmare begins when the victim wakes up…
Jenna’s relief turns to horror when the finger is pointed at her. There must be some mistake: she’s never seen the woman before in her life, and Jenna tried to save her life. Why would she accuse Jenna of a crime she didn’t commit?
As the case against Jenna grows, her world starts to fall apart. Her teenage daughter is keeping secrets and her husband is growing more distant every day. To save her family and clear her name, Jenna has to prove she didn’t do it. But someone knows something Jenna did do. And they want to make her pay…
The Accusation is an addictive psychological thriller that asks how far you would go for justice. Perfect for fans of He Said/She Said, The Silent Patient and The Woman in the Window.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2020
936 people are currently reading
975 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Jenkins
25 books352 followersVictoria Jenkins is a Welsh author who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. The first novel in the series was “The Girls In The Water” that Jenkins first published in 2017, to much critical acclaim and popularity among crime fiction fans.
The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.
Jenkins lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.
The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.
Jenkins lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
June 18, 2020
They say she’s guilty. She says she’s not. Who do you believe?
Imagine being accused of something that you did not do? How frustrating would that be? SO one night after drinks with the girls Jenna takes a shortcut home when she hears a girl crying out for help. Being a good Samaritan Jenna stops and sees that the girl has been staffed. She instantly calls 911/999 and tries to stop the bleeding. Then the next day Jenna goes to visit the stab victim in the hospital and when the girl sees her she points and says, that’s her, that’s the person who stabbed me. The thing is Jenna never saw this girl before she found her lying stabbed in the park. So why in the world is she accusing her of something she didn’t do?
Jenna’s frustration was palpable. I felt bad for her, but at the same time I knew she was hiding something. The entire family with the exception of Jenna’s youngest daughter had something to hide. Her older daughter Lily was dating an older Mystery man. And her husband Damien was becoming more and more distant. The story was a bit of a slow burn in the beginning, but then it really picked up and I had to know how Jenna was going to get out of this situation. Also I needed to know why in the world this person was accusing her? An addictive twisted thriller with a satisfying ending.
This book in emojis 🔪 ☕️ ✉️ 🩸
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Imagine being accused of something that you did not do? How frustrating would that be? SO one night after drinks with the girls Jenna takes a shortcut home when she hears a girl crying out for help. Being a good Samaritan Jenna stops and sees that the girl has been staffed. She instantly calls 911/999 and tries to stop the bleeding. Then the next day Jenna goes to visit the stab victim in the hospital and when the girl sees her she points and says, that’s her, that’s the person who stabbed me. The thing is Jenna never saw this girl before she found her lying stabbed in the park. So why in the world is she accusing her of something she didn’t do?
Jenna’s frustration was palpable. I felt bad for her, but at the same time I knew she was hiding something. The entire family with the exception of Jenna’s youngest daughter had something to hide. Her older daughter Lily was dating an older Mystery man. And her husband Damien was becoming more and more distant. The story was a bit of a slow burn in the beginning, but then it really picked up and I had to know how Jenna was going to get out of this situation. Also I needed to know why in the world this person was accusing her? An addictive twisted thriller with a satisfying ending.
This book in emojis 🔪 ☕️ ✉️ 🩸
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
November 22, 2020
Last year Victoria Jenkins set the bar very high for herself with “The Argument” as it had one of the craziest and more surprising twists I've ever read (that I still remember it several months later says a lot about it). With “The Accusation” she delivers another tense psychological/domestic suspense novel which parts from an idea I've always been scared of. What if you're accused of a crime you didn't commit?
From the beginning we know Jenna is not guilty of the crime she's been accused of but it's obvious she's hiding something and, although not as astonishing as THE TWIST I already mentioned, it wrapped the story in a pretty satisfying way and it left me wondering what would I have done if I had been in Jenna's shoes. I love when the main character is not all good or bad, black or white, but has several layers making it likable in spite of its flaws. And that is the case here with Jenna. You could agree more or less with her decision, you could argue she didn't do the correct thing, but in any case you couldn't fault her for it.
Quick and twisty read that proves once more that Victoria Jenkins is a name to watch in the psychological suspense genre.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
From the beginning we know Jenna is not guilty of the crime she's been accused of but it's obvious she's hiding something and, although not as astonishing as THE TWIST I already mentioned, it wrapped the story in a pretty satisfying way and it left me wondering what would I have done if I had been in Jenna's shoes. I love when the main character is not all good or bad, black or white, but has several layers making it likable in spite of its flaws. And that is the case here with Jenna. You could agree more or less with her decision, you could argue she didn't do the correct thing, but in any case you couldn't fault her for it.
Quick and twisty read that proves once more that Victoria Jenkins is a name to watch in the psychological suspense genre.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2020
Would you go to help someone you just witnessed being stabbed?
Of course you would, the least you would do is call the ambulance
But would you be so keen if a few days later, whilst visiting the woman you helped she lets out a blood curdling scream and shouts to anyone that will listen that it was you that ‘did it’
For Jenna, this has happened and now she is awaiting trial for the apparent motiveless stabbing of Charlotte, her hubby is wavering as to wether to believe her and then things start to happen that just dont add up
Jenna is on her own to find out why this has happened to her and just who is Charlotte and why would she hate her so much to go to such lengths to frame her
Exciting in tempo and well done in the 1st person, you could feel the ‘what is happening to me’ and imagine your reaction, I read this book quickly and my interest didn’t wane and wanted to see what the ‘crunch’ was, and when it ‘crunched’ it was believable, not far fetched and made a good story finish with a pleasing if quick end
8/10
4 Stars
Of course you would, the least you would do is call the ambulance
But would you be so keen if a few days later, whilst visiting the woman you helped she lets out a blood curdling scream and shouts to anyone that will listen that it was you that ‘did it’
For Jenna, this has happened and now she is awaiting trial for the apparent motiveless stabbing of Charlotte, her hubby is wavering as to wether to believe her and then things start to happen that just dont add up
Jenna is on her own to find out why this has happened to her and just who is Charlotte and why would she hate her so much to go to such lengths to frame her
Exciting in tempo and well done in the 1st person, you could feel the ‘what is happening to me’ and imagine your reaction, I read this book quickly and my interest didn’t wane and wanted to see what the ‘crunch’ was, and when it ‘crunched’ it was believable, not far fetched and made a good story finish with a pleasing if quick end
8/10
4 Stars
June 5, 2020
Jenna hears a cry in the park one night. She goes to see if she can help. A woman has been stabbed and Jenna is pleased that she helped the womans life. But the next day, Jenna is accused of the stabbing.
The pace seemed to be slow, then it would speed up, slow down and speed up. The story is told in the past and present day. Its told from Jenna's point of view. The story kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and gou wont want to put the book down. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed but apart from that, I enjoyed this story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Victoria Jenkins for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The pace seemed to be slow, then it would speed up, slow down and speed up. The story is told in the past and present day. Its told from Jenna's point of view. The story kept my interest throughout. There were many twists and gou wont want to put the book down. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed but apart from that, I enjoyed this story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Victoria Jenkins for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
Well, my jaw's where it usually is: no dropping or anything. Still, the novel's quite entertaining. Full marks.
Q:
‘They can’t charge me with reading, can they?’ (c)
Q:
We all live so innocently, shielded in the bubbles we create for ourselves, watching the news with a sigh or a tut at the state of the world, comfortable with our cups of tea and plates of biscuits while we witness the unfolding of other people’s tragedies. None of us really believes that any of these terrible things we see on our screens could happen to us. If we did, no one would ever leave the house. (c)
Q:
There was something comforting in the space he afforded me, yet part of me wanted to tell him everything, to spill my secrets in the space around us so that nothing could ever emerge to come between us. (c)
Q:
There were things I knew I would never tell him; things I had never told anyone. (c)
Q:
There was something behind her eyes, you know. Something already dead. In my opinion, that makes her the worst kind of dangerous. (с)
Q:
I believe now, as I have always believed, that not all secrets are destructive and that some are for the best, designed to protect rather than destroy. (c)
Q:
‘They can’t charge me with reading, can they?’ (c)
Q:
We all live so innocently, shielded in the bubbles we create for ourselves, watching the news with a sigh or a tut at the state of the world, comfortable with our cups of tea and plates of biscuits while we witness the unfolding of other people’s tragedies. None of us really believes that any of these terrible things we see on our screens could happen to us. If we did, no one would ever leave the house. (c)
Q:
There was something comforting in the space he afforded me, yet part of me wanted to tell him everything, to spill my secrets in the space around us so that nothing could ever emerge to come between us. (c)
Q:
There were things I knew I would never tell him; things I had never told anyone. (c)
Q:
There was something behind her eyes, you know. Something already dead. In my opinion, that makes her the worst kind of dangerous. (с)
Q:
I believe now, as I have always believed, that not all secrets are destructive and that some are for the best, designed to protect rather than destroy. (c)
September 1, 2023
I have just added this author to my auto buy list. Im so impressed with my first book by her and I cant wait to read the others. I love her writing style.
Relationships are a key theme to this book. Especially Jennas relationship with her partner Damien and her daughter Lily. Lily is having a relationship with an older man and Jenna is at her wits end.
This book has a now and then timeline full of suspense and mystery, and an unpredictable ending.
Relationships are a key theme to this book. Especially Jennas relationship with her partner Damien and her daughter Lily. Lily is having a relationship with an older man and Jenna is at her wits end.
This book has a now and then timeline full of suspense and mystery, and an unpredictable ending.
June 5, 2020
The Accusation is bestselling author Victoria Jenkins’s latest standalone psychological thriller which addresses how far people will go to achieve justice. Jenna Morgan is on her way home from a night out on the tiles with her girlfriends when she decides to take a shortcut through the park as it will take several minutes off her journey towards home. She is suddenly filled with fear when she hears the words ”help me” but like a good samaritan, she moves towards the voice and discovers a woman who has been stabbed and covered in blood. Naturally, she picks up the phone and frantically calls for an ambulance using her first aid knowledge to help as best she can until the paramedics arrive on the scene. Once they turn up the woman is swiftly taken to hospital and Jenna continues to walk home; she is shaken given what she saw but tries to push it to the back of her mind. The following day Jenna visits the victim, Charlotte Copeland, relieved that she managed to survive her wounds. However, Charlotte accuses Jenna of being the perpetrator sending Jenna into a tailspin. And when evidence supporting Charlotte’s accusation appears Jenna realises she is being targeted but why?
This is an absolutely riveting and addictive read and from the very beginning, I was fully absorbed and invested in the story. It starts as a slow burner but soon picks up the pace and provides plenty of exciting developments and a twisty narrative to keep you glued to the pages. Jenkins is at the top of her game and having read all of her previous thrillers I can honestly say that this, in my opinion, is her most accomplished and entertaining to date. I couldn't help but wonder what Jenna could possibly have done for someone to target her like this and it seems very much like a personal grudge. Our protagonist, Jenna, is hiding some rather large secrets from the world and as the story progresses her past unravels right before our very eyes. Nothing is quite as it seems here so you need your wits about you to work out what's going on. The conclusion was so unexpected and completely shocking yet satisfying that I sat and went over it in my head to attempt to come to terms with it. This is a quick, easy and thoroughly enjoyable page-turner that I read in one nail-biting sitting. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
This is an absolutely riveting and addictive read and from the very beginning, I was fully absorbed and invested in the story. It starts as a slow burner but soon picks up the pace and provides plenty of exciting developments and a twisty narrative to keep you glued to the pages. Jenkins is at the top of her game and having read all of her previous thrillers I can honestly say that this, in my opinion, is her most accomplished and entertaining to date. I couldn't help but wonder what Jenna could possibly have done for someone to target her like this and it seems very much like a personal grudge. Our protagonist, Jenna, is hiding some rather large secrets from the world and as the story progresses her past unravels right before our very eyes. Nothing is quite as it seems here so you need your wits about you to work out what's going on. The conclusion was so unexpected and completely shocking yet satisfying that I sat and went over it in my head to attempt to come to terms with it. This is a quick, easy and thoroughly enjoyable page-turner that I read in one nail-biting sitting. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
June 9, 2020
Walking home from work one evening, Jenna hears a woman yelling for help. Not giving it a second thought, she runs toward the woman in time to see a man running away. The woman has been stabbed in the neck. Jenna is determined to keep her alive until police and ambulance show up.
As scary as that was, the nightmare is only beginning.
The woman states that Jenna is the person who attacked her with a knife.
And worse .. her own family is not sure if she is innocent.
As the case against Jenna grows, her husband becomes distant. her older daughter is keeping secrets and hints that her stepfather may be having an affair with her mother's friend. Her mother in law is just looking for a way to separate her son from Jenna. And then Jenna's business is broken into. What the police find there is a real game changer.
This psychological thriller asks the question ... how do you prove you didn't do what you're accused of doing ... when all the evidence points directly at you?
This is well written ... a real page turner. Twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very last page. The characters are deftly drawn...warts and all. Secrets and lies are hiding in the dark .... does Jenna dare let the sun shine on them?
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
As scary as that was, the nightmare is only beginning.
The woman states that Jenna is the person who attacked her with a knife.
And worse .. her own family is not sure if she is innocent.
As the case against Jenna grows, her husband becomes distant. her older daughter is keeping secrets and hints that her stepfather may be having an affair with her mother's friend. Her mother in law is just looking for a way to separate her son from Jenna. And then Jenna's business is broken into. What the police find there is a real game changer.
This psychological thriller asks the question ... how do you prove you didn't do what you're accused of doing ... when all the evidence points directly at you?
This is well written ... a real page turner. Twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very last page. The characters are deftly drawn...warts and all. Secrets and lies are hiding in the dark .... does Jenna dare let the sun shine on them?
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 28, 2020
When Jenna hears the cry in the park one night, she feels she has no choice but to run and help. Cradling the injured woman in her arms, the attacker nowhere to be seen, all Jenna wants is to keep her alive until the ambulance arrives and for the ordeal to be over.
Jenna’s relief turns to horror when the victim blames her for the assault As the case against Jenna grows, her world starts to fall apart. Her teenage daughter is keeping secrets and her husband is growing more distant every day. To save her family and clear her name, Jenna has to prove she didn’t do it.
This book was amazing!! .It's an intriguing plot that pulls you in, as there must be more here than meets the eye. I was engaged throughout the book since I was curious to find out as to why would anyone accuse the person who saved them?
All the characters were well written and I liked how that each of them had a back story which gets revealed during the course of the book to add the extra suspense.
Overall, this was a good read with an interesting twist at the end!!
Jenna’s relief turns to horror when the victim blames her for the assault As the case against Jenna grows, her world starts to fall apart. Her teenage daughter is keeping secrets and her husband is growing more distant every day. To save her family and clear her name, Jenna has to prove she didn’t do it.
This book was amazing!! .It's an intriguing plot that pulls you in, as there must be more here than meets the eye. I was engaged throughout the book since I was curious to find out as to why would anyone accuse the person who saved them?
All the characters were well written and I liked how that each of them had a back story which gets revealed during the course of the book to add the extra suspense.
Overall, this was a good read with an interesting twist at the end!!
April 17, 2020
The Accusation by Victoria Jenkins is another fast-paced, twisty read from an author who has become yet another must read for me. Set aside a few hours for this one as you won't want to put it down.
Jenna is taking a shortcut through the park one night when she hears the cries of a woman in distress. Acting as a good samaritan, and without a second thought, Jenna remains at the unknown woman's side until help arrives. But when the woman later wakes up, making unjustified and troubling accusations, Jenna finds herself having to defend her innocence. As Jenna's life begins to unravel, she must fight to maintain her innocence, while covering up a past that refuses to stay buried.
This is a quick and compelling read that kept me turning pages in a bid to unravel Jenna's secrets, and to deconstruct a mystery that was anything but predictable. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
Jenna is taking a shortcut through the park one night when she hears the cries of a woman in distress. Acting as a good samaritan, and without a second thought, Jenna remains at the unknown woman's side until help arrives. But when the woman later wakes up, making unjustified and troubling accusations, Jenna finds herself having to defend her innocence. As Jenna's life begins to unravel, she must fight to maintain her innocence, while covering up a past that refuses to stay buried.
This is a quick and compelling read that kept me turning pages in a bid to unravel Jenna's secrets, and to deconstruct a mystery that was anything but predictable. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
May 23, 2020
This certainly was a fast paced and addictive thriller that had me engrossed from the very first page into the small wee hours!
Jenna is enjoying a girls night out with her two close friends, heading home and going their separate ways Jenna decides to take a short cut through the park, a decision she begins to immediately regret when she stumbles upon a woman in the middle of being attacked, Jenna runs to her aid and saves her life by scaring of the woman's attacker and phoning for help, believing she's done a good deed she tries to think no more of it and move on.
That is until the woman wakes and points the finger at Jenna... but why would this woman do such a thing after Jenna saved her life? Desperate to uncover the truth Jenna has to dig deep and find out why this woman whom she saved would tell such hurtful lies and why her husband is becoming more distant by the day, but can she handle the truth?
This was a delightful, twisty and most certainly addictive thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed until the very last page. My first novel from this author and I can't wait to read her many others. A big thank you to netgalley for a copy of This book in exchange for my honest review.
Jenna is enjoying a girls night out with her two close friends, heading home and going their separate ways Jenna decides to take a short cut through the park, a decision she begins to immediately regret when she stumbles upon a woman in the middle of being attacked, Jenna runs to her aid and saves her life by scaring of the woman's attacker and phoning for help, believing she's done a good deed she tries to think no more of it and move on.
That is until the woman wakes and points the finger at Jenna... but why would this woman do such a thing after Jenna saved her life? Desperate to uncover the truth Jenna has to dig deep and find out why this woman whom she saved would tell such hurtful lies and why her husband is becoming more distant by the day, but can she handle the truth?
This was a delightful, twisty and most certainly addictive thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed until the very last page. My first novel from this author and I can't wait to read her many others. A big thank you to netgalley for a copy of This book in exchange for my honest review.
April 30, 2020
Jenna Morgan has gone out for the night with a few of her girlfriends. Taking a shortcut home through the park she sees the outline of a man running away and a woman, it turns out to be a women lying covered in blood. Stabbed.
The Accusation by Victoria Jenkins is a fast paced, twisty read that you will read very quickly.
After Jenna's helping hand at saving the women, the next day the victim wakes up and accuses Jenna of the attack. Talk about doing a good deed for someone.
What follows next is Jenna's journey to prove herself innocent but a few secrets are uncovered about the past and things begin to unfold in every direction.
I was kept guessing all the way through and I didn't guess any of the revealed secrets.
I read this book in a couple of sitting - I raced through it - I wanted to know the truth and see if Jenna was guilty. Narrated by Jenna I found myself asking what I would do put in her shoes. Jenna did have her share of secrets which thickened the plot but as a reader I still wanted her to be ok.
As fast as I raced through this book I did feel that there were a few peaks and a little bit of a lull in the middle and then a peak again towards the end.
Jenkins is certainly a creative writer who I will choose again.
Thank you in advance to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
The Accusation by Victoria Jenkins is a fast paced, twisty read that you will read very quickly.
After Jenna's helping hand at saving the women, the next day the victim wakes up and accuses Jenna of the attack. Talk about doing a good deed for someone.
What follows next is Jenna's journey to prove herself innocent but a few secrets are uncovered about the past and things begin to unfold in every direction.
I was kept guessing all the way through and I didn't guess any of the revealed secrets.
I read this book in a couple of sitting - I raced through it - I wanted to know the truth and see if Jenna was guilty. Narrated by Jenna I found myself asking what I would do put in her shoes. Jenna did have her share of secrets which thickened the plot but as a reader I still wanted her to be ok.
As fast as I raced through this book I did feel that there were a few peaks and a little bit of a lull in the middle and then a peak again towards the end.
Jenkins is certainly a creative writer who I will choose again.
Thank you in advance to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
May 31, 2020
She was a good Samaritan. Walking home after an evening out with friends, Jenna decides to cut through a park, as it always saved several minutes on the walk headed to her home. Hearing the words "Help me!", Jenna runs towards the chilling words. Spotting a woman bleeding on the ground due to an apparent knife wound, Jenna does what comes naturally to her, and that is to render first aid and to call the emergency number. Eventually help arrives and the stranger is taken to the hospital and Jenna heads home.
That should have been the end of matters. However when the victim wakes up she points to Jenna as the person who tried to kill her. How can that be? The woman is a complete stranger to Jenna. To make matters worse, her daughter Lily is not being honest with her, and her relationship with her husband is becoming quite strained. The family problems are fracturing enough, but an attempted murder accusation is beyond imagination.
When I read a book by Victoria Jenkins I know that I am guaranteed a fast-paced read, one full of twists and turns, with drama and angst mixed in. That has been my previous experience and, true to form, The Accusation follows that pattern. This book does not miss a beat. To throw a wrench in the plan for this book, Jenna has her own secrets, thus we have an unreliable narrator. Written in first-person reveals more than one shocking thing about Jenna.
Jenna's home is topsy turvy, then with the accusation, and with her desperate attempts to prove that she is innocent, things completely spiral out of control. With her relationships being called into question, Jenna's past is slowly revealed as the story unfolds, all leading to a shocking conclusion. The Accusation was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and was impossible to put down. I cannot wait to read whatever else Victoria Jenkins has in store.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
That should have been the end of matters. However when the victim wakes up she points to Jenna as the person who tried to kill her. How can that be? The woman is a complete stranger to Jenna. To make matters worse, her daughter Lily is not being honest with her, and her relationship with her husband is becoming quite strained. The family problems are fracturing enough, but an attempted murder accusation is beyond imagination.
When I read a book by Victoria Jenkins I know that I am guaranteed a fast-paced read, one full of twists and turns, with drama and angst mixed in. That has been my previous experience and, true to form, The Accusation follows that pattern. This book does not miss a beat. To throw a wrench in the plan for this book, Jenna has her own secrets, thus we have an unreliable narrator. Written in first-person reveals more than one shocking thing about Jenna.
Jenna's home is topsy turvy, then with the accusation, and with her desperate attempts to prove that she is innocent, things completely spiral out of control. With her relationships being called into question, Jenna's past is slowly revealed as the story unfolds, all leading to a shocking conclusion. The Accusation was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and was impossible to put down. I cannot wait to read whatever else Victoria Jenkins has in store.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 22, 2020
This is a really suspenseful and fun book that has all the ingredients I love in a thriller. A nice girl just like me unjustly accused? Check. (Maybe.) Unreliable narrator? Check. (Maybe.) Creepy messages from an unknown stalker? (Yup.) Is my husband cheating and/or a crazy murderer? Or worse, is amnesia, mental illness, or something else at play here, and I'm actually the criminal? (Check, check...spooky.) All the necessary elements for a good domestic suspense novel right here. I for one always enjoy these elements if they are done well, and they are here.
I also really liked the premise of this book - that a Good Samaritan just trying to help an injured woman might end up being accused of the crime herself. This is something that could happen to anyone (well, in domestic suspense fictionland, at least!) and Jenkins is a great writer and does a great job making you identify with the heroine right from the start. Her journey, beginning as the witness who discovers a terrible crime, then ending up accused of being the assailant, is gripping and believable. Reading this made me legitimately afraid of what might happen to me in the same situation.
In a book like this the most important things to me are (1) gripping suspense throughout and (2) an author who doesn't blow the ending! Jenkins does a great job with both here. I had an idea whodunit from the beginning and was rewarded with a fun and dramatic reveal that subverted my expectations with a few other bombshells along the way. Jenkins is a creative and talented suspense writer to watch!
Special thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, Kindle and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
I also really liked the premise of this book - that a Good Samaritan just trying to help an injured woman might end up being accused of the crime herself. This is something that could happen to anyone (well, in domestic suspense fictionland, at least!) and Jenkins is a great writer and does a great job making you identify with the heroine right from the start. Her journey, beginning as the witness who discovers a terrible crime, then ending up accused of being the assailant, is gripping and believable. Reading this made me legitimately afraid of what might happen to me in the same situation.
In a book like this the most important things to me are (1) gripping suspense throughout and (2) an author who doesn't blow the ending! Jenkins does a great job with both here. I had an idea whodunit from the beginning and was rewarded with a fun and dramatic reveal that subverted my expectations with a few other bombshells along the way. Jenkins is a creative and talented suspense writer to watch!
Special thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, Kindle and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
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June 13, 2020Wowza!! What a book!! It gripped from the blurb to the last page. Suspense. Action. Thriller. One of the most twisted plot lines in recent times. Author Victoria Jenkins sure had ice in her veins when she wrote this. She proved the adage true – a good deed never goes unpunished.
After a night out with her girls, Jenna decided to take a short cut through the park when a cry for help made her rush to save the life of the victim who was stabbed in the neck. Ambulance and police were called. And they barely managed to save the woman. Jenna decided to visit her the next day and to her shock, the woman accuses her of that crime. Prison was looming large when Jenna decided to get to the killer.
Having read many of this author’s books, I still managed to be shocked completely. I thought I had a grip on thrillers, and I had seen it all. But no no… This one was elusive. The characters were super interesting. Jenna emoted her predicament well. I could feel empathy for her. I too was confused at one point. Was Jenna lying? The author sure kept me on my toes.
Secrets in the family added another layer of subterfuge. Was Jenna being framed by her loved one? The questions were many, and each chapter added to my thrill. I had to admit every word gave me a sadistic thrill. The book pulled me in, and I loved swirling in the whirlpool of confusion. Why would a stranger frame Jenna?
Absolutely unputdownable. I couldn’t stop reading till the end.
After a night out with her girls, Jenna decided to take a short cut through the park when a cry for help made her rush to save the life of the victim who was stabbed in the neck. Ambulance and police were called. And they barely managed to save the woman. Jenna decided to visit her the next day and to her shock, the woman accuses her of that crime. Prison was looming large when Jenna decided to get to the killer.
Having read many of this author’s books, I still managed to be shocked completely. I thought I had a grip on thrillers, and I had seen it all. But no no… This one was elusive. The characters were super interesting. Jenna emoted her predicament well. I could feel empathy for her. I too was confused at one point. Was Jenna lying? The author sure kept me on my toes.
Secrets in the family added another layer of subterfuge. Was Jenna being framed by her loved one? The questions were many, and each chapter added to my thrill. I had to admit every word gave me a sadistic thrill. The book pulled me in, and I loved swirling in the whirlpool of confusion. Why would a stranger frame Jenna?
Absolutely unputdownable. I couldn’t stop reading till the end.
June 10, 2020
The Accusation by Victoria Jenkins is another fast-paced, brilliant tale from an author whose novels have become must-reads for me. It is a seriously twisted domestic drama that starts explosively and continues with a frenetic pace.
One night, Jenna Morgan is walking through her local park and hears cries for help. Going to the woman's aid without any hesitation she finds that the victim has been stabbed and waits for the emergency services to arrive. Assuming that her involvement in the terrible incident is over, Jenna returns to her own life. But then the victim wakes up... and accuses Jenna of attacking her. What then follows is an account of events as Jenna tries to work out why she is being accused of a crime she had no part in, by a complete stranger.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Victoria Jenkins’ other psychological thrillers, The Divorce and The Argument, I was ecstatic to learn that she was releasing another book this year. The Accusation is an intriguing read and packed with family drama in every sense. It was a fantastic story that had me guessing all the way through. I loved the author's easy style of writing and the characters were all believable, well rounded, and perfectly credible, though not all likeable.
Unreliable narrator Jenna was perfectly portrayed by Victoria Jenkins, and it was abundantly clear that she was a person with a closet full of secrets. The victim, Charlotte Copeland induced a great deal of curiosity and Jenna's husband, Damien was downright obnoxious making him difficult to connect with, but all had great parts to play.
The Accusation was an edge-of-your-seat thriller, that had me in its clutches until I reached the startling reveal. I initially believed the Morgan's were a fairly commonplace family. Yet, unwittingly, the conceptions I had formed about them shifted until I threw all of my assumptions out of the window. The plot itself is well-crafted, intense, gripping and very compelling. As the story progresses and the tension builds, it certainly made me question the characters' motives. This multilayered mystery all comes together in the surprising, shocking and thrilling denouement. The Accusation is a must-read that sits very well in the psychological thriller genre. An absolute delight, it is very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
One night, Jenna Morgan is walking through her local park and hears cries for help. Going to the woman's aid without any hesitation she finds that the victim has been stabbed and waits for the emergency services to arrive. Assuming that her involvement in the terrible incident is over, Jenna returns to her own life. But then the victim wakes up... and accuses Jenna of attacking her. What then follows is an account of events as Jenna tries to work out why she is being accused of a crime she had no part in, by a complete stranger.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Victoria Jenkins’ other psychological thrillers, The Divorce and The Argument, I was ecstatic to learn that she was releasing another book this year. The Accusation is an intriguing read and packed with family drama in every sense. It was a fantastic story that had me guessing all the way through. I loved the author's easy style of writing and the characters were all believable, well rounded, and perfectly credible, though not all likeable.
Unreliable narrator Jenna was perfectly portrayed by Victoria Jenkins, and it was abundantly clear that she was a person with a closet full of secrets. The victim, Charlotte Copeland induced a great deal of curiosity and Jenna's husband, Damien was downright obnoxious making him difficult to connect with, but all had great parts to play.
The Accusation was an edge-of-your-seat thriller, that had me in its clutches until I reached the startling reveal. I initially believed the Morgan's were a fairly commonplace family. Yet, unwittingly, the conceptions I had formed about them shifted until I threw all of my assumptions out of the window. The plot itself is well-crafted, intense, gripping and very compelling. As the story progresses and the tension builds, it certainly made me question the characters' motives. This multilayered mystery all comes together in the surprising, shocking and thrilling denouement. The Accusation is a must-read that sits very well in the psychological thriller genre. An absolute delight, it is very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
June 19, 2020
With this book, the author has again produced another gripping and suspenseful story! It focusses on Jenna Morgan, who after helping a woman who had been attacked was accused by the victim of being her attacker! Obviously, we know that Jenna didn’t do it but why would the woman, who she had never met before, accuse her of such a terrible crime. Following the accusation, Jenna’s life begins to crash down around her, and she fights hard to work out what is going on.
This is definitely one of those books where you’re not quite sure which characters to believe and which ones have something to hide. Jenna didn’t attack the woman that night, we know that much, but as the book moves on it becomes apparent that she is hiding something. Little pieces of information are dropped into the storyline as you read and you begin to understand what is going on. Despite having the feeling that Jenna was holding something back, I quite liked her character and did feel for her with what was going on. I really didn’t like Jenna’s husband, Damien though! His lack of support for her when she needed him most just proved my judgement of him was right! As the story moves on to its conclusion, all of the secrets coming flooding out. Whilst I had an idea what was going to happen, I didn’t get all of it right and I completely didn’t expect the twist in the tale!
As this author has shown in this book and previous ones, she’s very good at creating a tantalisingly slow and steady build up to the story, capturing our attention and holding our interest until suddenly the pace changes!! When this happened, the suspense was pushed up high and I could feel the tension from the characters setting my nerves on edge! I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out how it was all going to end! This definitely was a very enjoyable and gripping thriller, which I would definitely recommend!
This is definitely one of those books where you’re not quite sure which characters to believe and which ones have something to hide. Jenna didn’t attack the woman that night, we know that much, but as the book moves on it becomes apparent that she is hiding something. Little pieces of information are dropped into the storyline as you read and you begin to understand what is going on. Despite having the feeling that Jenna was holding something back, I quite liked her character and did feel for her with what was going on. I really didn’t like Jenna’s husband, Damien though! His lack of support for her when she needed him most just proved my judgement of him was right! As the story moves on to its conclusion, all of the secrets coming flooding out. Whilst I had an idea what was going to happen, I didn’t get all of it right and I completely didn’t expect the twist in the tale!
As this author has shown in this book and previous ones, she’s very good at creating a tantalisingly slow and steady build up to the story, capturing our attention and holding our interest until suddenly the pace changes!! When this happened, the suspense was pushed up high and I could feel the tension from the characters setting my nerves on edge! I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out how it was all going to end! This definitely was a very enjoyable and gripping thriller, which I would definitely recommend!
June 18, 2020
On her way home after an evening out with friends, Jenna Morgan takes a shortcut through the park. She hears a scream and sees a struggle between a man and woman. The woman calls out for help and Jenna rushes over to find the woman wounded and bleeding. As she comforts the woman while waiting for the ambulance, Jenna finds out that her name is Charlotte. After hanging around long enough to see Charlotte off to hospital, Jenna heads home to her husband, Damien, and her two children, Lily and Amelia. She's a bit undone by the events, but decides to check up on Charlotte at the hospital the next day. Jenna is stunned when Charlotte accuses her of being the one to have stabbed her. NO SPOILERS.
This was OK but I had a hard time mustering up the ability to care about Jenna or her situation. The whole scenario was so implausible and the characters mostly annoying. I have decided that I don't really care much anymore about domestic drama. The relationships between the characters are usually so full of secrets and lies, they never talk honestly with each other, they hide all sorts of things about their past, and I just don't like them. There were no surprises here if you, like me, read a lot of books in this genre. Most of the book is centered on the angst in Jenna's head and it takes forever to get to the point. It was a very quick read over a couple of hours but I had to stop myself from skipping large sections of inane details and Jenna's ruminations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This was OK but I had a hard time mustering up the ability to care about Jenna or her situation. The whole scenario was so implausible and the characters mostly annoying. I have decided that I don't really care much anymore about domestic drama. The relationships between the characters are usually so full of secrets and lies, they never talk honestly with each other, they hide all sorts of things about their past, and I just don't like them. There were no surprises here if you, like me, read a lot of books in this genre. Most of the book is centered on the angst in Jenna's head and it takes forever to get to the point. It was a very quick read over a couple of hours but I had to stop myself from skipping large sections of inane details and Jenna's ruminations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
April 28, 2020
The only way I can overly describe this one is as a quick read with really good sections and the rest is ok.
The characters were well written and you really feel like you know them and their history which is always a massive bonus and makes you more invested in the story, just be warned they aren't overly likeable, especially her arse of a husband Damien.
It's a bit of a slow burner to start with but then hits a peak and gets really interesting before slowing mid section and hitting another peak with it's big twist at the end.. definitely felt like I was on a rollercoaster at times.
The story is told from the POV of Jenna in the past and present. Alot of what Jenna does/her actions towards the beginning if the book won't make much sense until you immerse yourself deeper into the book.
A promising premise but it didn't sit with me after.
2*
Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
The characters were well written and you really feel like you know them and their history which is always a massive bonus and makes you more invested in the story, just be warned they aren't overly likeable, especially her arse of a husband Damien.
It's a bit of a slow burner to start with but then hits a peak and gets really interesting before slowing mid section and hitting another peak with it's big twist at the end.. definitely felt like I was on a rollercoaster at times.
The story is told from the POV of Jenna in the past and present. Alot of what Jenna does/her actions towards the beginning if the book won't make much sense until you immerse yourself deeper into the book.
A promising premise but it didn't sit with me after.
2*
Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
May 31, 2020
4 Stars from me
The Accusation begins with our lead character Jenna at the end of a night out and about to take a short cut across a park.
NEVER TAKE A SHORT CUT ACROSS THE PARK, OR DOWN THE ALLEY, OK?! N E V E R!
Right, sorry, where were we. Nothing good ever comes out of taking a shortcut through a dark and deserted part of town - my heart was racing at this point and I nearly put the book down!
Anyway, although she isn't attacked some else is and Jenna run's to help them. Basking in all her good samaritan glory, she later goes to visit the person in hospital only to have them scream the place down and accuse her of being the attacker.
The story then moves to whether people believe her (obviously the police, but also the people who KNOW her, the ones who should instinctively know she couldn't/wouldn't do something like this).
Definitely a good to be read at a pace to keep the momentum - and recommended to fans of psychological thrillers.
The Accusation begins with our lead character Jenna at the end of a night out and about to take a short cut across a park.
NEVER TAKE A SHORT CUT ACROSS THE PARK, OR DOWN THE ALLEY, OK?! N E V E R!
Right, sorry, where were we. Nothing good ever comes out of taking a shortcut through a dark and deserted part of town - my heart was racing at this point and I nearly put the book down!
Anyway, although she isn't attacked some else is and Jenna run's to help them. Basking in all her good samaritan glory, she later goes to visit the person in hospital only to have them scream the place down and accuse her of being the attacker.
The story then moves to whether people believe her (obviously the police, but also the people who KNOW her, the ones who should instinctively know she couldn't/wouldn't do something like this).
Definitely a good to be read at a pace to keep the momentum - and recommended to fans of psychological thrillers.
April 22, 2020
This book promises you a twist and it delivers.
Jenna walks home from a night out with her friends, while crossing through the park she hears a woman call for help. She rushes over and saves her. When she goes to visit her in the hospital the morning after a whole series of horrible events unfold.
Written from Jenna’s POV it’s a strong thriller. I expected the husband to be involved somehow, and later the daughter, but I didn’t see this coming. Jenna is a woman of many secrets and some are still a secret at the end of the book, and I don’t mind one bit. The bit of mystery that you are left with is nice. It’s a really easy to read and compelling thriller.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Jenna walks home from a night out with her friends, while crossing through the park she hears a woman call for help. She rushes over and saves her. When she goes to visit her in the hospital the morning after a whole series of horrible events unfold.
Written from Jenna’s POV it’s a strong thriller. I expected the husband to be involved somehow, and later the daughter, but I didn’t see this coming. Jenna is a woman of many secrets and some are still a secret at the end of the book, and I don’t mind one bit. The bit of mystery that you are left with is nice. It’s a really easy to read and compelling thriller.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
April 20, 2020
Genna takes a short cut through the park one night on the way home. She hears a woman calling for help and sees two people struggling. Genna comes to the woman's aid. Next thing she knows the woman she helped is accusing her of the attack. I found the authors style a little confusing in that she writes about when Genna met her husband with no warning that it isn't the current time. For me , it dragged a little mid book.
Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and Victoria Jenkins for the ARC.
Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and Victoria Jenkins for the ARC.
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April 26, 2020this author is just brilliant always does a twisty read Jenna is walking home from a night out . and see s a girl been attacked to goes to help her .then Jenna is arrested for the attack. Jenna will do everything to protect her family will say no more but how it unfolds is brilliant a must read
June 11, 2020
I can’t imagine the horror of witnessing an attack on a lone female (or anyone!) in the early hours of the morning having decided to make your drunken way home through the park after a girls night out. It’s certainly a sight that would be immediately sobering as well as frightening and in these circumstances you’d like to think you wouldn’t have to stop to consider whether to help someone whose life was in danger. When Jenna comes to the aid of a woman stabbed in the throat, she calls an ambulance and begins first aid like any Good Samaritan having no idea that her worst nightmare is only just beginning. Suddenly she is accused of being the attacker, despite claiming to have no knowledge of the victim and finds herself at the centre of an investigation that threatens to destroy her family and reveal her past she has worked so hard to keep hidden.
Definitely in these opening scenes I had a sense of deja vu as they instantly reminded me of that brilliant book He said She said (so I’m in agreement with the publication blurb) but that’s where the similarity ends. As with the author’s previous psychological thriller The Argument, Jenna’s family seem to be teetering on the precipice of collapse but I couldn’t understand why. Husband Daniel seems aloof and disengaged, showing little support for his wife which immediately made me question what was troubling this family. Clearly there was going to be more to this seemingly unjustified accusation than met the eye and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out what really lay at the heart of this matter.
I truly felt frightened for Jenna for finding herself in such an unexpected predicament. Not only worrying about her strained relationship with her husband, Jenna is at odds with her eldest daughter Lily, who has become secretive and hostile. Normal teenage behaviour or is there something more sinister going on?? Added to all this is the mounting, though circumstantial evidence against Jenna with the police never far from her door. Knowing herself to be innocent but lacking support from her immediate family must have provoked intense feelings of abandonment and isolation and it would appear she alone will have to fight to prove her innocence. She suspects someone is trying to frame her, desperate to destroy her life and in the process those of Daniel, Lily and Amelia. The question is who?
Without a doubt I did not like Daniel. My hackles were raised at the way he seemed to have no compassion towards Jenna which in my eyes didn’t make sense. Surely she should be able to rely on his unwavering support? I appreciate however long we’ve known someone and trust that person we can never ever really know what’s going on inside our loved ones minds which this storyline highlights. The other fact that is glaringly obvious is that most people harbour secrets, however big or small and in every family there will be skeletons in the cupboard. As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire, so I found myself constantly questioning what could be the secret Jenna is so keen to keep hidden. Mud sticks even if the allegations are false so Jenna faces an uphill battle to clear her name whilst protecting her family. I had to admire her simply for not falling to pieces but when her secret is revealed she’s not the innocent victim she’d have you believe.
This psychological thriller is well paced and kept me engaged from start to finish, with suspicion cast in many directions. Having read plenty of books in this genre I felt I should have been able to make an intelligent guess at how ‘the accusation’ was connected to Jenna’s past but once again the author managed to stay one step ahead. I was often left querying Jenna’s behaviour in her determination to prove her innocence since at times it was incredibly reckless but understandable given her freedom and family unit was in jeopardy.
Yet again I raced through the pages desperate for the conclusion, with the tension in the final scenes ramped up , left wondering if Jenna would make the right decision. It’s a fitting ending in what is a gripping read. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Definitely in these opening scenes I had a sense of deja vu as they instantly reminded me of that brilliant book He said She said (so I’m in agreement with the publication blurb) but that’s where the similarity ends. As with the author’s previous psychological thriller The Argument, Jenna’s family seem to be teetering on the precipice of collapse but I couldn’t understand why. Husband Daniel seems aloof and disengaged, showing little support for his wife which immediately made me question what was troubling this family. Clearly there was going to be more to this seemingly unjustified accusation than met the eye and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out what really lay at the heart of this matter.
I truly felt frightened for Jenna for finding herself in such an unexpected predicament. Not only worrying about her strained relationship with her husband, Jenna is at odds with her eldest daughter Lily, who has become secretive and hostile. Normal teenage behaviour or is there something more sinister going on?? Added to all this is the mounting, though circumstantial evidence against Jenna with the police never far from her door. Knowing herself to be innocent but lacking support from her immediate family must have provoked intense feelings of abandonment and isolation and it would appear she alone will have to fight to prove her innocence. She suspects someone is trying to frame her, desperate to destroy her life and in the process those of Daniel, Lily and Amelia. The question is who?
Without a doubt I did not like Daniel. My hackles were raised at the way he seemed to have no compassion towards Jenna which in my eyes didn’t make sense. Surely she should be able to rely on his unwavering support? I appreciate however long we’ve known someone and trust that person we can never ever really know what’s going on inside our loved ones minds which this storyline highlights. The other fact that is glaringly obvious is that most people harbour secrets, however big or small and in every family there will be skeletons in the cupboard. As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire, so I found myself constantly questioning what could be the secret Jenna is so keen to keep hidden. Mud sticks even if the allegations are false so Jenna faces an uphill battle to clear her name whilst protecting her family. I had to admire her simply for not falling to pieces but when her secret is revealed she’s not the innocent victim she’d have you believe.
This psychological thriller is well paced and kept me engaged from start to finish, with suspicion cast in many directions. Having read plenty of books in this genre I felt I should have been able to make an intelligent guess at how ‘the accusation’ was connected to Jenna’s past but once again the author managed to stay one step ahead. I was often left querying Jenna’s behaviour in her determination to prove her innocence since at times it was incredibly reckless but understandable given her freedom and family unit was in jeopardy.
Yet again I raced through the pages desperate for the conclusion, with the tension in the final scenes ramped up , left wondering if Jenna would make the right decision. It’s a fitting ending in what is a gripping read. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
June 22, 2020
This enthralling tale is a perfect example of why so many people are hesitant to come to the rescue of anyone who is in need of assistance.
It is set in the duel time lines of the present day and the past and is voiced entirely from the perspective of Jenna. Although I admired her determination to prove her innocence and protect her family, I struggled to feel any sympathy for her. Her strained relationship with her daughter Lily wasn't that surprising considering how Jenna and her husband Daniel seemed to spend every interaction with Lily having a go at her for one reason or another. In life, respect is not a given, it is earned and it seemed to me that neither Jenna or Daniel showed any respect towards Lily and she had no privacy in her own home. She was seventeen years old, couldn't do anything right and all the adults in her life treated her like she was a child or in her so called gran's case like she didn't exist. As for daniel, he was a really unlikable, horrible, judgemental character and so was his mother Nancy. According to many characters in this book, there is no such as innocent until proven guilty and with all the evidence pointing towards her quilt, it seems that someone has done a very good job of setting Jenna up but who is behind the scheme against her and what are the reasons behind their actions?
I wouldn't say that this story is fast paced but it is a gripping story that builds in intensity as the story unfolds and all the secrets and lies are revealed. It was a enthralling domestic drama/thriller that had some realistic,well rounded characters and some unexpected twists and turns. I thought that this was a enjoyable read that, in my opinion was let down by the happily ever after ending which didn't work for me when you took into consideration Daniel's unsupportive behaviour throughout the book. Despite this, like I said, I did enjoy this book and would happily read more of this author's books in the future.
It is set in the duel time lines of the present day and the past and is voiced entirely from the perspective of Jenna. Although I admired her determination to prove her innocence and protect her family, I struggled to feel any sympathy for her. Her strained relationship with her daughter Lily wasn't that surprising considering how Jenna and her husband Daniel seemed to spend every interaction with Lily having a go at her for one reason or another. In life, respect is not a given, it is earned and it seemed to me that neither Jenna or Daniel showed any respect towards Lily and she had no privacy in her own home. She was seventeen years old, couldn't do anything right and all the adults in her life treated her like she was a child or in her so called gran's case like she didn't exist. As for daniel, he was a really unlikable, horrible, judgemental character and so was his mother Nancy. According to many characters in this book, there is no such as innocent until proven guilty and with all the evidence pointing towards her quilt, it seems that someone has done a very good job of setting Jenna up but who is behind the scheme against her and what are the reasons behind their actions?
I wouldn't say that this story is fast paced but it is a gripping story that builds in intensity as the story unfolds and all the secrets and lies are revealed. It was a enthralling domestic drama/thriller that had some realistic,well rounded characters and some unexpected twists and turns. I thought that this was a enjoyable read that, in my opinion was let down by the happily ever after ending which didn't work for me when you took into consideration Daniel's unsupportive behaviour throughout the book. Despite this, like I said, I did enjoy this book and would happily read more of this author's books in the future.
December 30, 2020
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Wow! What a book to end 2020 on!
As tomorrow is my birthday (yes, NYE, I know and I hate it), I won't be reading anything else before the end of the year, so I can safely say that THE ACCUSATION was an appropriate edge of your seat thrill ride to end what was otherwise a horrible year.
I have been a fan of Victoria Jenkins since her Detectives King and Lane series and have followed her journey into the psychological genre. Her debut thriller "The Divorce" was average, then came "The Argument" which was pretty phenomenal...and then there is her latest...THE ACCUSATION. And wow! I was pretty much blown away. That is...until the end.
Jenna Morgan finds herself confronted with something of a quandary one night when she hears a woman's cry for help. Would you rush to assist? Of course you would. And Jenna is no different. Taking a shortcut on her way home from dinner with friends one night she hears a cry for help and rushing into the darkened park, finds Charlotte laying on the ground with a stab wound to the neck and a figure running away. She applies pressure to the wound, calls an ambulance and keeps her talking till help arrives. After giving police her statement, she returns home in something of a daze.
The following day, Jenna wonders how Charlotte is doing, as any normal person would do. So picking up some flowers, she makes her way to the hospital to see how she's doing. As she enters the ward, she sees Charlotte laying on her bed, her face turned and looking out the window. But nothing prepares her for the blood curdling scream that emanates from Charlotte's mouth as soon as she sees Jenna, shouting "She did it!"
The next thing Jenna knows is that she is being taken in for questioning in relation to Charlotte's attack. But with her word against Jenna's, who will they believe? Whilst she is in custody, the police turn over her house looking for anything to support the allegation. Whatever happened to innocent till proven guilty? It seems Jenna is guilty until she's proven innocent. And how is she going to do that? She doesn't even know who is trying to frame her! Because that's the only thing that makes any kind of sense here...that someone is out to fit her up for something she didn't do.
However, that is not all. Jenna's husband Damien has been somewhat distant with her for the past couple of weeks and Jenna suspects him of having an affair. But she doesn't expect the other woman to be one of her closest friends, Laura. Or at least, that's what she suspects when her teenage daughter Lily confides in her that she has seen them together. Damien is definitely distant with her.
And then there is seventeen year old Lily, who has recently become moody and distant herself...as teenagers go...but Jenna feels there is something more to it. Lily has been seen in the company of an older man and whilst Jenna thought she had put a stop to it she suspects Lily has been seeing him again. The two of them used to be so close but lately Lily has locked herself away in her room, had whispered conversations on her phone till all hours and hanging up as soon as she or Damien walk in. Although Lily's father died when she was just 3 years old, Damien has been the closest thing to a father she has known. She always adored him and the two of them shared a unique bond in their early years. So it seemed strange that now Lily spoke of him with something like distaste. What had happened between the two of them?
Whilst juggling her home life and running a cafe, the last thing Jenna needs is to be charged with attempted murder. Then when the police turn up one morning at her cafe with a search warrant she is speechless when they discover a blood strained knife hidden behind the fridge. Jenna swears she has no idea how it got there...but the evidence against her, although circumstantial, is slowly building up and unless she can prove otherwise she is looking at prison.
Jenna knows she didn't do this. She only tried to help the woman. In fact, she had never even seen her before in her life...so why was she targeting her? What had Jenna done to deserve this? But then Jenna has a secret that no one, not even Damien, knows. Surely that has nothing to do with what's happening here.
But when Damien shows her the anonymous notes he's been receiving claiming that Jenna is not who she says she is and 'how well do you know your wife', she starts to feel her world begin to crumble in on her. But regardless, Jenna knows she must protect her family at all costs.
Wow! I have to say, seasoned sleuth that I am, not even I figured out what was at play till just before the reveal. Well done, Ms Jenkins! It takes a writer with a lot of nous to hoodwink me...lol
Narrated by Jenna herself throughout, THE ACCUSATION takes us through Jenna's past and present in alternating chapters as she tells us how she met Damien and leading up to their marriage. She also gives us a little of Lily's father though sensing as if that a secret she prefers to keep we are left to wonder as to just what kind of man he really was. The story is predominantly in the present but I have to say that the chapters where Jenna takes us back to the past could have been titled as "Past" or something relating to that so as not to confuse it with the present...although it was fairly easy to follow anyway. I think I could just be me being fussy. lol
My only real flaw with the book is the ending which I found to be too abrupt. It ended at the bottom of the page followed by three asterixes, which I naturally thought was a break to segue into a more rounded ending. But I was surprised to turn the page and find...nothing. But a plug for her previous thriller "The Argument". After all the build up, the climax, the tension...I had expected a little more to end on.
But that aside, THE ACCUSATION is thoroughly addictive from beginning to end with a fast pace that never lets up throughout and is a thrill-ride well worth the journey. I loved every minute of it and between this and her last thriller, it's hard to say which is her best.
A well written psychological thriller in which Ms Jenkins has certainly found her niche, THE ACCUSATION has all the twists, all the turns and all the tension to keep you guessing right up to the end. With thrillers like this, Jenkins is right up there with the likes of Shalini Boland and Kim Slater.
I would like to thank #VictoriaJenkins, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheAccusation in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Wow! What a book to end 2020 on!
As tomorrow is my birthday (yes, NYE, I know and I hate it), I won't be reading anything else before the end of the year, so I can safely say that THE ACCUSATION was an appropriate edge of your seat thrill ride to end what was otherwise a horrible year.
I have been a fan of Victoria Jenkins since her Detectives King and Lane series and have followed her journey into the psychological genre. Her debut thriller "The Divorce" was average, then came "The Argument" which was pretty phenomenal...and then there is her latest...THE ACCUSATION. And wow! I was pretty much blown away. That is...until the end.
Jenna Morgan finds herself confronted with something of a quandary one night when she hears a woman's cry for help. Would you rush to assist? Of course you would. And Jenna is no different. Taking a shortcut on her way home from dinner with friends one night she hears a cry for help and rushing into the darkened park, finds Charlotte laying on the ground with a stab wound to the neck and a figure running away. She applies pressure to the wound, calls an ambulance and keeps her talking till help arrives. After giving police her statement, she returns home in something of a daze.
The following day, Jenna wonders how Charlotte is doing, as any normal person would do. So picking up some flowers, she makes her way to the hospital to see how she's doing. As she enters the ward, she sees Charlotte laying on her bed, her face turned and looking out the window. But nothing prepares her for the blood curdling scream that emanates from Charlotte's mouth as soon as she sees Jenna, shouting "She did it!"
The next thing Jenna knows is that she is being taken in for questioning in relation to Charlotte's attack. But with her word against Jenna's, who will they believe? Whilst she is in custody, the police turn over her house looking for anything to support the allegation. Whatever happened to innocent till proven guilty? It seems Jenna is guilty until she's proven innocent. And how is she going to do that? She doesn't even know who is trying to frame her! Because that's the only thing that makes any kind of sense here...that someone is out to fit her up for something she didn't do.
However, that is not all. Jenna's husband Damien has been somewhat distant with her for the past couple of weeks and Jenna suspects him of having an affair. But she doesn't expect the other woman to be one of her closest friends, Laura. Or at least, that's what she suspects when her teenage daughter Lily confides in her that she has seen them together. Damien is definitely distant with her.
And then there is seventeen year old Lily, who has recently become moody and distant herself...as teenagers go...but Jenna feels there is something more to it. Lily has been seen in the company of an older man and whilst Jenna thought she had put a stop to it she suspects Lily has been seeing him again. The two of them used to be so close but lately Lily has locked herself away in her room, had whispered conversations on her phone till all hours and hanging up as soon as she or Damien walk in. Although Lily's father died when she was just 3 years old, Damien has been the closest thing to a father she has known. She always adored him and the two of them shared a unique bond in their early years. So it seemed strange that now Lily spoke of him with something like distaste. What had happened between the two of them?
Whilst juggling her home life and running a cafe, the last thing Jenna needs is to be charged with attempted murder. Then when the police turn up one morning at her cafe with a search warrant she is speechless when they discover a blood strained knife hidden behind the fridge. Jenna swears she has no idea how it got there...but the evidence against her, although circumstantial, is slowly building up and unless she can prove otherwise she is looking at prison.
Jenna knows she didn't do this. She only tried to help the woman. In fact, she had never even seen her before in her life...so why was she targeting her? What had Jenna done to deserve this? But then Jenna has a secret that no one, not even Damien, knows. Surely that has nothing to do with what's happening here.
But when Damien shows her the anonymous notes he's been receiving claiming that Jenna is not who she says she is and 'how well do you know your wife', she starts to feel her world begin to crumble in on her. But regardless, Jenna knows she must protect her family at all costs.
Wow! I have to say, seasoned sleuth that I am, not even I figured out what was at play till just before the reveal. Well done, Ms Jenkins! It takes a writer with a lot of nous to hoodwink me...lol
Narrated by Jenna herself throughout, THE ACCUSATION takes us through Jenna's past and present in alternating chapters as she tells us how she met Damien and leading up to their marriage. She also gives us a little of Lily's father though sensing as if that a secret she prefers to keep we are left to wonder as to just what kind of man he really was. The story is predominantly in the present but I have to say that the chapters where Jenna takes us back to the past could have been titled as "Past" or something relating to that so as not to confuse it with the present...although it was fairly easy to follow anyway. I think I could just be me being fussy. lol
My only real flaw with the book is the ending which I found to be too abrupt. It ended at the bottom of the page followed by three asterixes, which I naturally thought was a break to segue into a more rounded ending. But I was surprised to turn the page and find...nothing. But a plug for her previous thriller "The Argument". After all the build up, the climax, the tension...I had expected a little more to end on.
But that aside, THE ACCUSATION is thoroughly addictive from beginning to end with a fast pace that never lets up throughout and is a thrill-ride well worth the journey. I loved every minute of it and between this and her last thriller, it's hard to say which is her best.
A well written psychological thriller in which Ms Jenkins has certainly found her niche, THE ACCUSATION has all the twists, all the turns and all the tension to keep you guessing right up to the end. With thrillers like this, Jenkins is right up there with the likes of Shalini Boland and Kim Slater.
I would like to thank #VictoriaJenkins, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheAccusation in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 17, 2020
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A wrongful accusation and an ending you won't see coming!
PLOT SUMMARY:
Jenna is cutting through the park near her home one night when she hears a woman calling for help. She immediately sees that the woman has been stabbed, so calls the ambulance and stays with her until the medics and police arrive. Feeling quite proud of herself for helping, she is shocked when the next day she is accused of assault...the woman says that Jenna attacked her. What is going on? Why would this woman accuse her when she was only trying to help? And what secrets will be revealed once the investigation begins?
PROS and CONS:
I enjoy everything that Victoria Jenkins writes…her books are sure to include a major twist that will have you questioning everything you have just read, and those are always super fun to read. Get ready to be shocked.
Jenna is a character you can cheer for...an involved mother with a domineering mother in law and a distant/judgemental husband - I just wanted her to catch a break! There are characters you’ll be frustrated by (Damian), annoyed by (Nancy), curious about (Charlotte) and care for (Jenna, Lily and Amelia). With other side characters also included on Jenna’s quest to prove her innocence, there’s plenty of directions this could have gone...
The ending does come somewhat out of left field, but it’s good to sometimes just let yourself go with the flow and see where the ending takes you, rather than trying to figure out everything on your own.
YES or NO:
It’s a YES - if you’re looking for a lightning quick read with a fun twist, then this is the one for you!
4 Stars
A wrongful accusation and an ending you won't see coming!
PLOT SUMMARY:
Jenna is cutting through the park near her home one night when she hears a woman calling for help. She immediately sees that the woman has been stabbed, so calls the ambulance and stays with her until the medics and police arrive. Feeling quite proud of herself for helping, she is shocked when the next day she is accused of assault...the woman says that Jenna attacked her. What is going on? Why would this woman accuse her when she was only trying to help? And what secrets will be revealed once the investigation begins?
PROS and CONS:
I enjoy everything that Victoria Jenkins writes…her books are sure to include a major twist that will have you questioning everything you have just read, and those are always super fun to read. Get ready to be shocked.
Jenna is a character you can cheer for...an involved mother with a domineering mother in law and a distant/judgemental husband - I just wanted her to catch a break! There are characters you’ll be frustrated by (Damian), annoyed by (Nancy), curious about (Charlotte) and care for (Jenna, Lily and Amelia). With other side characters also included on Jenna’s quest to prove her innocence, there’s plenty of directions this could have gone...
The ending does come somewhat out of left field, but it’s good to sometimes just let yourself go with the flow and see where the ending takes you, rather than trying to figure out everything on your own.
YES or NO:
It’s a YES - if you’re looking for a lightning quick read with a fun twist, then this is the one for you!
4 Stars
April 15, 2020
This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
The Accusation started with a ‘what if’ idea – what if someone took a shortcut home, and that shortcut changed the course of their life? The idea of being falsely accused of a crime is something that has always fascinated me, and there are many famous cases of people having served sentences for crimes of which they were later acquitted. I have often wondered when reading about such cases – or watching dramas or documentaries – how such a person manages to move on with their life afterwards, and to what extent the stigma remains even after their innocence has been proven. In the case of The Accusation, the ‘what if’ ran to a further idea of ‘what if the person was innocent of the accusation made, but was guilty of something else?’
I have enjoyed the experience of being well and truly inside a character’s head – if I was Jenna, how would I react to the accusation? What would I tell my family? Would I confront my accuser? Jenna is not without her flaws. Relationships are at the heart of the story, and Jenna’s love for her family is the motivation for every decision she makes. Despite her ‘crime’, I believe she deserves a happy ending, and I hope this is where the author has left her.
The Accusation started with a ‘what if’ idea – what if someone took a shortcut home, and that shortcut changed the course of their life? The idea of being falsely accused of a crime is something that has always fascinated me, and there are many famous cases of people having served sentences for crimes of which they were later acquitted. I have often wondered when reading about such cases – or watching dramas or documentaries – how such a person manages to move on with their life afterwards, and to what extent the stigma remains even after their innocence has been proven. In the case of The Accusation, the ‘what if’ ran to a further idea of ‘what if the person was innocent of the accusation made, but was guilty of something else?’
I have enjoyed the experience of being well and truly inside a character’s head – if I was Jenna, how would I react to the accusation? What would I tell my family? Would I confront my accuser? Jenna is not without her flaws. Relationships are at the heart of the story, and Jenna’s love for her family is the motivation for every decision she makes. Despite her ‘crime’, I believe she deserves a happy ending, and I hope this is where the author has left her.
June 16, 2020
Jenna was returning from a girlfriends meet up by late night by unusually taking a silent shortcut when she hears a scream 'Help! Help! Help!'. As she reaches close to the source of voice she witness a man running a woman lying wounded with stab in her neck. She tries her best to slow down the bleeding & calling emergency service. Soon she feels relieved as she receives news from hospital that the woman is safe.
But her world starts falling as the woman whom she saved point her fingers towards Jenna as her attacker. Why would she do that? After all she almost saved her? Now she is handcuffed & even jailed for few days.
In her personal life her husband Damien is going further away from her day by day, her elder daughter Lily is hiding secrets & constantly lying to her, MIL leaves no reason to interfere and pearch poison in her relationships & there is someone who knows things about Jenna from her past decades of Jenna's which is kept as secrets far away from all.
The story is from Jenna's point of view both her past & her present. Honestly this book was kinda a bummer for me as I was like really slow & ending I still can't get it just that twists & turns through story was interesting.
But her world starts falling as the woman whom she saved point her fingers towards Jenna as her attacker. Why would she do that? After all she almost saved her? Now she is handcuffed & even jailed for few days.
In her personal life her husband Damien is going further away from her day by day, her elder daughter Lily is hiding secrets & constantly lying to her, MIL leaves no reason to interfere and pearch poison in her relationships & there is someone who knows things about Jenna from her past decades of Jenna's which is kept as secrets far away from all.
The story is from Jenna's point of view both her past & her present. Honestly this book was kinda a bummer for me as I was like really slow & ending I still can't get it just that twists & turns through story was interesting.
April 23, 2020
They say she’s guilty. She says she’s not. Who do you believe?
‘Help me! Help me, please!’
When Jenna hears the cry in the park one night, she feels she has no choice but to run and help. Cradling the injured woman in her arms, the attacker nowhere to be seen, all Jenna wants is to keep her alive until the ambulance arrives and for the ordeal to be over.
But the nightmare begins when the victim wakes up…
Jenna’s relief turns to horror when the finger is pointed at her. There must be some mistake: she’s never seen the woman before in her life, and Jenna tried to save her life. Why would she accuse Jenna of a crime she didn’t commit?
As the case against Jenna grows, her world starts to fall apart. Her teenage daughter is keeping secrets and her husband is growing more distant every day. To save her family and clear her name, Jenna has to prove she didn’t do it. But someone knows something Jenna did do. And they want to make her pay…
This was a fast paced and quick read for me. A real page turner to try and figure out what Jenna was hiding.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
‘Help me! Help me, please!’
When Jenna hears the cry in the park one night, she feels she has no choice but to run and help. Cradling the injured woman in her arms, the attacker nowhere to be seen, all Jenna wants is to keep her alive until the ambulance arrives and for the ordeal to be over.
But the nightmare begins when the victim wakes up…
Jenna’s relief turns to horror when the finger is pointed at her. There must be some mistake: she’s never seen the woman before in her life, and Jenna tried to save her life. Why would she accuse Jenna of a crime she didn’t commit?
As the case against Jenna grows, her world starts to fall apart. Her teenage daughter is keeping secrets and her husband is growing more distant every day. To save her family and clear her name, Jenna has to prove she didn’t do it. But someone knows something Jenna did do. And they want to make her pay…
This was a fast paced and quick read for me. A real page turner to try and figure out what Jenna was hiding.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
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