Believe Me

by Dreda Say Mitchell, Ryan Carter

In this gripping thriller from the bestselling authors of Spare Room and Say Her Name, one woman’s mysterious death has led to a lifetime of pain. Can her daughter find out why?

While working on a property dispute, lawyer Gabby is shocked to discover a name more familiar than her own on the title deeds: her mother’s. But her mother died twenty-five years ago from an undiagnosed illness at forty, leaving Gabby with more questions about the mysterious Ocean Haven than she can find answers for.

Desperate to uncover the truth of her mother’s connection to this house, Gabby begins to investigate, creating tension in her fractured and distant family. So when she begins to uncover the dark and disturbing history of Ocean Haven, is there anyone at all she can turn to?

With her own fortieth birthday fast approaching, Gabby senses the onset of the same unexplained pains her mother experienced all those years ago. Is she being paranoid, or is she about to die in the same way? Or is Ocean Haven hiding a secret about her mother’s past—and Gabby’s future—that she hasn’t yet dared imagine?

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

299 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2023

About the author

Her Majesty, The Queen appointed Dreda an MBE in her 2020 New Year’s Honours’ List. Dreda scooped the CWA’s John Creasey Dagger in 2004, the first time a Black British author has received this honour. Dreda and Ryan write across the crime and mystery genre – psychological thrillers, gritty gangland crime and fast-paced action books Spare Room, their first psychological thriller was a #1 UK and US Amazon Bestseller. Dreda is one of twelve acclaimed and bestselling international female writers contributing to a new Miss Marple anthology. Dreda is a passionate campaigner and speaker on social issues and the arts. She has been a frequent guest on television and radio including BBC Breakfast,, Celebrity Pointless and Celebrity Eggheads, The Stephen Nolan Show, Front Row and Woman’s Hour. She has presented Radio 4’s flagship books programme, Open Book. Dreda was named one of Britain’s 50 Remarkable Women by Lady Geek in association with Nokia. She was the 2011 chair of the Theakston Harrogate Crime Fiction Festival. Dreda was born and raised in the East End of London where she continues to live. Dreda’s family are from the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada and her name is pronounced with a long ‘ee’ sound in the middle.

Reviews

[Karine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've chosen to read "Believe me" based on the setting of a grand house on a rugged English coastline. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that this book wasn't a good match for me.

First of all, there is the first person narrative, which I don't dislike as a whole, but in this case it reflects the very disjointed feelings of the main character. I understand what the author did as the thoughts of Gabby are a rambling mess, but reading her every thought that was jumping from here to there didn't engage me as a reader.

The same chaotic feeling applies to the storyline. It starts with domestic abuse but then it includes some sort of cult, medical gas-lighting and a con artist, juvenile crime, etc. It just felt as there were too many stories crammed into one. Especially the gas-lighting made my skin crawl, as I cannot understand why someone who gets dismissed by a doctor doesn't get a second opinion. These events take place 25 years ago, and I was an adult back then, it's not as if it were the dark ages where women didn't have anything to say about their bodies. I found this very difficult to read.

Then I get to the mystery, which was very obvious as there were two possibilities and one of them proved to be right.

A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Tandem Collective UK as part of a readalong.

3.5 stars.
Believe Me is a fast paced thriller about a lawyer called Gabby who's returned to her home town to work and is suffering psychological trauma due to loosing her mum as a child just before she turned forty and now that Gabby is at the same age this trauma has intensified. After a phone call to tell her her estranged father has been assaulted and is in the hospital, things start to escalate for her. Her health deteriorates and after discovering her mum is on the deads for an old house called Ocean Heights she enters into a wild chase to discover why she's on these deeds, how she really died and what she starts to unravel is a shocking turn of events. This story has a few twists and turns some I saw coming and some I didn't. I did feel there was a little too much being thrown at this story but did enjoy the ending as it all came together.
Trigger Warnings: gaslighting, cult, emotional and mental abuse, medical negligence, and medical gaslighting.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby is a lawyer she’s 39 and has recently moved back to the seaside English Village where she grew up and although her sister keeps warning her not to fall for their Dad’s tricks when the hospital called saying he was beaten up and was rushed to urgent care she leaves work when she arrives her dad is his normal salty demanding self and Gabby knows she isn’t staying long but right before she leaves the detectives investigating her dad‘s assault case comes to introduce himself.. gabby has an instant rapport with Detective Craven but whether it’s good or bad she cannot decide but she acts like the dutifull daughter then quickly takes her leave. Her sister is an Instagramer and she’s married to Luke someone Gabby knows for certain she doesn’t like that much but when she gets a file from Work showing her mom was the estate agent for oh Home called Ocean Haven gabby is more than intrigued because her mom didn’t have two nickels to rob together much less the cash or prominence to be put in such a position. When she asks her sister Selena about it her sister and trust she should let it go. Their mom is dead and Selena thinks Gabby should let her rest but this is something Gabby cannot let go and win the suspect to her dad the salt is someone from the past Gabby feels she is getting closer to the answer unfortunately looking for the answer will put her and everything she knows into question. I really like this book and after reading it I thought it could’ve went either way a really great book or a totally terrible read but now that I am done I would definitely recommend the spot it held my interest until the very end there a twist I didn’t see it coming and will definitely give this a solid four star rating I did think the characters could’ve been flushed out a little more but I think when you’re already suspending belief a talented author will keep you interested in these authors certainly achieve that. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabby grew up in a rather volatile family setting, along with her sister and brother. With their father constantly watching them, giving them set times to complete tasks and taking out his watch to time them. Failure to keep within the time limit resulted in a shocking punishment. Their mother could do little to protect them and died of a mystery illness well before her time.
Moving forward to the present day, Gabby is a lawyer and is rapidly approaching her fortieth birthday, the age her mother was when she passed away. Gabby is getting anxious as she is feeling unwell, displaying some of the symptoms which her mother experienced prior to her death. In a professional manner Gabby is asked to take on a case involving Ocean Haven, a former grand house on a cliff edge, which has now been left to fall into disrepair. Gabby soon unearths a link between the house and her mum and endeavours to find out more.
With the story moving back 25 years we meet Marcia, Gabby’s mum and follow her as her health deteriorates. In her quest to find a cure, she is lured to Ocean Haven and unearths a cult led by an alluring yet evil man, who promises to make her better.
Gabby now being estranged from her father, has little inclination to visit him when he is admitted to hospital following an attack. Gaby is determined to unearth the truth surrounding her mother’s past and will stop at nothing to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, making some shocking discoveries along the way, which took place in the past and some which are much more recent.
I found this book a real struggle to read and in places the plot felt disjointed, making it hard to follow. There were random parts of the story which made no sense and Gabby in particular was difficult to follow, with her involved in some extremely odd experiences. I felt like I was missing something and just didn’t ‘get it.’ But about three quarters of the way through, the foundations of the plot were revealed, and it started to make sense. A bit too hard work for me to keep me interested in reading on, but I am glad that I read to the end and was able to see the plot make sense by the final page.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby is a lawyer working on a property dispute case, and finds her mother's name on the title deeds. She knows her late mother could not possibly have owned the property and sets out to unravel this mystery.
Her mother died at the age of forty, of an undiagnosed mystery illness, and Gabby is about to turn forty and has the same symptoms.
Her sister has a make up range that she mixes herself, and her brother has distanced himself from the family.
All three of the siblings have tried to distance themselves from a toxic and cruel father.

Ocean House seems to be entwined with her family, her brother in law buys it, and she finds her brothers name carved into the wood.

A body is found buried, and Gabby becomes involved with the detective working on the case, and it turns out he too has connections to the house.

I enjoyed this mysterious and convoluted book, but did guess the cause of some of the deaths. However, there are quite a few twists and turns and the book is well worth reading.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant psychological thriller which had me on the edge of my seat right from the start and up until the final twist to finish.

There was so much going on in this that I was never quite sure what information I should have been using to form a theory and what was just there to lead you in the wrong direction.

This told the story over two timelines - current time with Gabby and family and then also going back 25 years to follow Marcia's story.
Marcia, Gabby's mum, died 25years ago of an unknown illness. Shed been to see the Dr but they'd found there was nothing wrong with her and blamed all the 'imaginary' pains on menopause.

It was quite astounding to learn how women were treated by health professionals at that time.
I know that there's been lots of progress in terms of how certain things are viewed and discussed, but it's only now you look back, that you can really see the stark differences.

There were a lot of characters to get your head around in this book - but I liked that everything was laid out so clearly for you.
Each flash back was clearly stated at the start of chapters and each of the characters were introduced to us individually and with a precise clarity that it was actually quite easy to keep track of who was who and what their role was and in what timeline.

I really liked Gabby and her absolute focus and determination to get to the bottom.lf things and find out what really happened at Ocean Haven and what happened to her Mum.
The relationship that developed with Craven was just perfect.
At first we weren't sure why he was giving Gabby so much leeway - but as the story unfolds, we start to see the connections.

I loved the writing style and the whole storyline. There was a strong inference of the paranormal - but also a strong theme of mental illness which had me never feeling too sure what was real, imagined or spiritual. It gave us a brilliant creepy vibe throughout.
I especially wasn't keen on the seven ravens 😬

There was a point where I thought I had this totally worked out......then there'd be a huge twist and we'd learn another snippet and I'd be back to square one!
I just loved this!

[andshe.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling and fast paced thriller about the strength and determination of women and how they struggle to get professionals to take them seriously within society. So as much as this is a suspense novel it also comes with an added message which really stood out for me.

The characters are well developed, I really liked Gabby and how focused and determined she was to find the truth despite the risks she faced.

The dual timeline provides much needed history but it doesn't make it any easier to pinpoint the suspect and the twists and turns throughout definitely kept me guessing.

I for one didn't see the ending coming and was truly shocked. It made the story for me so much better because I love it when my suspicions are wrong.

A great compelling story that if you enjoy being on the edge of your seat and unable to put a book down I highly recommend you read.

A huge thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk for providing me with a copy of the book and a place on this readalong.

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on Audible and enjoyed the story. Shows how strong women are. I was shocked at how everything played out!! Very surprised!!

[SarahRobins_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m afraid I did not enjoy this at all. It’s was all a little cliche and tooooo many twists and things just coming together too coincidentally. I just found it very unbelievable unfortunately.

[Neo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling saga of brave and remarkable women - well worth a read if you like psychological thrillers. Highly recommended.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“Believe Me” is a mystery book (family thriller?) by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter. This book started off with one of those “shoot the sheriff in the first paragraph” chapters that hooked me in. As the story started I found myself a bit confused as the chapters were not always in linear time and the reader wasn’t told “flashback here.” I found the pacing a bit slow in the beginning - a bit of backstory and regrets - and then it sped up toward the end. I found that there was a lot going on in the book and while it was interesting, at times I wish not as much information was being related to the reader. While I’m glad that I read the book, I did think there’s a lot in this book that at times felt like way too much - it’s almost like it could’ve been a bit more streamlined in the way the overall story was told. Interesting idea, but not executed in a way that I liked.

[Michele Reise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway.
The book was well written and error free.
It is written in the first person, which a lot of people dislike but I didn't mind.
The idea behind the story was a good one but it just didn't come together well for me.
There was too much going on so it was hard to lock down what the actual plot of the book was.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had just focused on the story of how women were treated by men of medicine instead of throwing in the murder mystery and all the family drama.
I honestly am glad to be finished with it after forcing myself to read the last 70 pages.

[Tara Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not for me. It started off ok, but I wasn't that interested in the characters or the story, alas, so I skimmed after the first two thirds. Read the ending to find out what was going on, but I could
as easily have abandoned it. The theme of women gaslighted or dismissed by the medical profession had potential but didn't do much for me in practice.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe Me is an intriguing story about deception, love, lies, domestic abuse, untreated psychological problems, and crime. It has a good plot, is well-written, and is easy to read, and it kept me entertained from beginning to end although I had guessed who the culprit was quite soon.
I thank the authors, their publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreda Say Mitchell has as firm a grasp on the art of storytelling as any author out there. Her mysteries are complex, and her stories pass quickly. For all that, I would say that Believe Me is a step forward for her because she has added an extra ounce of characterization to the folks she writes about.

There's much more to the story than I can remember, because I tore through it more than a week ago and have read two books since. SO my synopsis will be somewhat rudimentary. The main character, a lawyer named Gabby, is approaching her fortieth birthday. I don't know of too many people who exactly jumped for joy at the prospect of turning forty, but Gabby has added an extra wrinkle to her discomfort: Her revered mother died at forty, of an illness that no one in the medical profession could figure out. Gabby is convinced that that same fate awaits her. While trying to work through her own anxiety, and while attempting once again to get her late mother's affairs in order, Gabby discovers that mom had was actually indicated as the head of a small group that governed an expansive mansion--and was therefore the owner. After a "Hey, wait a minute" moment, Gabby faces a whole pile of obstacles, many of them thrown up by her own family while she tries to figure out just how mom ended up on the list.

Mitchell's characters are always layered, but in Believe Me, each of them has an extra level of development that makes for more than just a plain old whodunnit.

[Monika Komorska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay- I will do my best to try and talk about this book without any spoilers, bear with me.

The back of the book synopsis grabbed my attention so I thought it could be a good read but I think I can safely say it exceeded my expectations. It is a fast paced psychological thriller about a lawyer named Gabby. She came back to her home town at the same age that her mother was when she died there when she was a child.
The story is told from first narrative but over two timelines back and forth, one being Gabby the main character and one her mom Marciq 25 years ago, giving us an insight to why the main character is the way she is and what happened to her family.

It showed us what woman had to face back in those days not just at home but also the way they were treated by professionals and how strong some of them had to be.

There is complicated family , siblings broken relationships as well as some detective work in there. The book has a lot of twist and turns , some of them I expected but some of them did take me by surprise so this made the book so enjoyable for me. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way until the end.

Thank you Tandem Collective for giving me a chance to take part in this read along. I will definitely be picking up another title by this authors as I really enjoyed this one.

TW: Suicide, murder, gaslighting, cult, emotional abuse

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This latest standalone psychological thriller is the second co-written by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter, and is titled Believe Me. Gabrielle Lewis is a lawyer handed a simple old property dispute case to review regarding the ownership of a house on the cliff known as Ocean Haven. Gabby is surprised to discover a connection to her dead mother and decides to investigate. Fearing her own early death, family secrets and the dark history of Ocean Haven make for an interconnected mystery. The narrative switches back and forth between the present day (Gabby) and twenty-five years ago prior to her mother’s (Marcia) final days. An enjoyable psychological suspenseful tale, if many of the numerous twists are not unexpected. Overall, it’s a pleasant tale with a menacing undertone that all ends up rosily and is a three stars rating. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

[Helen Christmas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding novel by one of my favourite authors. In fact it didn’t take long for me to become completely absorbed in this powerful family drama that unfolds into a sinister but mesmerising mystery. I love the characters. At the heart of this book is a compelling family dynamic, recalled through the eyes of (main character), Gabby, a successful lawyer. The love she harbours for her mother and siblings, living under the iron rule of a controlling father, is a saga that stirred my emotions. Saul is a really nasty character, manipulative and cruel, but as more is revealed in Marcia’s story (the mother they lost aged 40) you really become entwined in their lives. Flipping between present day and memories from 25 years earlier, Gabby has stumbled across a document, concerning an old manor house (Ocean Haven), which mysteriously links the property to her mother. At the same time, however, she too, is starting to develop the symptoms that blighted Marcia’s health, who after being dismissed as ‘hysterical’ by an old school doctor, went in search of an alternative cure; one that drew her to Ocean Haven and it’s charismatic ‘doctor’ Fortune. As Gabby undertakes her own investigation into the house, she is drawn into a web of secrets, leading to a story that is truly shocking. This book was so good, I didn’t want it to end. I love a good thriller and this story was something quite unique.

[L.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this audio narrated by Selena Scott-Bennin. The setting takes place on the seaside cliffs in an English Village in a former grand estate called Ocean Haven. I can't help but be intrigued by old manors and mysterious deaths. 25 years ago Marcia died of a mysterious illness and had a lifetime of pain at only 40 years old. Can her daughter find out why?
Her daughter, Gabby, is a lawyer and becomes involved with a property dispute. This property is Ocean Haven...her mother's name is on the deed. Family members try to persuade her not to investigate it and wreak some havoc on Gabby's plans. When Gabby begins to have the same unexplained pains as her mother, she becomes paranoid and afraid she will die like her. Her family has a lot of secrets to hide. It is worth the solving of this mystery as it has numerous twists.
An awesome job from this pair of writers. I need to read more by them.

[Tayla Megan Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all I really enjoyed this book, I am fairly easy to please when it comes to thrillers but I felt like the premise and plot of the book was really enjoyable and fast paced. From chapter one the thrill had started with Gabby’s father and sister being introduced, the descriptions of their characters really set the tone and I felt like I had the case all wrapped up. As the story unfolds and more potential baddies are introduced the suspense really kicks in. As a whole I enjoyed the suspense and the thrill and I was pretty happy by the end. The only one thing I struggled with was that there were a few plot holes, some pieces of info or scenes were introduced without any context or preface and then it was never spoken about again or it just jumped around to random moments that didn’t seem to piece together. Other than that, really good book, I would definitely recommend.

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book written by co-written by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter. The lead character Gabrielle Lewis is a lawyer working on property dispute case to review regarding the ownership of a house on the cliff known as Ocean Haven. She is somewhat taken aback to discover a connection to her dead mother and decides to look into the matter. Several aspects of the book I found appealing were the lead character fearing her own early death, family secrets and the creepy history of Ocean Haven. I enjoyed the time shift between present day and 25 years prior with her mother's story. The book was twisty, psychological and suspenseful! I will definitely read more by these authors. I was given an advanced copy by #netgalley #believe me

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller by Dreda and Ryan has a message about people especially women being heard by the medical profession. I think this problem has improved over the years but there is certainly a need for Doctors to listen carefully to their patients about their concerns with their health issues. This story is told over two time lines twenty five years apart. Gabby is a lawyer and on getting a job about the disputed ownership of a large coastal house in the town where she grew up she’s shocked to see her mother’s name on the paperwork. Looking into it further Gabby had no idea she was stirring up things from her own childhood all those years ago. Will Gabby and her family finally get closure after so many years.

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book written by co-written by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter. The lead character Gabrielle Lewis is a lawyer working on property dispute case to review regarding the ownership of a house on the cliff known as Ocean Haven. She is somewhat taken aback to discover a connection to her dead mother and decides to look into the matter. Several aspects of the book I found appealing were the lead character fearing her own early death, family secrets and the creepy history of Ocean Haven. I enjoyed the time shift between present day and 25 years prior with her mother's story. The book was twisty, psychological and suspenseful! I will definitely read more by these authors. I was given an advanced copy by #netgalley #believe me

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow build on intrigue with an interesting twist at the end

I liked the later developments, but the build-up of intrigue was really slow. I stayed with it because I wanted to see where it went and if it would really grab me. It never did. The glimpse into the damage caused by psychological abuse is worth unpacking, as is the impact on women of neglecting their health concerns and conditions. The medical field is as much of an abuser in this book as the husband/father and just as unlikely to be held accountable. So, while I did not have that hooked, I must finish this feeling, I did not regret reading the book. Some I teresting discussions could materialize from it within a book club or support group.

[Angela Holden Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher, and couldn't wait to start reading it.
It gripped me from the first page and just another page turned into just another chapter then it turned into an all night reading fest!!

This psychological thriller is one of my favourite books for a long time.
its rare I read a complete book in one sitting but this one was just too good to put down.
I absolutely love their writing
For me, every book by them gets better and better.

An amazing story, definitely stayed with me since I read it.
If you want a brilliant story written by fantastic authors then get this, you wont regret it.

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would love Believe Me before I started reading it because Dreda Say Mitchell is a fabulous story teller. I was right - it's one terrific read! I started it in the morning and finished it in one sitting, never stopping once.

Yes, it's a suspense novel, but more importantly it's a story of women and their struggle in society, with health care, with having people believe us when say we are ill. How many of you have experienced this? I KNOW I have!! Tragically, this story ends in death, trauma, murder... but it doesn't have to. Read #BelieveMe and learn from these women. What a great book!!

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an exciting, thoroughly gripping read! It starts of with a shocking incident and builds from there. This is an expertly written thriller with enough twists and turns to resemble a rollercoaster! I was hanging on to every word, trying to figure it out! The plot is brilliant. I thought that the characters of Gabby and Craven were well written, as were all of the characters. I really didn’t like Saul though. He is one of those characters that you love to hate. The story is well paced, but complex. It seems that everyone is connected to Ocean Haven in one way or the other. I was shocked to find out who the guilty party was though! I was not expecting it in the slightest.

[Janice Spina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe Me is a psychological thriller with a shocking conclusion. The story built slowly keeping the reader in suspense.

The main protagonist is the daughter of a women who had a difficult life with a man who was abusive. She also suffered from pains that could not be explained or diagnosed by many doctors she had seen. This woman had two daughters and one son who suffered along with her. The eldest daughter carries the story as she tries to solve the mystery of her mother’s death and the doctor who treated her.

There are many twists and turns in the story that keep the reader engaged until the final chapter. It was an interesting storyline.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good mystery/thriller book, told in the first person. It jumps back and forward between two time spans, which confused me at times. There are some interesting characters, especially Gabby, and the plotting was good, although I was almost at the end before it all made sense! There is a lot going on, maybe too much at times but it held my attention throughout. The overall theme of women gaslighted by the medical profession might be tough reading for some. Overall, a good read. Thanks to Net galley for my ARC.

[Kathyrn G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC book from Goodreads. I really enjoyed this mystery overall. The story was a grabber about a very dysfunctional family, a few murders, the plight of women seeking medical care who get ignored & the protagonist, Gabby, who does not give up trying to solve the mystery surrounding her beloved mother's death. Twists & surprises keep you turning the pages!
This would have been a 4 star read for me except the ending went on steroids & just seemed improbable. I look forward to reading another book by this new author to me. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this new book.