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What Katie Didn't Know
Katie Anderson enjoys her husband’s jealousy, his control at home, it allows him to show how much he loves her. In work she’s a different person where, as Detective Inspector Anderson, she’s put in charge, for the first time, of a murder case. A government experiment has gone wrong, would-be creatures, to be used in warfare, have gone rogue, maybe they are responsible for the murder and kidnap she’s investigating.
Escape with Katie as she tries to clear up this mystery, but cannot do it alone. Assigned a PC who is well known, among the women of the community, for his prowess, Katie discovers more about herself, the creatures, and what true love is really like.
A steamy, dark-romance novel, of lies, intrigue, love, and despair. Should Katie trust her husband of eight years? Can she trust her lover with the reputation he brings with him? Who are the people she meets on her journey, that hold such strange names? And why is crime accepted in the community she falls into?
Above all, why is London involved, and which man, if any, will she choose to keep her sane?
Escape with Katie as she tries to clear up this mystery, but cannot do it alone. Assigned a PC who is well known, among the women of the community, for his prowess, Katie discovers more about herself, the creatures, and what true love is really like.
A steamy, dark-romance novel, of lies, intrigue, love, and despair. Should Katie trust her husband of eight years? Can she trust her lover with the reputation he brings with him? Who are the people she meets on her journey, that hold such strange names? And why is crime accepted in the community she falls into?
Above all, why is London involved, and which man, if any, will she choose to keep her sane?
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2022
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Stephenson Holt
57 books42 followersStephenson Holt is an author that physically writes between 5am and 8am each morning, leaving that painting to sketch and dream for the rest of the day. Sometimes he returns into normality but not for long periods. For most of his life he is constructing one novel while sketching the next novel – it keeps the mind fresh.
His favourite sketch and dream places are;-
I. Lying on a beach listening to the waves.
II. A favourite armchair in the conservatory with heavy rain on the roof.
III. Laying in a hot bath staring at a tiled wall.
IV. Sitting next to a canal where he used to fish as a boy.
V. Motorway driving.
VI. That chair in the corner of the greenhouse, shielded from the sun by that grapevine and next to the olive tree, full of bird feeders.
VII. Gardening with a corner of his eye on the sparrow returning to the nest in the eaves above him and imagining he’s the sparrow looking down on himself.
VIII. Running a familiar route where he doesn’t have to concentrate on where he’s going.
When stuck for inspiration he will;-
I. Listen to an episode of “The Invisible College” a series of ten minute podcasts from BBC Radio 4 that sit nicely on an iPod.
II. Listen to a three album collection converted to CD of Jack Kerouac reciting and backed by either piano or saxophone. Including “Poetry for the beat generation” and “American Haikus.”
III. Fight like a superhero with a six year old grandson.
IV. Walk in the hills.
His favourite sketch and dream places are;-
I. Lying on a beach listening to the waves.
II. A favourite armchair in the conservatory with heavy rain on the roof.
III. Laying in a hot bath staring at a tiled wall.
IV. Sitting next to a canal where he used to fish as a boy.
V. Motorway driving.
VI. That chair in the corner of the greenhouse, shielded from the sun by that grapevine and next to the olive tree, full of bird feeders.
VII. Gardening with a corner of his eye on the sparrow returning to the nest in the eaves above him and imagining he’s the sparrow looking down on himself.
VIII. Running a familiar route where he doesn’t have to concentrate on where he’s going.
When stuck for inspiration he will;-
I. Listen to an episode of “The Invisible College” a series of ten minute podcasts from BBC Radio 4 that sit nicely on an iPod.
II. Listen to a three album collection converted to CD of Jack Kerouac reciting and backed by either piano or saxophone. Including “Poetry for the beat generation” and “American Haikus.”
III. Fight like a superhero with a six year old grandson.
IV. Walk in the hills.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 8, 2022
I always do enjoy a little romance and love between two people. Not only does Katie experience this but she does a lot more than just that. She gets involved with the British government and has to fight off villains. I was amazed, this was more than just romance.
September 17, 2023
An interesting story
I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The story revolves around Katie, a woman with a controlling husband and is a detective which is the one part of her life that she has control. She gets paired with Dan as they investigate the strange happenings of a crime that involves, wait for it...grasshoppers. (no spoilers on this so you'll have to read and find out). This story has plenty of drama, thrilling action, humorous dialogue and steamy sexual activity that you'll have difficulty putting this down. I highly recommend it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The story revolves around Katie, a woman with a controlling husband and is a detective which is the one part of her life that she has control. She gets paired with Dan as they investigate the strange happenings of a crime that involves, wait for it...grasshoppers. (no spoilers on this so you'll have to read and find out). This story has plenty of drama, thrilling action, humorous dialogue and steamy sexual activity that you'll have difficulty putting this down. I highly recommend it!
October 16, 2022
Unforgettable Twists!
This mash-up of mystery/detective, sci-fi, and romance bordering on the erotic, will keep you turning the pages. The author's style is enjoyable and the novel itself is well-written, full of suspense especially with its murder mystery, which ends with a horrific climax that will stun.
I enjoyed the banter between Katie and Dan, and the internal monologue from Katie made it easy to read and brings you closer to the character as you feel her inner turmoil together with her outward experiences, which at times, appropriately contradict what she thinks as she struggles with the human condition and conflicting emotions.
The character is very relatable as she deals with a woman's lot, her own conflicting feelings over her husband's possessive jealousy, her job as a detective, and much more, while the author expertly reveals the sci-fi angle and pulls you with both hooks into the plot, but no spoilers!
I've enjoyed this novel so much that I'm moving on to book 2!
This mash-up of mystery/detective, sci-fi, and romance bordering on the erotic, will keep you turning the pages. The author's style is enjoyable and the novel itself is well-written, full of suspense especially with its murder mystery, which ends with a horrific climax that will stun.
I enjoyed the banter between Katie and Dan, and the internal monologue from Katie made it easy to read and brings you closer to the character as you feel her inner turmoil together with her outward experiences, which at times, appropriately contradict what she thinks as she struggles with the human condition and conflicting emotions.
The character is very relatable as she deals with a woman's lot, her own conflicting feelings over her husband's possessive jealousy, her job as a detective, and much more, while the author expertly reveals the sci-fi angle and pulls you with both hooks into the plot, but no spoilers!
I've enjoyed this novel so much that I'm moving on to book 2!
September 8, 2022
What Katie Didn’t Know by Stephenson Holt is extremely entertaining. Set deep in the Welsh Valleys we follow Katie, a career minded police detective, through a difficult marriage - touching on abusive - and some extremely bizarre and worrying challenges.
Our adorable hero builds relationships with women survivors, colleagues and professionals in a male dominated workplace, and doting lovers who need a little guidance to be worthy of marriage.
The twists are numerous and occasionally quite … odd - but no spoilers from me.
Every adult taboo is poked with humour and comedy. And the adult humour is most certainly … adult.
Laugh a minute, dark and worrying in places, with a bizarre plot - highly recommended.
Our adorable hero builds relationships with women survivors, colleagues and professionals in a male dominated workplace, and doting lovers who need a little guidance to be worthy of marriage.
The twists are numerous and occasionally quite … odd - but no spoilers from me.
Every adult taboo is poked with humour and comedy. And the adult humour is most certainly … adult.
Laugh a minute, dark and worrying in places, with a bizarre plot - highly recommended.
September 11, 2022
Interesting read
Admittedly one of the tropes was not to my taste, which made it hard for me to route for the main characters to begin with. This had nothing to do with the author's writing ability. He has great writing skill, just started reading not realising the trope. That said, the plot was interesting enough to keep me wanting to stay invested in the story and see it through to the end, as I wanted to know what would happen next. It was very well written.
Admittedly one of the tropes was not to my taste, which made it hard for me to route for the main characters to begin with. This had nothing to do with the author's writing ability. He has great writing skill, just started reading not realising the trope. That said, the plot was interesting enough to keep me wanting to stay invested in the story and see it through to the end, as I wanted to know what would happen next. It was very well written.
August 24, 2022
I love the author's sense of humor, as Katie trades insults with her ex-husband, and carries on with her new love, a work mate. The grasshoppers in the cave are just a diversion, as the banter doesn't stop even when they are well below ground. It's a novel of modern sexuality & relationships; it moves right along, and it's well-written. I look forward to the next one!
August 28, 2022
What Katie Didn’t know is a well-written, mesmerising story. There is so much going on. It’s a crime story with great characters from the first page. Then we’re hit with a love triangle but it’s really a sci-fi novel. At the risk of giving too much away. MI5 are involved. Even the Mafia are in the mix. Whatever you think of the story, you won’t be bored.
August 24, 2022
A thriller crime novel and a steamy love story combined.
Katie is investigating a murder kidnapping, a government experiment goes haywire, and a romance ensues. An intriguing summer read. I even enjoyed learning some new English words like "Bollocking."
Katie is investigating a murder kidnapping, a government experiment goes haywire, and a romance ensues. An intriguing summer read. I even enjoyed learning some new English words like "Bollocking."
July 7, 2025
What Katie Didn’t Know is the kind of novel that creeps up on you quiet, layered, and emotionally sharp. Stephenson Holt masterfully peels back the layers of truth, memory, and family secrets, revealing a gripping story that feels both intimate and quietly explosive.
Katie is a character you root for, even as you start to question how much she truly knows or wants to know. The slow unraveling of her reality is handled with such care that every chapter feels like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle snapping into place, often in ways you don’t expect.
Holt’s writing is elegant but never overdone. The emotional weight of the story is balanced with just enough mystery to keep you turning the pages, needing to know what Katie didn’t know… and what it means once she does.
This is a book that lingers. Long after the final chapter, you’ll be thinking about what truth really costs and whether it’s always worth it.
Katie is a character you root for, even as you start to question how much she truly knows or wants to know. The slow unraveling of her reality is handled with such care that every chapter feels like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle snapping into place, often in ways you don’t expect.
Holt’s writing is elegant but never overdone. The emotional weight of the story is balanced with just enough mystery to keep you turning the pages, needing to know what Katie didn’t know… and what it means once she does.
This is a book that lingers. Long after the final chapter, you’ll be thinking about what truth really costs and whether it’s always worth it.
August 27, 2023
This is a book that blends mystery with emotion and raunchiness. The narrative peels back layers of the characters, revealing backstories and motivations that add depth to the unfolding mystery. The novel keeps readers engaged.
This was an interesting book in that it has the underlying detective story, but then there’s a secondary story told in italics of Katie’s thought process throughout. The author has written it as an overlay to the main story. It’s sexy, it’s fun, it’s hard-hitting, and it works.
Holt's attention to detail, particularly in the way they capture the nuances of interpersonal relationships works well. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, the reader is led on an emotional journey that leaves a lasting impact.
The characters' growth, as they navigate their personal histories and the central mystery, is portrayed with realism and humour.
This was an interesting book in that it has the underlying detective story, but then there’s a secondary story told in italics of Katie’s thought process throughout. The author has written it as an overlay to the main story. It’s sexy, it’s fun, it’s hard-hitting, and it works.
Holt's attention to detail, particularly in the way they capture the nuances of interpersonal relationships works well. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, the reader is led on an emotional journey that leaves a lasting impact.
The characters' growth, as they navigate their personal histories and the central mystery, is portrayed with realism and humour.
March 8, 2023
enjoyed reading this book because it has a strong storyline and well developed main characters. While l stumbled over some of their character traits l did appreciate Katie and Dan for their commitment to each other. Katie was stuck in a very bad marriage while Dan was the opposite, a man who played the field to the hilt. But circumstances changed all that and Kate was freed from her pug of a husband, Jamie who turned out to be much more than he was shown to be for much of the story.
I found it hard to break away from the book when life called and l would certainly recommend this to a reader looking for a book to pass a few hours away with.
I found it hard to break away from the book when life called and l would certainly recommend this to a reader looking for a book to pass a few hours away with.
December 12, 2022
What Katie Didn’t Know is a cross-genre novel, the first one of a series. It has an intriguing beginning with interesting turns and twists when the story unfolds. It has a mixture of elements of romance and crime fiction. What is most revealing about the the novel is that the interesting characters, Katie and Dan, who are characteristic of human psychology: about love and jealousy, hatred and revenge, and dark side of human nature. Holt is a very skillful writer of multi-genres and I look forward to reading his next novel in the series.
March 16, 2023
Katie is an intelligent woman, competent in her position as a detective inspector. Yet she’s married to Jamie, an incredibly distrustful and controlling man. It’s no surprise that, when she’s partnered with hunky womanizer Police Constable Dan, sparks begin to fly. This book has it all: sadism, brutal unsolved murders, kidnapped women, plenty of steamy sex scenes, a rogue Military Intelligence officer, and a secret government project that has seriously gone awry. A fascinating, quick read with never a dull moment!
January 23, 2023
Naked gun 5
WOW what a story!!!! I know you warned the reader about explicit content but I wasn't expecting it to be so colorful. My bad. Anyhoo, it was a great storyline and I enjoyed how strong and open you made your main character. She was something to read about.
I gave a 5 star because the storyline and characters were superb and the paragraphs flowed well. It definitely was intriguing.
WOW what a story!!!! I know you warned the reader about explicit content but I wasn't expecting it to be so colorful. My bad. Anyhoo, it was a great storyline and I enjoyed how strong and open you made your main character. She was something to read about.
I gave a 5 star because the storyline and characters were superb and the paragraphs flowed well. It definitely was intriguing.
September 8, 2022
This book I find is about romance. Main character Katie is a police detective, living in a disturbed marriage.
Katie wins over relationships with females, colleagues, and professionals within a male-dominated workplace plus more.
I wasn't too fond of the storyline but it does bring twists that are unexpected. Is a fair witty like read.
Katie wins over relationships with females, colleagues, and professionals within a male-dominated workplace plus more.
I wasn't too fond of the storyline but it does bring twists that are unexpected. Is a fair witty like read.
May 6, 2023
Katie is a legend, she is an captivating character keeping the interest of the plot. The story is full of twists and turns which leaves the reader curious with engagement of what is going to happen next. I enjoyed the read very much.
May 26, 2023
Great read
Well-written and engaging story. It starts off as one thing, then gradually unfolds as another. Can’t wait to read the next one. Five stars.
Well-written and engaging story. It starts off as one thing, then gradually unfolds as another. Can’t wait to read the next one. Five stars.
abandoned
July 27, 2024I abandoned this before I even finished the first chapter. I didn't like the way the heroine talked about herself or the way her husband talked about her. It had a hateful tone.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews