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The Narrator
When the call came it seemed like the answer to my prayers.
My career as a voice actor had been over for months and me and my little girl Scarlet were living back at my mum’s place. I felt like a failure professionally—and with Scarlet having problems at school, as a parent as well.
So, when I was asked to narrate a new book by disappeared novelist Philippa Roberts I jumped at the chance, even if it meant leaving Scarlet with my ex, Hugo, for a few weeks. Hugo, with his perfect new home and his perfect new girlfriend Saskia.
But this isn’t a dream come true. It’s a nightmare.
There’s something hidden in the pages of this book, I’m sure of it. Some clue to Philippa’s disappearance. And I don’t feel safe. I’m being watched. My room has been searched. Saskia has been calling me in tears. If I don’t find answers fast I’ll lose more than my second chance.
I’ll lose my daughter.
A breath-taking new thriller from the number one author of The Marriage and The Widow. If you like Gone Girl, The Girl on The Train and The Wife Between Us then you will love The Narrator.
My career as a voice actor had been over for months and me and my little girl Scarlet were living back at my mum’s place. I felt like a failure professionally—and with Scarlet having problems at school, as a parent as well.
So, when I was asked to narrate a new book by disappeared novelist Philippa Roberts I jumped at the chance, even if it meant leaving Scarlet with my ex, Hugo, for a few weeks. Hugo, with his perfect new home and his perfect new girlfriend Saskia.
But this isn’t a dream come true. It’s a nightmare.
There’s something hidden in the pages of this book, I’m sure of it. Some clue to Philippa’s disappearance. And I don’t feel safe. I’m being watched. My room has been searched. Saskia has been calling me in tears. If I don’t find answers fast I’ll lose more than my second chance.
I’ll lose my daughter.
A breath-taking new thriller from the number one author of The Marriage and The Widow. If you like Gone Girl, The Girl on The Train and The Wife Between Us then you will love The Narrator.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 11, 2022
1262 people are currently reading
2498 people want to read
About the author
K.L. Slater
45 books4,704 followersKim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 715 reviews
April 14, 2023
Really fun popcorn read! 🍿🎧
"What in the world happened after she'd got all dressed up and left the house?"
Bestselling author Philippa Roberts has disappeared on the biggest night of her career! Where is she?
I loved the plot and the pacing kept me engaged. This one was a winner for me and didn't require too many brain cells to enjoy it (if you're looking for a good distraction read like I was).
There are some good red herrings, surprising twists and a good ending. I liked the publishing world angle, the obsessed fans and Eve's character (she was a narrator in the novel).
This is currently a KU selection and I also listened via Audible (8 hrs 5 min)
"What in the world happened after she'd got all dressed up and left the house?"
Bestselling author Philippa Roberts has disappeared on the biggest night of her career! Where is she?
I loved the plot and the pacing kept me engaged. This one was a winner for me and didn't require too many brain cells to enjoy it (if you're looking for a good distraction read like I was).
There are some good red herrings, surprising twists and a good ending. I liked the publishing world angle, the obsessed fans and Eve's character (she was a narrator in the novel).
This is currently a KU selection and I also listened via Audible (8 hrs 5 min)
January 7, 2023
What a shocker! The Narrator is a gripping and twist filled read with a reveal which knocked my socks off! WOWZA! I did not see that coming!
Bestselling author, Philippa Roberts has been missing for eight months. She was last seen while preparing to accept a writing award. She was at the top of her game and had a strong fan base. Everyone was shocked when she went missing without a trace.
Eve has narrated all of Philippa's books. She has been down on her luck after her husband left her for one of her colleagues. Now a single mother with a five-year-old daughter, Eve has moved back in with her mother. When she receives a call from a publishing company informing her that Philippa's wife has found a hidden manuscript, she happily agrees to narrate it. The only downside, she needs to leave her daughter with her mother.
Hugo, Eve's ex-husband has other plans and while Eve is in London, he takes their daughter to his home with his pregnant girlfriend. As if that isn't enough stress, Eve begins narrating and wonders if there could be hidden messages in the script.
This was a gripping, twist filled read with a jaw dropping shocker. This was a page turner for me and by the end, I could not turn the pages fast enough. I did not see that reveal coming and I love when that happens. This one kept me on my toes and fully invested in the plot. Another fantastic book by Slater!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Bestselling author, Philippa Roberts has been missing for eight months. She was last seen while preparing to accept a writing award. She was at the top of her game and had a strong fan base. Everyone was shocked when she went missing without a trace.
Eve has narrated all of Philippa's books. She has been down on her luck after her husband left her for one of her colleagues. Now a single mother with a five-year-old daughter, Eve has moved back in with her mother. When she receives a call from a publishing company informing her that Philippa's wife has found a hidden manuscript, she happily agrees to narrate it. The only downside, she needs to leave her daughter with her mother.
Hugo, Eve's ex-husband has other plans and while Eve is in London, he takes their daughter to his home with his pregnant girlfriend. As if that isn't enough stress, Eve begins narrating and wonders if there could be hidden messages in the script.
This was a gripping, twist filled read with a jaw dropping shocker. This was a page turner for me and by the end, I could not turn the pages fast enough. I did not see that reveal coming and I love when that happens. This one kept me on my toes and fully invested in the plot. Another fantastic book by Slater!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 23, 2024
I enjoyed this for the most part. The story has an interesting premise and it managed to keep me invested from start to finish.
There are a couple reasons why I’m not giving it a higher rating. Firstly, I found most of the characters one dimensional and it didn’t help that the narration felt flat and lacked the emotion. Secondly, the ending was too far fetched and unbelievable, and I don’t think that certain characters’ actions made sense.
There are a couple reasons why I’m not giving it a higher rating. Firstly, I found most of the characters one dimensional and it didn’t help that the narration felt flat and lacked the emotion. Secondly, the ending was too far fetched and unbelievable, and I don’t think that certain characters’ actions made sense.
February 1, 2023
I have liked many of K L Slater’s books, as they are well-written and smooth reads. This one follows the pattern – has a decent story and keeps you guessing.
Phillipa is a successful author on the strength of her best-selling Tower series. It is now many months since she disappeared, the evening she was to attend an award ceremony. Her wife Fleur says while Phillipa seemed a little worried and distracted, her disappearance is a shocker. Over time, the interest of the police and the media wanes. We are also told the story from a timeline 10 months prior, on the events leading to Phillipa’s disappearance. Eve is the person who has narrated all Phillipa’s audiobooks and knows her very well. Phillipa’s disappearance is a blow to her career, and she moves from London with her daughter Scarlet to live with her mom. She has had other setbacks – divorce from her conceited & controlling now ex-husband Hugo and her father taking his own life.
The story is told largely around Eve. The script for the 10th book in the Tower series is found hidden at Phillipa’s home, and the publisher is keen to get this to the market at the earliest. Eve is called on to narrate this book as well, an opportunity she is excited about, though Phillipa’s wellbeing remains a concern for her. There is an obsessive fan of Phillipa – Chad who seems to be now stalking her. Her ex-husband Hugo wants their daughter Scarlet to stay with him and his new partner Saskia, who is now expecting, for the time Eve works on this assignment in London. As she gets into the project, Eve finds the book very different in style from the earlier books and is puzzled.
I found the book very engrossing, and the characters are well developed – especially that of Eve. I also liked how Hugo’s irritating and Chad’s obsessive behaviours are portrayed. There is a big twist at the end, which I did not see coming. As happens with books written in this style, the tie-up of the strands of the story is only partial.
This is good light read, with a loveable and interesting character in Eve as an audiobook narrator.
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture & the author for a free electronic review copy.
Phillipa is a successful author on the strength of her best-selling Tower series. It is now many months since she disappeared, the evening she was to attend an award ceremony. Her wife Fleur says while Phillipa seemed a little worried and distracted, her disappearance is a shocker. Over time, the interest of the police and the media wanes. We are also told the story from a timeline 10 months prior, on the events leading to Phillipa’s disappearance. Eve is the person who has narrated all Phillipa’s audiobooks and knows her very well. Phillipa’s disappearance is a blow to her career, and she moves from London with her daughter Scarlet to live with her mom. She has had other setbacks – divorce from her conceited & controlling now ex-husband Hugo and her father taking his own life.
The story is told largely around Eve. The script for the 10th book in the Tower series is found hidden at Phillipa’s home, and the publisher is keen to get this to the market at the earliest. Eve is called on to narrate this book as well, an opportunity she is excited about, though Phillipa’s wellbeing remains a concern for her. There is an obsessive fan of Phillipa – Chad who seems to be now stalking her. Her ex-husband Hugo wants their daughter Scarlet to stay with him and his new partner Saskia, who is now expecting, for the time Eve works on this assignment in London. As she gets into the project, Eve finds the book very different in style from the earlier books and is puzzled.
I found the book very engrossing, and the characters are well developed – especially that of Eve. I also liked how Hugo’s irritating and Chad’s obsessive behaviours are portrayed. There is a big twist at the end, which I did not see coming. As happens with books written in this style, the tie-up of the strands of the story is only partial.
This is good light read, with a loveable and interesting character in Eve as an audiobook narrator.
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture & the author for a free electronic review copy.
January 16, 2023
THE NARRATOR is the nineteenth psychological crime thrillers by bestselling author K.L. Slater, a gripping psychological thriller from the author of the number one bestseller The Marriage. This novel ticked all the boxes for me: a gripping plot, well-developed characters, and a fast-paced gripping read. Another winner!
Novels
Safe With Me (2016)
Blink (2017)
Liar (2017)
The Mistake (2017)
The Visitor (2018)
The Secret (2018)
Closer (2018)
Finding Grace (2019)
The Silent Ones (2019)
Single (2019)
The Apartment (2020)
Little Whispers (2020)
The Girl She Wanted (2020)
The Marriage (2021)
The Evidence (2021)
The Widow (2021)
Missing (2022)
The Girlfriend (2022)
The Narrator (2023)
This is my review of The Narrator.
The novel opens with favorite crime series author, Phillipa Roberts on her way to an award ceremony in her honor, when she was taken prisoner on route to the event. She had gone missing…
Eve Hewitt had been living the perfect life with her husband, Hugo and their five-year-old daughter, Scarlet. Eve was a successful audiobook narrator, mainly for crime fiction for many publishers. Soon after, Eve found out her husband was having an affair…and now her life changed completely. Now at thirty-six, she and her daughter were living with her mum, while her ex was with girlfriend, Saskia.
Being a single mother was tough, but Eve would do anything for her little girl Scarlet. Then Eve, a personal friend of Phillipa, was given a new opportunity to be the new narrator for a secret book from bestselling author Philippa Roberts, who has been missing for eight months. It was a lifeline for her and her daughter.
But it meant that Eve had to leave Scarlet with her ex in his perfect new home with his perfect new girlfriend. But she had no choice.
As Eve started reading Philippa’s new novel, she saw some anomalies in the new manuscript. Eve was sure that there was something hidden in the pages of this book…a possible clue to Philippa’s disappearance.
Eve had to search for the truth.
This was a well-written, fast-paced psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns to satisfy the reader. Very enjoyable read!
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.
Novels
Safe With Me (2016)
Blink (2017)
Liar (2017)
The Mistake (2017)
The Visitor (2018)
The Secret (2018)
Closer (2018)
Finding Grace (2019)
The Silent Ones (2019)
Single (2019)
The Apartment (2020)
Little Whispers (2020)
The Girl She Wanted (2020)
The Marriage (2021)
The Evidence (2021)
The Widow (2021)
Missing (2022)
The Girlfriend (2022)
The Narrator (2023)
This is my review of The Narrator.
The novel opens with favorite crime series author, Phillipa Roberts on her way to an award ceremony in her honor, when she was taken prisoner on route to the event. She had gone missing…
Eve Hewitt had been living the perfect life with her husband, Hugo and their five-year-old daughter, Scarlet. Eve was a successful audiobook narrator, mainly for crime fiction for many publishers. Soon after, Eve found out her husband was having an affair…and now her life changed completely. Now at thirty-six, she and her daughter were living with her mum, while her ex was with girlfriend, Saskia.
Being a single mother was tough, but Eve would do anything for her little girl Scarlet. Then Eve, a personal friend of Phillipa, was given a new opportunity to be the new narrator for a secret book from bestselling author Philippa Roberts, who has been missing for eight months. It was a lifeline for her and her daughter.
But it meant that Eve had to leave Scarlet with her ex in his perfect new home with his perfect new girlfriend. But she had no choice.
As Eve started reading Philippa’s new novel, she saw some anomalies in the new manuscript. Eve was sure that there was something hidden in the pages of this book…a possible clue to Philippa’s disappearance.
Eve had to search for the truth.
This was a well-written, fast-paced psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns to satisfy the reader. Very enjoyable read!
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.
December 15, 2023
Omg ! What and epic plot twist absolutely loved it.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I have to say I love her writing style and pot twist, I'm hooked.
Happy Reading 📚📓📙📗📘📔📒📓📚📙📕📖📚📙📕📗📓📒📘📚📙📕
Merry Christmas 🎄 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🕯🎉🎆🎇🎊🎉✨🎆🎉🎊
This is the second book I have read by this author and I have to say I love her writing style and pot twist, I'm hooked.
Happy Reading 📚📓📙📗📘📔📒📓📚📙📕📖📚📙📕📗📓📒📘📚📙📕
Merry Christmas 🎄 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🕯🎉🎆🎇🎊🎉✨🎆🎉🎊
January 9, 2023
The Narrator is twisty and gripping, a story that gets the blood pumping. Another keep you guessing till the end story from the Queen of Twist!
What does it take to rebuild your family? That is just what The Narrator, Eve is attempting to do after having her life crumble before her very eyes. In the past eighteen months, her father committed suicide, her husband had an affair and set up a home with her ex-colleague, Saskia and both her and her 5-year-old daughter are back living at home with her frail and aging mother. Her career as an audiobook narrator fell flat after all these tragedies began to weigh her down. She’s devastated but after a phone call about narrating a new book falls in her favour, she finally sees the light.
Eve loves being a mother to Scarlet. Her family dynamics aren’t what any parent thought they would be. She imagined being with the father to bring her up, but life rarely ends up being what you planned. She’s living one day at a time. she’s taking work where she can to just make ends meet. Her career meant everything to her – she last worked on the last DI Tower novel, a crime series penned by illustrious author, Phillipa Roberts. She was the voice of the series, and she was passionate about bringing it to life. When the author goes missing Eve feels it both personally and professionally. But when the mysterious tenth book is discovered hidden away, her publishers decide to go ahead with publication, a dedication to Phillipa with the blessing of her wife, Fleur.
I have read very few books by this author but what I have read I have just inhaled. Relatable characters, the unease, the chewing of nails, the sweat trickling down the back of your neck. These are all feeling I’m beginning to associate with K.L. Slater. The prologue sets the pace and instantly I was finding excuses not to put the book down. Forget about the chores, the only thing important at that point and time was finding the answers to every question the storyline spat out.
Hugo, Eve’s ex-husband, got to admit maybe part of the reason I was so emotionally in tune with this story was that he reminded me of my ex. Narcissistic, controlling, and devious to their blackened core. He’s not been a very good father to Scarlet, he regularly misses plans that have been prearranged and seems emotionally unavailable too. Eve was used to his cruelty towards her, but she refuses to allow Scarlet to experience the same thing. But now of course that he has a fancy home, a luxurious car, and a pregnant girlfriend to show off, he wants everything to do with Scarlet, it all adds up to another way of making Eve feel less than. But is he hiding something more than just his tendency to do anything to get his own way? Why is his office locked up tighter than Fort Knox?
What does it take to rebuild your family? That is just what The Narrator, Eve is attempting to do after having her life crumble before her very eyes. In the past eighteen months, her father committed suicide, her husband had an affair and set up a home with her ex-colleague, Saskia and both her and her 5-year-old daughter are back living at home with her frail and aging mother. Her career as an audiobook narrator fell flat after all these tragedies began to weigh her down. She’s devastated but after a phone call about narrating a new book falls in her favour, she finally sees the light.
Eve loves being a mother to Scarlet. Her family dynamics aren’t what any parent thought they would be. She imagined being with the father to bring her up, but life rarely ends up being what you planned. She’s living one day at a time. she’s taking work where she can to just make ends meet. Her career meant everything to her – she last worked on the last DI Tower novel, a crime series penned by illustrious author, Phillipa Roberts. She was the voice of the series, and she was passionate about bringing it to life. When the author goes missing Eve feels it both personally and professionally. But when the mysterious tenth book is discovered hidden away, her publishers decide to go ahead with publication, a dedication to Phillipa with the blessing of her wife, Fleur.
I have read very few books by this author but what I have read I have just inhaled. Relatable characters, the unease, the chewing of nails, the sweat trickling down the back of your neck. These are all feeling I’m beginning to associate with K.L. Slater. The prologue sets the pace and instantly I was finding excuses not to put the book down. Forget about the chores, the only thing important at that point and time was finding the answers to every question the storyline spat out.
Hugo, Eve’s ex-husband, got to admit maybe part of the reason I was so emotionally in tune with this story was that he reminded me of my ex. Narcissistic, controlling, and devious to their blackened core. He’s not been a very good father to Scarlet, he regularly misses plans that have been prearranged and seems emotionally unavailable too. Eve was used to his cruelty towards her, but she refuses to allow Scarlet to experience the same thing. But now of course that he has a fancy home, a luxurious car, and a pregnant girlfriend to show off, he wants everything to do with Scarlet, it all adds up to another way of making Eve feel less than. But is he hiding something more than just his tendency to do anything to get his own way? Why is his office locked up tighter than Fort Knox?
October 14, 2022
First ever audible book for me, well unless you count when I used to stay at my Nan’s and we would listen to her ‘talking books’ things have moved on from the clunky machine and big tapes of course and once you set up Audible it is easy to use with good options (for me the best one was changing the speed of the narration and I pretty much doubled it )
The story is a good psychological thriller about a audiobook narrator who becomes entangled in an authors disappearance, the disappearance is way more complex than originally seems and we discover more and more layers to the story as it continues, as always with this author there are lots of twists, turns and red herrings and a reveal that I hadn’t guessed, story wise I really enjoyed it….
As for Audible, well am glad I tried it but it’s not really for me, I found some of the narration odd ( the different voices by the same narrator ) and I found it more difficult to have a ‘minds eye’ of the characters and settings reading this way rather than kindle/book way, but I see the attraction, I did do other things while listening and was able to still fully take in what was happening
It was an experience but wont be ditching kindle and paper just yet 😀
The story is a good psychological thriller about a audiobook narrator who becomes entangled in an authors disappearance, the disappearance is way more complex than originally seems and we discover more and more layers to the story as it continues, as always with this author there are lots of twists, turns and red herrings and a reveal that I hadn’t guessed, story wise I really enjoyed it….
As for Audible, well am glad I tried it but it’s not really for me, I found some of the narration odd ( the different voices by the same narrator ) and I found it more difficult to have a ‘minds eye’ of the characters and settings reading this way rather than kindle/book way, but I see the attraction, I did do other things while listening and was able to still fully take in what was happening
It was an experience but wont be ditching kindle and paper just yet 😀
September 3, 2024
The Narrator by K.L. Slater is a psychological thriller that looks into the matter of memory, trauma, and deception. Eve, an audiobook narrator, begins to notice similarities between the book she’s narrating and her own life. As Eve's grip on reality starts to slip, she becomes paranoid and thinks that someone from her past is trying to manipulate her. (I am glad to see an author shine light on mental health and trauma) but makes the story sensitive and chilling. The novel has many twists and turns. Though fast paced, is not one of my favorites of this author. The storyline was not exciting. Eve’s helpless victim got old and frustrating. The book was just off to me.
November 17, 2023
Popular novelist, Philippa Roberts, has gone missing. She vanished without a trace on the night of an awards ceremony, where she was to be honored. A year later, the police still have no leads and have given up their search ,but a hidden manuscript is found in Philippa's attic. There’s something odd about the wording of this book, and Phillipa' narrator, Eve, can't let it go. She's certain the words hold a clue to Philippa’s disappearance.
Eve decides to begin an investigation on her own, but someone has taken notice. Eve begins receiving threatening letters at her apartment, and her room is ransacked while she's away. She knows she's getting closer to finding out what happened to Phillipa, but at what cost is she willing to take to discover the truth?
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Loved this book as well as the narrators! The ending was a complete surprise. I did not see that coming at all. 😯
Eve decides to begin an investigation on her own, but someone has taken notice. Eve begins receiving threatening letters at her apartment, and her room is ransacked while she's away. She knows she's getting closer to finding out what happened to Phillipa, but at what cost is she willing to take to discover the truth?
‐--------------------------------------------------------------------
Loved this book as well as the narrators! The ending was a complete surprise. I did not see that coming at all. 😯
May 19, 2023
A twisty road of deception that starts with a bang and ends with an explosion!
An author, an assistant, a narrator, and an obsessive book club fan collide in this thrills-by-the-minute twisty psychological suspense thriller—THE NARRATOR by the "queen" of thrills, K. L. Slater.
Eve, the narrator, and her daughter, Scarlet, are caught in the cross-fires keeping you guessing to the final jaw-dropping conclusion. The narrator's ex-husband and his new girlfriend Saskia are also players in this web of deceit and lies.
How far would you go to produce another book in a series?
10 months earlier. The latest installment of the best-selling Tower series is set to receive the smoking gun award for the crime fiction award of the year. Years of hard work and the ultimate payoff.
However, the famous novelist, Philippa Roberts does NOT make it to the award ceremony.
She has disappeared. Was she kidnapped? Where is the author? Her readers are distraught. Why leave on this night?
Global bestselling author Philippa is married to Flo and appears a manuscript has suddenly reappeared. A secret book? Where did it come from? The 10th in the series will be published even though the author is MIA. She wrote her first book in the series at age 41 and is now a vast success nine books later.
Eve, a highly successful voice-over actor (crime fiction) and the narrator, is now out of work to no fault of her own. The author has disappeared.
Two years earlier, she was living her perfect life with Hugo and 5 yr old daughter Scarlett. All has changed.
On top of this, more bad news. Her dad disappeared, and they found him at a bottom of a river. Her successful husband, Hugo, was having an affair with Sasyik (her colleague and friend) and is now pregnant and living in a beautiful countryside estate.
Now divorced and out of work, she is forced to move back with her daughter Scarlet to live with her mum while looking for work and working part-time in a bar.
Fate steps in and asks her to narrate a new book by disappeared novelist Philippa Roberts. She is delighted, but at age 36, she must return to London, leaving her daughter with her mum, and come home on the weekends.
However, her nasty ex-husband Hugo uses this time to try and convince her daughter to stay with him in his new Cottage estate and newfound wealth with his new wife, Saskia, who is pregnant. He is manipulative and controlling.
When Eve starts reading the script for the audio, she notices something weird. She knows this author's work because she narrated all the series' books. This book does not seem like the writing of Philippa Roberts. Is she trying to send a hidden message? No readers will accept this.
Chad, a weirdo obsessive fan of the author's book club, knows more than anything about the author and the books. What does he have to do with the missing author?
Even though the investigation is going cold, Eve starts sleuthing and asking questions; however, someone knows she is getting too close, and she starts receiving threats. The book fan club is also after her.
Her dream job has turned into a nightmare, and now she and her daughter are in danger. Someone does not want secrets uncovered. Something is off with Hugo, and Saskia has uncovered some evidence that has to do with her dad and more.
Is Philippa still alive, and if so, did she write the final manuscript or someone else? How do all the pieces fit together in this riveting mystery?
A magnificent, intricately plotted thriller that will have you questioning everyone’s motives until the stunning ending. Distinctive, well-developed characters complement the skillfully paced plot. A nail-biter and cracker of a read. Book readers and authors will devour this one.
A multi-layered, gripping, propulsive page-turner packed with never-saw-that-coming shocks and surprises. A master class in psychological suspense.
A special thank you to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for an e-ARC to read, review, and enjoy! I also purchased the audible book when it came out and enjoyed it, too.
AUDIOBOOK: The ultimate listening experience. Audiobook fans will enjoy this one from Audible Originals My Review. Eve was a strong, relatable, and tenacious protagonist, and enjoyed her character. THE NARRATOR is one of my favorite books by Slater. Narrated by Clare Corbett and Kristin Atherton delivering an outstanding performance and top audiobooks of 2022.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Pub Date: Jan 6, 2022
Top Books of 2023
An author, an assistant, a narrator, and an obsessive book club fan collide in this thrills-by-the-minute twisty psychological suspense thriller—THE NARRATOR by the "queen" of thrills, K. L. Slater.
Eve, the narrator, and her daughter, Scarlet, are caught in the cross-fires keeping you guessing to the final jaw-dropping conclusion. The narrator's ex-husband and his new girlfriend Saskia are also players in this web of deceit and lies.
How far would you go to produce another book in a series?
10 months earlier. The latest installment of the best-selling Tower series is set to receive the smoking gun award for the crime fiction award of the year. Years of hard work and the ultimate payoff.
However, the famous novelist, Philippa Roberts does NOT make it to the award ceremony.
She has disappeared. Was she kidnapped? Where is the author? Her readers are distraught. Why leave on this night?
Global bestselling author Philippa is married to Flo and appears a manuscript has suddenly reappeared. A secret book? Where did it come from? The 10th in the series will be published even though the author is MIA. She wrote her first book in the series at age 41 and is now a vast success nine books later.
Eve, a highly successful voice-over actor (crime fiction) and the narrator, is now out of work to no fault of her own. The author has disappeared.
Two years earlier, she was living her perfect life with Hugo and 5 yr old daughter Scarlett. All has changed.
On top of this, more bad news. Her dad disappeared, and they found him at a bottom of a river. Her successful husband, Hugo, was having an affair with Sasyik (her colleague and friend) and is now pregnant and living in a beautiful countryside estate.
Now divorced and out of work, she is forced to move back with her daughter Scarlet to live with her mum while looking for work and working part-time in a bar.
Fate steps in and asks her to narrate a new book by disappeared novelist Philippa Roberts. She is delighted, but at age 36, she must return to London, leaving her daughter with her mum, and come home on the weekends.
However, her nasty ex-husband Hugo uses this time to try and convince her daughter to stay with him in his new Cottage estate and newfound wealth with his new wife, Saskia, who is pregnant. He is manipulative and controlling.
When Eve starts reading the script for the audio, she notices something weird. She knows this author's work because she narrated all the series' books. This book does not seem like the writing of Philippa Roberts. Is she trying to send a hidden message? No readers will accept this.
Chad, a weirdo obsessive fan of the author's book club, knows more than anything about the author and the books. What does he have to do with the missing author?
Even though the investigation is going cold, Eve starts sleuthing and asking questions; however, someone knows she is getting too close, and she starts receiving threats. The book fan club is also after her.
Her dream job has turned into a nightmare, and now she and her daughter are in danger. Someone does not want secrets uncovered. Something is off with Hugo, and Saskia has uncovered some evidence that has to do with her dad and more.
Is Philippa still alive, and if so, did she write the final manuscript or someone else? How do all the pieces fit together in this riveting mystery?
A magnificent, intricately plotted thriller that will have you questioning everyone’s motives until the stunning ending. Distinctive, well-developed characters complement the skillfully paced plot. A nail-biter and cracker of a read. Book readers and authors will devour this one.
A multi-layered, gripping, propulsive page-turner packed with never-saw-that-coming shocks and surprises. A master class in psychological suspense.
A special thank you to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for an e-ARC to read, review, and enjoy! I also purchased the audible book when it came out and enjoyed it, too.
AUDIOBOOK: The ultimate listening experience. Audiobook fans will enjoy this one from Audible Originals My Review. Eve was a strong, relatable, and tenacious protagonist, and enjoyed her character. THE NARRATOR is one of my favorite books by Slater. Narrated by Clare Corbett and Kristin Atherton delivering an outstanding performance and top audiobooks of 2022.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Pub Date: Jan 6, 2022
Top Books of 2023
November 25, 2022
The Narrator by K. L. Slater (book review)
Bestselling author K.L. Slater has established herself as one of the top psychological thriller writers in the world. Over two million copies of her books have been sold worldwide.
The Narrator is a twisty thriller featuring jaw-dropping plot twists. I was stunned by the mind-blowing turn of events in the book! There is a small rumble at the beginning of the novel that soon turns into an earthquake! Slater throws in some of the most shocking plot twists I've ever read!
Synopsis:
Philippa Roberts, a famous bestselling author, disappears without a trace during a trip to accept a writing award. Philippa's colleague Eve follows a series of intricate clues in hopes of finding her. Why would someone harm Philippa? What motivated them? Money or jealousy?
The Narrator is available on January 6th. (4.25/5)
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this exciting book with me! It was so much fun reading it!
#TheNarrator #Bookoutureauthors #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks
Bestselling author K.L. Slater has established herself as one of the top psychological thriller writers in the world. Over two million copies of her books have been sold worldwide.
The Narrator is a twisty thriller featuring jaw-dropping plot twists. I was stunned by the mind-blowing turn of events in the book! There is a small rumble at the beginning of the novel that soon turns into an earthquake! Slater throws in some of the most shocking plot twists I've ever read!
Synopsis:
Philippa Roberts, a famous bestselling author, disappears without a trace during a trip to accept a writing award. Philippa's colleague Eve follows a series of intricate clues in hopes of finding her. Why would someone harm Philippa? What motivated them? Money or jealousy?
The Narrator is available on January 6th. (4.25/5)
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this exciting book with me! It was so much fun reading it!
#TheNarrator #Bookoutureauthors #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks
November 24, 2022
This is my 7th book by K. L. Slater and this one moved a little S-L-O-W for me so it took me awhile to get into it. I almost gave up but with all the 5-star reviews, I just had to keep going plus I loved all her other books. I did enjoy the book overall even though I did not like Hugo and said a few choice words against him! Lol Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published January 2023.
August 21, 2022
This was a fun audio experience! I really love KL Slater's books so I was excited for it. It's like Audiobook Inception!
One thing that bothered me a bit was that it felt like a lot of books I've read smashed together. I kept having deja vu. It felt less original than some of her others but still delivered a great twist at the end.
Another thing I felt odd was that it isn't her usual narrator, Lucy. She's done all of the other books I've listened to by this author so for it to be a special little audio event, it felt odd not to have her there. The narration was still great though.
One thing that bothered me a bit was that it felt like a lot of books I've read smashed together. I kept having deja vu. It felt less original than some of her others but still delivered a great twist at the end.
Another thing I felt odd was that it isn't her usual narrator, Lucy. She's done all of the other books I've listened to by this author so for it to be a special little audio event, it felt odd not to have her there. The narration was still great though.
January 7, 2023
What a great premise for us thriller and audiobook fans!
I was so hopeful for this one, and I loved it. Read it in a day, it was full of drama and intrigue to keep me interesting and guessing. The ending threw me completely off centre!
I love K L Slater's books, and this was one of her best!
The multiple POVs added an extra dimension and added to the twists as you see the drama play out.
Loved it.
I was so hopeful for this one, and I loved it. Read it in a day, it was full of drama and intrigue to keep me interesting and guessing. The ending threw me completely off centre!
I love K L Slater's books, and this was one of her best!
The multiple POVs added an extra dimension and added to the twists as you see the drama play out.
Loved it.
December 4, 2022
Having read most of the authors previous novels I was looking forward to reading her latest offering ‘The Narrator’
Eve is a single mum and a narrator for the International best selling author Philippa Roberts. But Philippa has been missing for 10 months now, so work as dried up for Eve. So, she moves back home into her mother’s house with her daughter Scarlett. Police has been looking for Philippa but with no success and thinks that she might have gone off somewhere to start a new life. Philippa has had mental health problems. But leaves a wife and stepson.
One day, she gets a call from the publishing company that a new manuscript has been found and they are asking Eve to narrate the audio version. But it means that she must move to London and leave her daughter with her mother. But her ex-husband Hugo has other ideas.
Thank you, Bookoutre for a copy of K.L. Slaters latest offering. I really enjoy the authors book, but this latest one I found really slow. The premise is interesting and there is a lot of characters and a lot of red herrings. But for me personally it didn’t pack a punch that I usually get from this author, so I struggled a bit with it. But I did glad I finished it. 3.5 stars from me.
Eve is a single mum and a narrator for the International best selling author Philippa Roberts. But Philippa has been missing for 10 months now, so work as dried up for Eve. So, she moves back home into her mother’s house with her daughter Scarlett. Police has been looking for Philippa but with no success and thinks that she might have gone off somewhere to start a new life. Philippa has had mental health problems. But leaves a wife and stepson.
One day, she gets a call from the publishing company that a new manuscript has been found and they are asking Eve to narrate the audio version. But it means that she must move to London and leave her daughter with her mother. But her ex-husband Hugo has other ideas.
Thank you, Bookoutre for a copy of K.L. Slaters latest offering. I really enjoy the authors book, but this latest one I found really slow. The premise is interesting and there is a lot of characters and a lot of red herrings. But for me personally it didn’t pack a punch that I usually get from this author, so I struggled a bit with it. But I did glad I finished it. 3.5 stars from me.
November 29, 2022
Eve a single mum is delighted when she hears that a manuscript has been found in the home of Philippa Roberts a novelist who had gone missing almost a year before. Eve has been asked to read the novel for the Audio book that will be released as the tenth book in the series.
When Eve starts reading the manuscript she realises that there is something off with this book and it doesn’t feel like Philippa has written it at all.
A thriller with some twists and turns that keeps you guessing until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Eve starts reading the manuscript she realises that there is something off with this book and it doesn’t feel like Philippa has written it at all.
A thriller with some twists and turns that keeps you guessing until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2023
A weird one for me. While I found the general reading to be enjoyable and the narration from the Audiobook reader excellent, the book kind of fell flat for me.
While the mystery was intriguing it never really made sense why our MC was searching for answers in the first place other than she was curious. The summary suggests there is an open threat coming for her and her daughter but other than a dickish ex-husband stepping on her toes no danger really seems to "come home" for her (other than one spoiler bit I'll get to at the end). A lot of her home problems mostly stem from her not calling her lawyer when her ex tramples all over their custody agreement. Admittedly, unsure how different the situation might be in the UK as I'm in the US.
Okay major end spoilers ahead
Alright I'm unsure how to go about this but the ending really goes from stumbling to falling on it's face. Not only is it revealed that the missing author actually kidnapped the Real author who she had a deal with to write the books in question, it's a character who was barely introduced in a single flashback that only shows they don't like each other. No hints, no major issues, Jasmine is just bam the secret book author. A twist I could find enjoyable if there was a single hint of it anywhere. And Phillipa already had an excellent excuse for not being able to write - she had developed a neurological disorder and couldn't write anyway!
Our MC reading the book and finding hints and clues for herself to follow that only she could was just her reading a bad draft Phillipa had attempted to write and failed.
Additionally, the day is saved so to speak by a super fan who is literally a stalker having known where Phillipa was for ages but no one believed him cause he was creepy. He manipulates his way into the MC's home, manipulates her mother, and stalks her as well. None of that is even punished and he's world famous for helping solve the crime after. It bothered me.
While the mystery was intriguing it never really made sense why our MC was searching for answers in the first place other than she was curious. The summary suggests there is an open threat coming for her and her daughter but other than a dickish ex-husband stepping on her toes no danger really seems to "come home" for her (other than one spoiler bit I'll get to at the end). A lot of her home problems mostly stem from her not calling her lawyer when her ex tramples all over their custody agreement. Admittedly, unsure how different the situation might be in the UK as I'm in the US.
Okay major end spoilers ahead
Alright I'm unsure how to go about this but the ending really goes from stumbling to falling on it's face. Not only is it revealed that the missing author actually kidnapped the Real author who she had a deal with to write the books in question, it's a character who was barely introduced in a single flashback that only shows they don't like each other. No hints, no major issues, Jasmine is just bam the secret book author. A twist I could find enjoyable if there was a single hint of it anywhere. And Phillipa already had an excellent excuse for not being able to write - she had developed a neurological disorder and couldn't write anyway!
Our MC reading the book and finding hints and clues for herself to follow that only she could was just her reading a bad draft Phillipa had attempted to write and failed.
Additionally, the day is saved so to speak by a super fan who is literally a stalker having known where Phillipa was for ages but no one believed him cause he was creepy. He manipulates his way into the MC's home, manipulates her mother, and stalks her as well. None of that is even punished and he's world famous for helping solve the crime after. It bothered me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2022
This book started off really slow, but I know this author doesn’t normally write slow burns, so I kept going. Sure enough, it started to speed up as it went along. Unfortunately, it never completely grabbed me and pulled me in, but this was still a good story.
Philippa Roberts is a best-selling author, with a detective series of nine books that is quite popular. She has a lovely wife and success most people only dream of. Eve is the woman who narrates Philippa’s books into audio recordings. She’s a divorced single mother, always on the struggle - with her career, and with her ex-husband, Hugo.
These are our two main characters, though there are several others. When Philippa goes missing, the world turns upside down for many people, and as you read along, many things start to become suspicious. That’s about all that can be said, plot-wise.
Speaking of the plot, I thought it was decent. I figured out some of the ending pretty early on, but it was pretty multi-layered, so I was still surprised by a couple things. Overall, this book was good, but nothing that shocked me or excited me. I’m giving it 3.5 stars; I wish we could actually do that instead of trying to decide to round up or down, because in this case, I had to round down. This was good but nothing that blew my mind.
(Thank you to Bookouture, K.L. Slater, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 6, 2023.)
Philippa Roberts is a best-selling author, with a detective series of nine books that is quite popular. She has a lovely wife and success most people only dream of. Eve is the woman who narrates Philippa’s books into audio recordings. She’s a divorced single mother, always on the struggle - with her career, and with her ex-husband, Hugo.
These are our two main characters, though there are several others. When Philippa goes missing, the world turns upside down for many people, and as you read along, many things start to become suspicious. That’s about all that can be said, plot-wise.
Speaking of the plot, I thought it was decent. I figured out some of the ending pretty early on, but it was pretty multi-layered, so I was still surprised by a couple things. Overall, this book was good, but nothing that shocked me or excited me. I’m giving it 3.5 stars; I wish we could actually do that instead of trying to decide to round up or down, because in this case, I had to round down. This was good but nothing that blew my mind.
(Thank you to Bookouture, K.L. Slater, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 6, 2023.)
December 30, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest domestic thriller by KL Slater - 4 stars!
Philippa Roberts is an extremely popular crime fiction writer, the one anticipated to receive a major award. But on the day of the event, she disappears from public eye and a year later, there are no clues to her disappearance. Then suddenly a draft from her next novel is found and the publishing world is set to release the book. They once again hire the voice of all Roberts' audiobooks, Eve, to do the recording. Eve has been struggling since her husband left her. She had to move from London back to her mother's house with her young daughter. When she is offered the narrator position, she has to relocate to London. Her ex-husband takes advantage of that opportunity and whisks their daughter to his new home with his new wife. Plus, details in the new book just aren't sitting right with Eve and she begins investigating.
As with all KL Slater's books, this was a twisty thriller that will keep you quickly turning the pages. Everyone has questionable motives and this will keep you guessing until the end. I also love books about books and audiobooks - a peek into the publishing world with this one as well.
Philippa Roberts is an extremely popular crime fiction writer, the one anticipated to receive a major award. But on the day of the event, she disappears from public eye and a year later, there are no clues to her disappearance. Then suddenly a draft from her next novel is found and the publishing world is set to release the book. They once again hire the voice of all Roberts' audiobooks, Eve, to do the recording. Eve has been struggling since her husband left her. She had to move from London back to her mother's house with her young daughter. When she is offered the narrator position, she has to relocate to London. Her ex-husband takes advantage of that opportunity and whisks their daughter to his new home with his new wife. Plus, details in the new book just aren't sitting right with Eve and she begins investigating.
As with all KL Slater's books, this was a twisty thriller that will keep you quickly turning the pages. Everyone has questionable motives and this will keep you guessing until the end. I also love books about books and audiobooks - a peek into the publishing world with this one as well.
February 5, 2024
Oh my days what an absolutely gripping and thrilling read.
It was simply so exciting that you would hold your breath, unable to stop reading until the twists ended in the incredible conclusion.
A book that will be etched into your memory, forcing you to question everyone around you.
Five Stars.
It was simply so exciting that you would hold your breath, unable to stop reading until the twists ended in the incredible conclusion.
A book that will be etched into your memory, forcing you to question everyone around you.
Five Stars.
November 12, 2022
A twisty road of deception that starts with a bang and ends with an explosion!
THE NARRATOR by the "queen of thrills" K. L. Slater, one of my favorite thriller authors, is NOW available exclusively on AUDIBLE, narrated by Clare Corbett and Kristin Atherton for an award-winning performance. What an audiobook!
A "MUST-LISTEN" complex, and binge-worthy addictive, one-sitting listen. I could not put it down. One of my top audiobooks of 2022. I loved EVE, the narrator. Did you know the audiobook is topping #5 on the UK Audio Charts? Come on, US fans!
An author, an assistant, a narrator, and an obsessive book club fan collide in this thrills-by-the-minute twisty psychological suspense thriller! The narrator's ex-husband and his new girlfriend Saskia are also players in this web of deceit and lies.
Eve, the narrator, and her daughter, Scarlet, are caught in the cross-fires keeping you guessing to the final jaw-dropping conclusion.
How far would you go to produce another book in a series?
10 months earlier. The latest installment of the best-selling Tower series is set to receive the smoking gun award for the crime fiction award of the year. Years of hard work and the ultimate payoff.
However, the famous author novelist Philippa Roberts does NOT make it to the award ceremony. She has disappeared. Was she kidnapped? Where is the author? Her readers are distraught. Why leave on this night?
Global bestselling author Philippa is married to Flo and appears a manuscript has suddenly reappeared. A secret book? Where did it come from? The 10th in the series will be published even though the author is MIA. She wrote her first book in the series at age 41 and is now a vast success nine books later.
Eve, a highly successful voice-over actor (crime fiction) and the narrator, is now out of work to no fault of her own. The author has disappeared. Two earlier, she was living her perfect life with Hugo and 5 yr old daughter Scarlett. All has changed.
On top of this, more bad news. Her dad disappeared, and they found him at a bottom of a river. Her successful husband, Hugo, was having an affair with Sasyik (her colleague and friend) and is now pregnant and living in a beautiful countryside estate. Now divorced and out of work, she is forced to move back with her daughter Scarlet to live with her mum while looking for work and working part-time in a bar.
Fate steps in and ask her to narrate a new book by disappeared novelist Philippa Roberts. She is delighted, but at age 36, she must return to London, leaving her daughter with her mum, and come home on the weekends.
However, her nasty ex-husband Hugo uses this time to try and convince her daughter to stay with him in his new Cottage estate and newfound wealth with Saskia, who is pregnant. He is manipulative and controlling.
When Eve starts reading the script for the audio, she notices something weird. She knows this author's work because she narrated all the series' books. This book does not seem like the writing of Philippa Roberts. Is she trying to send a hidden message?
Chad, a weirdo obsessive fan of the author's book club, knows more than anything about the author and the books. What does he have to do with the missing author?
Even though the investigation is going cold, Eve starts sleuthing and asking questions; however, someone knows she is getting too close, and she starts receiving threats. The book fan club is also after her.
Her dream job has turned into a nightmare, and now she and her daughter are in danger. Someone does not want secrets uncovered. Something is off with Hugo, and Saskia has uncovered some evidence that has to do with her dad and more.
Is Philippa still alive, and if so, did she write the final manuscript or someone else? How do all the pieces fit together in this riveting mystery?
A magnificent, intricately plotted thriller that will have you questioning everyone’s motives until the stunning ending. A nail-biter and cracker of a read.
The ultimate listening experience. Eve was a strong, relatable, and tenacious protagonist, and enjoyed her character. THE NARRATOR is one of my favorite books by Slater.
Multi-layered, gripping, propulsive page-turner packed with never-saw-that-coming shocks and surprises. A master class in psychological suspense.
K. L. Slater's psychological thrillers published by Bookouture (Hachette) have now sold over TWO MILLION copies. If you have not read her books, you are missing out! Highly recommend!
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Pub Date: Aug 11, 2022
Top Audiobooks of 2022
Aug 2022 Must-Read Books
THE NARRATOR by the "queen of thrills" K. L. Slater, one of my favorite thriller authors, is NOW available exclusively on AUDIBLE, narrated by Clare Corbett and Kristin Atherton for an award-winning performance. What an audiobook!
A "MUST-LISTEN" complex, and binge-worthy addictive, one-sitting listen. I could not put it down. One of my top audiobooks of 2022. I loved EVE, the narrator. Did you know the audiobook is topping #5 on the UK Audio Charts? Come on, US fans!
An author, an assistant, a narrator, and an obsessive book club fan collide in this thrills-by-the-minute twisty psychological suspense thriller! The narrator's ex-husband and his new girlfriend Saskia are also players in this web of deceit and lies.
Eve, the narrator, and her daughter, Scarlet, are caught in the cross-fires keeping you guessing to the final jaw-dropping conclusion.
How far would you go to produce another book in a series?
10 months earlier. The latest installment of the best-selling Tower series is set to receive the smoking gun award for the crime fiction award of the year. Years of hard work and the ultimate payoff.
However, the famous author novelist Philippa Roberts does NOT make it to the award ceremony. She has disappeared. Was she kidnapped? Where is the author? Her readers are distraught. Why leave on this night?
Global bestselling author Philippa is married to Flo and appears a manuscript has suddenly reappeared. A secret book? Where did it come from? The 10th in the series will be published even though the author is MIA. She wrote her first book in the series at age 41 and is now a vast success nine books later.
Eve, a highly successful voice-over actor (crime fiction) and the narrator, is now out of work to no fault of her own. The author has disappeared. Two earlier, she was living her perfect life with Hugo and 5 yr old daughter Scarlett. All has changed.
On top of this, more bad news. Her dad disappeared, and they found him at a bottom of a river. Her successful husband, Hugo, was having an affair with Sasyik (her colleague and friend) and is now pregnant and living in a beautiful countryside estate. Now divorced and out of work, she is forced to move back with her daughter Scarlet to live with her mum while looking for work and working part-time in a bar.
Fate steps in and ask her to narrate a new book by disappeared novelist Philippa Roberts. She is delighted, but at age 36, she must return to London, leaving her daughter with her mum, and come home on the weekends.
However, her nasty ex-husband Hugo uses this time to try and convince her daughter to stay with him in his new Cottage estate and newfound wealth with Saskia, who is pregnant. He is manipulative and controlling.
When Eve starts reading the script for the audio, she notices something weird. She knows this author's work because she narrated all the series' books. This book does not seem like the writing of Philippa Roberts. Is she trying to send a hidden message?
Chad, a weirdo obsessive fan of the author's book club, knows more than anything about the author and the books. What does he have to do with the missing author?
Even though the investigation is going cold, Eve starts sleuthing and asking questions; however, someone knows she is getting too close, and she starts receiving threats. The book fan club is also after her.
Her dream job has turned into a nightmare, and now she and her daughter are in danger. Someone does not want secrets uncovered. Something is off with Hugo, and Saskia has uncovered some evidence that has to do with her dad and more.
Is Philippa still alive, and if so, did she write the final manuscript or someone else? How do all the pieces fit together in this riveting mystery?
A magnificent, intricately plotted thriller that will have you questioning everyone’s motives until the stunning ending. A nail-biter and cracker of a read.
The ultimate listening experience. Eve was a strong, relatable, and tenacious protagonist, and enjoyed her character. THE NARRATOR is one of my favorite books by Slater.
Multi-layered, gripping, propulsive page-turner packed with never-saw-that-coming shocks and surprises. A master class in psychological suspense.
K. L. Slater's psychological thrillers published by Bookouture (Hachette) have now sold over TWO MILLION copies. If you have not read her books, you are missing out! Highly recommend!
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Pub Date: Aug 11, 2022
Top Audiobooks of 2022
Aug 2022 Must-Read Books
February 29, 2024
Because of the entertainment level, I rated it a generous 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my 11th book by this author and once again I’m impressed (sarcasm) by her choices of twists and conclusion.
The premises were interesting enough to get my attention, but the delivery was not what was promised in the blurb.
Although entertaining (hats off to that!), there are lots of absurdity.
That conclusion was really a stretch (if not infuriating), but it seems that lots of readers loved it.
This another fast read.
There are 65 chapters in a book of 304 pages (paperback).
The author does have great ideas, but she writes too fast (so it seems), and the book becomes heartless with flat characters.
This was my 11th book by this author and once again I’m impressed (sarcasm) by her choices of twists and conclusion.
The premises were interesting enough to get my attention, but the delivery was not what was promised in the blurb.
Although entertaining (hats off to that!), there are lots of absurdity.
That conclusion was really a stretch (if not infuriating), but it seems that lots of readers loved it.
This another fast read.
There are 65 chapters in a book of 304 pages (paperback).
The author does have great ideas, but she writes too fast (so it seems), and the book becomes heartless with flat characters.
Read
January 5, 2023Oh my goodness, what a plot! The storyline in The Narrator by K.L. Slater blew my mind. Taut and perfectly paced, I loved this highly addictive and twisty read.
August 12, 2023
Philippa a best selling author of the Tower Series, disappears on the night she is widely tipped to get the Smoking Gun Award for Crime Fiction of the year. She has been missing for eight months.
I loved everything about this, the plot and red herrings kept me fully engaged and the ending was epic!!!
Another fantastic book by this wonderful author.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved everything about this, the plot and red herrings kept me fully engaged and the ending was epic!!!
Another fantastic book by this wonderful author.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2022
2.5 stars rounded both up and down as I've been writing this review. I'm leaning towards settling up rounded up.
The story starts when famous crime author Phillipa Roberts goes missing on the eve of possibly receiving one of the biggest crime writing awards (which was never answered if she got it or not). 10 months later, she's still missing but a manuscript for Book 10 is found in her attic. Eve, who narrated the other 9 books, is asked to narrate it. And because she's a plucky, go-getter < insert eyeroll > she starts digging into Phillipa's disappearance.
I don't think the Goodreads blurb accurately matches with the book. It makes it seem like the daughter being in danger was a more critical element to this story than it was. I kept waiting for the daughter to be kidnapped or directly threatened, but I don't recall thinking the daughter was in danger at any point. Also, from the blurb:
Yes.... it's not a coincidence. In fact, you narrated THE OTHER 9 OF THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES so, shockingly, they asked you to narrate book 10.
That ties into one of my big issues with this book - our main character Eve is so weak and passive. She got divorced from her ex-husband a year ago when she found him cheating with her coworker (who he's now living with (married?) and expecting a child). Whenever we see him, he is awful - he tries to gaslight and guilt her and she sort of tries to argue back but mostly goes with it. He then basically kidnaps their daughter (since Eve has full custody and didn't give permission), while making up that Eve's mom was sick, and Eve gets angry but then just lets him. He threatens to sue for shared custody and she lets her daughter stay with him to keep him happy I guess?
Meanwhile, her mom talks about how great the ex is and how it's so important for the daughter to spend time with her dad and Eve doesn't say "hey, this guy is a horrible, manipulative a-hole so maybe stop letting him do whatever he wants". And the mom keeps talking about how Eve's career as a narrator is a failure and Eve slightly pushes back but otherwise listens to what her mom says. It was frustrating to watch Eve be steamrolled by everyone. I kept waiting for her to grow a spine and stand up to someone, anyone, but even at the end, it was very half hearted.
The story is told with multiple narrators/character focus in the past and present: Eve, Phillipa, and Superfan Chad who definitely isn't a stalker despite watching people's houses and taking pictures of them with his camera. Overall, the author did a great job with the multiple perspectives. I found Phillipa and Chad more interesting than Eve, but I also really detested Eve (in case you couldn't tell). Occasionally, the jumps between Eve and Phillipa being held prisoner were a bit jarring, since Eve would have a few chapters and then suddenly, we're focused on someone else.
There also were some issues with details. The most glaring one is that Phillipa is held prisoner in 2 areas - a dungeon basement with black mold and a nice plush room, if she cooperates and writes Book 10 in the series. Throughout the scenes, there's no mention of any type of chains/manacles. Then one chapter starts by mentioning the padding manacle - I figured it was a jump in time, Phillipa had tried to escape, so a chain was involved now. Makes sense. Except then the chain is gone in later scenes, including one of the final scenes.
The resolution and reveal was almost comedic . It felt like the author was trying overly hard to make it less obvious for the reader but strayed into the laughable. The wrap up also felt abrupt despite there being 3 chapters of epilogue. I also was left with questions like
This wasn't a bad book, per se. It was fast paced and a quick read. But when it ended, I looked at my Kindle and thought "that's it??" This is my first book by this author and I plan to give one of her other books a try.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
The story starts when famous crime author Phillipa Roberts goes missing on the eve of possibly receiving one of the biggest crime writing awards (which was never answered if she got it or not). 10 months later, she's still missing but a manuscript for Book 10 is found in her attic. Eve, who narrated the other 9 books, is asked to narrate it. And because she's a plucky, go-getter < insert eyeroll > she starts digging into Phillipa's disappearance.
I don't think the Goodreads blurb accurately matches with the book. It makes it seem like the daughter being in danger was a more critical element to this story than it was. I kept waiting for the daughter to be kidnapped or directly threatened, but I don't recall thinking the daughter was in danger at any point. Also, from the blurb:
But as I start reading Philippa’s new novel, I start to wonder if it’s no coincidence that I’ve been chosen to narrate it.
Yes.... it's not a coincidence. In fact, you narrated THE OTHER 9 OF THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES so, shockingly, they asked you to narrate book 10.
That ties into one of my big issues with this book - our main character Eve is so weak and passive. She got divorced from her ex-husband a year ago when she found him cheating with her coworker (who he's now living with (married?) and expecting a child). Whenever we see him, he is awful - he tries to gaslight and guilt her and she sort of tries to argue back but mostly goes with it. He then basically kidnaps their daughter (since Eve has full custody and didn't give permission), while making up that Eve's mom was sick, and Eve gets angry but then just lets him. He threatens to sue for shared custody and she lets her daughter stay with him to keep him happy I guess?
Meanwhile, her mom talks about how great the ex is and how it's so important for the daughter to spend time with her dad and Eve doesn't say "hey, this guy is a horrible, manipulative a-hole so maybe stop letting him do whatever he wants". And the mom keeps talking about how Eve's career as a narrator is a failure and Eve slightly pushes back but otherwise listens to what her mom says. It was frustrating to watch Eve be steamrolled by everyone. I kept waiting for her to grow a spine and stand up to someone, anyone, but even at the end, it was very half hearted.
The story is told with multiple narrators/character focus in the past and present: Eve, Phillipa, and Superfan Chad who definitely isn't a stalker despite watching people's houses and taking pictures of them with his camera. Overall, the author did a great job with the multiple perspectives. I found Phillipa and Chad more interesting than Eve, but I also really detested Eve (in case you couldn't tell). Occasionally, the jumps between Eve and Phillipa being held prisoner were a bit jarring, since Eve would have a few chapters and then suddenly, we're focused on someone else.
There also were some issues with details. The most glaring one is that Phillipa is held prisoner in 2 areas - a dungeon basement with black mold and a nice plush room, if she cooperates and writes Book 10 in the series. Throughout the scenes, there's no mention of any type of chains/manacles. Then one chapter starts by mentioning the padding manacle - I figured it was a jump in time, Phillipa had tried to escape, so a chain was involved now. Makes sense. Except then the chain is gone in later scenes, including one of the final scenes.
The resolution and reveal was almost comedic . It felt like the author was trying overly hard to make it less obvious for the reader but strayed into the laughable. The wrap up also felt abrupt despite there being 3 chapters of epilogue. I also was left with questions like
This wasn't a bad book, per se. It was fast paced and a quick read. But when it ended, I looked at my Kindle and thought "that's it??" This is my first book by this author and I plan to give one of her other books a try.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
December 11, 2022
What do you get when you combine an author, her assistant, and an audiobook narrator with an obsessive book club fan?
You get K.L. Slater’s new meta mystery, “The Narrator.” Throw in an ex-husband and his new girlfriend and you get an explosive psychological thriller characterized by lies and secrets.
This was quite a bit different from Slater’s usual books and it took me a while to warm up to it. I think it was just the shock of something different, not that the book wasn’t up to Slater’s usual standards. Stater explored the idea that a narrator with baggage suspected that an author, who had since disappeared, was trying to send her clues in the manuscript.
There were lots of complicated relationships to untangle, many POV to consider, a behind the scenes view of the publishing world, an invitation to sleuth alongside the protagonist and a cast of characters who quickly became suspects. You’ll be rolling your eyes every time Hugo opens his mouth, you won’t know which suspect to believe, and then you’ll finish with a smile, knowing that only Slater could pull off such well-thought out twists. I love books that leave readers pondering what they’ve just read.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
You get K.L. Slater’s new meta mystery, “The Narrator.” Throw in an ex-husband and his new girlfriend and you get an explosive psychological thriller characterized by lies and secrets.
This was quite a bit different from Slater’s usual books and it took me a while to warm up to it. I think it was just the shock of something different, not that the book wasn’t up to Slater’s usual standards. Stater explored the idea that a narrator with baggage suspected that an author, who had since disappeared, was trying to send her clues in the manuscript.
There were lots of complicated relationships to untangle, many POV to consider, a behind the scenes view of the publishing world, an invitation to sleuth alongside the protagonist and a cast of characters who quickly became suspects. You’ll be rolling your eyes every time Hugo opens his mouth, you won’t know which suspect to believe, and then you’ll finish with a smile, knowing that only Slater could pull off such well-thought out twists. I love books that leave readers pondering what they’ve just read.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
November 28, 2022
Best-selling crime author Philippa Roberts vanished on the night she was widely anticipated to win a prestigious writing award. Nearly a year later, Philippa is still missing but an unpublished manuscript of the tenth installment of her famous DI Towers series has been discovered in her attic. The publisher calls upon the series’ long-time narrator Eve to record the audiobook version. As she delves into the new book, Eve is troubled when she discovers glaring inconsistencies with Philippa’s earlier work. Convinced that something sinister has happened to Philippa, Eve puts on her amateur detective hat and tries to unravel Philippa’s mysterious disappearance. But someone out will stop at nothing to keep Eve from finding out the truth.
This slow burn but compulsively readable suspense novel is full of twists, turns, and red herrings. The characters are well developed, and the immersive setting in the publishing industry is a fresh perspective for a thriller. Obsessed superfans, the politics of publishing, and Eve’s deteriorating personal life are skillfully interwoven in unexpected ways. And what an ending! A complete shock - I dare anyone to see that one coming!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
This slow burn but compulsively readable suspense novel is full of twists, turns, and red herrings. The characters are well developed, and the immersive setting in the publishing industry is a fresh perspective for a thriller. Obsessed superfans, the politics of publishing, and Eve’s deteriorating personal life are skillfully interwoven in unexpected ways. And what an ending! A complete shock - I dare anyone to see that one coming!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
April 10, 2023
This author is always a hit or miss with me. None of her books are awful, but some are much better than others. This one was a winner. The characters were all likable which helps me to enjoy the book more. We have Eve, a audio book narrator who is asked back to work to read the last book in a series written by Phillipa. We have Hugo, Eve's ex husband and their little girl Scarlet. The plot twists and turns amongst these characters regarding Phillipa's disappearance. While Phillipa is missing, book 10 of her series is found hidden and sets off alarm bells with Eve as it's quite different than the other nine books in the series. Eve investigates and clearly someone wants her to mind her own business. The ending is a great plot twist. I enjoyed this book. It is a fast read but worth it.
March 20, 2023
Shake It Like A Polaroid Picture! 😳😯🤯😳😯
⊰ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐊. 𝐋. 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 ⊱
Holy flapjacks stacks!! Seriously what the fluff?! I mean I had an inkling but even then I was wrong! You'd think by now I'd give up trying to guess but for heavens sakes, it's addicting to try and it's the only time in my life I LOVE being disappointed! Frick sakes! Turns upon loops upon knots people! KNOTS!! This was absolutely outstanding, darlings! Be ready for some rip-roaring-thriller fun with this diamond. An insane ride that will have you white-knuckling the book. You'll love, hate, scream, gasp & eye-pop the entire time with the characters, plot and nuggets galore. As always, a complete nail in the coffin with her insanely incredible wicked good book that will leave you with locked jaw at the ending!
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: Out Now!
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4.5 / 5 Full Moons! 🌕
⊰ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐊. 𝐋. 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 ⊱
Holy flapjacks stacks!! Seriously what the fluff?! I mean I had an inkling but even then I was wrong! You'd think by now I'd give up trying to guess but for heavens sakes, it's addicting to try and it's the only time in my life I LOVE being disappointed! Frick sakes! Turns upon loops upon knots people! KNOTS!! This was absolutely outstanding, darlings! Be ready for some rip-roaring-thriller fun with this diamond. An insane ride that will have you white-knuckling the book. You'll love, hate, scream, gasp & eye-pop the entire time with the characters, plot and nuggets galore. As always, a complete nail in the coffin with her insanely incredible wicked good book that will leave you with locked jaw at the ending!
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: Out Now!
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4.5 / 5 Full Moons! 🌕
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