Under Your Skin

Feb 16, 2014 Shandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

A solid four stars. Any spoilers will be clearly marked.

When viewing the description of the book, you are greeted with “If you like GONE GIRL, you’ll love… UNDER YOUR SKIN.” Look, UK

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Did someone say Gone Girl?!?!?!?! I'M IN!!!!

The storyline is not Gone Girl, but the feeling I'm left with at the end is quite similar to how Flynn made me feel. I was slapped with the crazy at the end and I'm absolutely loving this feeling!!

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So Gaby stumbles across a dead body while on her run. She phones the police...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Raven rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As regular readers of my reviews know, I will often admit to having minor quibbles with books that are usually of such a nature as to not impair my overall enjoyment of the story, but I’m afraid to admit that ‘Under Your Skin caused me many irritations- no pun intended.

Ostensibly this is a psychological thriller charting the experience of TV personality, Gaby Mortimer who according to the blurb ‘has it all’ but then stumbles upon a corpse whilst out jogging, and finds herself at the centre of th...more As regular readers of my reviews know, I will often admit to having minor quibbles with books that are usually of such a nature as to not impair my overall enjoyment of the story, but I’m afraid to admit that ‘Under Your Skin caused me many irritations- no pun intended.

Ostensibly this is a psychological thriller charting the experience of TV personality, Gaby Mortimer who according to the blurb ‘has it all’ but then stumbles upon a corpse whilst out jogging, and finds herself at the centre of the murder investigation. As the investigation proceeds, Gaby’s marriage and professional career begin to unravel, leading to much navel gazing and her unlikely personal involvement with a journalist who takes up her cause. Perhaps due to Durrant’s characterisation I found Gaby to be intensely irritating with her middle class smugness, which the author tried to offset with a complete over use of parentheses for the first 150 pages using these to either try to poke fun at the vagaries of the middle class from the author’s security of a middle class viewpoint that sounded hollow in its mockery, or for Gaby to try to grapple with her personal insecurities. Although the parentheses did subside, any sympathy I could have possibly had for this character was well and truly lost by this point, such was my annoyance with the over-egging of the middle class theme and the obvious markers in the story as to her guilt or innocence. As the plot unfolds, Gaby’s life and activities come under the scrutiny of the police and suspicions as to her involvement in the murder intensify Don’t get me started on the characterisation of the police protagonists, as in an effort to introduce some quirkiness to the lead investigator DI Perivale, who Durrant depicts as a long-haired ‘dandy gone wrong’, with a penchant for literary quotes, I’m afraid I found his whole character pretty unrealistic, and indeed many of the aspects of the police investigation, bearing little resemblance to police procedure. even allowing for artistic licence. Disappointingly, the ending was as I guessed, and I thought pretty well signposted from early in the book, so all in all I was left feeling a little flat.

I’m sure this will be marketed with comparisons to the excellent Elizabeth Haynes Into The Darkest Corner or S J Watson’s Before I Go To Sleep, and will no doubt be a contender for the Richard and Judy Book Club, but sadly I was disappointed, despite my initial expectations as a fan of the psychological thriller genre. Shame.
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Jan 24, 2014 Alice Of Wonderland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads.

I knew it!

Sorry, I can't explain fully what I just said, but I can explain that I suspected the killer halfway through the book. Oh, the number of suspects started to rise and red herrings started popping like flowers in springtime, but I managed to figure it out. (I had two suspects. Two, and only one is...)

*Squeals*

Under Your Skin is definitely creepy. Not as creepy as a Ghost town during Halloween, but nearly as creepy. This book is probably inspired by...more I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads.

I knew it!

Sorry, I can't explain fully what I just said, but I can explain that I suspected the killer halfway through the book. Oh, the number of suspects started to rise and red herrings started popping like flowers in springtime, but I managed to figure it out. (I had two suspects. Two, and only one is...)

*Squeals*

Under Your Skin is definitely creepy. Not as creepy as a Ghost town during Halloween, but nearly as creepy. This book is probably inspired by American Psycho, or at least for some parts. Words like ax murderers made me slightly suspicious of a certain character. And no, I will not be telling you who that is. It's only January, far before the publication date, which is February 4, 2014. If you want to know who did it, read it off someone else's review, because I'm not saying a word. If I said a mere syllable, it will ruin everything. (But I might give you hints).

The plot is strong, with a few convenient plot holes. Of course, everything will explain itself eventually. It will explain everything in the last few chapters. (Oh, I just told you where the identity of the murderer is discovered and confirmed).

The murder of the body, which is the very same body Gaby found, is a crime of passion. Let's simply say it that way. This book and problems remind me of The False Prince, but with a murder instead of a missing prince.

Gaby Mortimer isn't right in head. When she tells her POV, you know instantly that something is off about her. Maybe it's because she just discovered a dead body or maybe because she knows something even darker. (I know the truth, but I'm just talking this way on purpose). In an unhappy marriage and surviving a mundane job, she's thrust into the world of law and creepiness, without a warning. (Heh...without a warning).

One character seems to be quite unusual. Jack Hayward? Or something like that, correct? Anyway, he threw me off the path. A very good trick created by the author. I was momentarily distracted by the red herring. But after careful evaluation, I manage to cross him off the list, leaving only two major suspects in the murder. Readers, who already read this book, probably can guess who are my top suspects. One is a man. One is wife.

The ending. Oooo! I want to know what will be the fate of the killer. I think karma will see a bit of action, but I don't know. The ending of Under Your Skin is throwing me into a loop.

Rating: Four out of Five

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May 04, 2013 Bill Kupersmith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having read Claire McGowan's The Fall and Jane Casey's Missing, as well as encountering Tana French's odious Scorcher Kennedy--not to mention my favourite of all, Alex Marwood's The Wicked Girls--I fully expect that the police will attempt to put you in the frame for the crime whether guilty or not if it helps their solve rate. So I knew when Gaby found the body that she'd become the number one suspect even though the evidence against her is incredibly circumstantial. (After all, anyone could wa...more

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Jan 10, 2014 Paul Pessolano rated it 5 of 5 stars

“Under Your Skin” by Sabine Durrant, published by Emily Bestler Books.

Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – February 04, 2014

It is not often you come across a cozy British mystery that incorporates not only a murder mystery but one that has many twists and turns and an unexpected ending. If this is something you are looking for, “Under Your Skin” is your cup of an excellent British tea.

Gaby Mortimer is a British TV personality that is part of a morning show called,” Mornin’ All”. On an...more

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Feb 13, 2014 Diane S. rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5 News personality, Gaby, while jogging finds a body in the park near her house. This act will change her life, her marriage and her job. This book is marketed as psychological suspense and for me this novel did and did not deliver.

In places I felt the writing was awkward, in other places it was very good, I never warmed to or liked Gaby so it was hard to feel sorry for her or to root for a positive final outcome. I found her naiveté irritating. seriously, she works in the TV industry, yet she...more

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Jun 24, 2013 The Crime Scene Scene rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Under Your Skin is a standalone psychological thriller from author Sabine Durrant. Gaby Mortimer is a day time television presenter. One morning when she goes on a run she finds a body in the common. Seemingly there is no link between the two but after a police investigation DI Perrivale soon arrests Gaby for the murder with little evidence. Enlisting the help of a journalist she ties to fight to clear her name.

I did not really like this book, hence the low score.Read the full review here

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Feb 07, 2014 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Under Your Skin
By
Sabine Durrant

What it's all about...

Gaby goes for a run and discovers the very dead body of a young girl.

My thoughts after reading this book...

Gaby and Phillip lead a very posh life. He is in finance...she is a television celebrity. They have a lovely home...a young daughter and a nanny. Gaby has not had the ideal childhood...her mother was an alcoholic who recently died. She has been feeling lately as though something is missing from her life. She has also been wondering if her...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I decided to take Under Your Skin on a date. 4.5

First Date: We meet Gaby Mortimer. At first glance, she seems to have it all. A posh home, a successful husband and a beautiful daughter. She is a successful television anchor for the local morning show and local celebrity. The woman has a live in maid and nanny for cripes sake. I was a tad jealous. We meet Gabby on a run through the park where she discovers the body of a murdered woman. The tale is told from Gabby’s perspective and at first her t...more

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Nov 08, 2013 Sandy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the outside, one would think Gaby Mortimer had the perfect life. A successful, handsome husband, an adorable daughter, glamorous career as cohost on a morning show & a beautiful home in an affluent part of London. They'd be wrong.
The house is great & Millie is a sweetie. But Gaby & Philip are not the people they used to be & have drifted apart. And at work, Gaby has the feeling they are planning on trading her in for a younger model. She does her best to keep up the facade i...more From the outside, one would think Gaby Mortimer had the perfect life. A successful, handsome husband, an adorable daughter, glamorous career as cohost on a morning show & a beautiful home in an affluent part of London. They'd be wrong.
The house is great & Millie is a sweetie. But Gaby & Philip are not the people they used to be & have drifted apart. And at work, Gaby has the feeling they are planning on trading her in for a younger model. She does her best to keep up the facade in both places but the stress is getting to her.
Things really start to unravel when she stumbles over the body of a young woman while running in the park. Before she knows it, she's the prime suspect. DI Perivale seems to have it in for her. Incessant questioning & a night in jail lead to her bosses suggesting she take a few days off...TV speak for "you're fired". And don't even start on the throng of press camped on her front lawn. All while Philip is attending meetings in Singapore.
There are peripheral characters that flesh out the story, notably her BFF Clara, a determined journalist named Jack & Marta, the nanny.
The novel has a good premise. The problem is how long it takes before you really get invested in the characters & start to pay attention. It's almost as if a different author wrote the last third, by far the best part of this book.
Initially, I found Gaby a difficult person to like. She comes across as brittle, flighty & fake. I know she's desperately trying to hold on to her life but her personality & behaviour make it hard to feel any sympathy for her & you really need to for the story to work. Philip is depicted as absent & self centred, a bland & pretentious kind of guy. It's only in the final pages that they become interesting & more three dimensional.
The plot itself is promising but you have to care about the characters or find them compelling to get into a book, preferably early on. Much of the dialogue is initially superficial & a tighter edit on Gaby's endless streams of consciousness would have helped. I know other reviewers have mentioned the way DI Perivale was depicted. I didn't have an issue with his character but PC Morrow comes across as a giggly schoolgirl spouting all kinds of nonsense. A more realistic characterization would have added some much needed weight to the story, particularly in the beginning.
As with all books, it's a matter of taste. If you've read something by this author before & enjoyed their writing style, no doubt you'll like this as well.(less)

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Aug 17, 2013 Cleo Bannister rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, mystery, favourite-2013

A must read for 2013 for anyone out there that loves a good whodunit. Gaby Mortimer, the female half of Mornin' All's daytime television programme, finds a body on one early morning run. She calls the police, gives a statement, goes home and gets ready for work. Over the next few days more details and evidence are found by DI Perivale which appears to tie Gaby to the dead young woman, Ania Dudek, evidence that Gaby can't explain.

This book is firmly set in today's world, Gaby's job as a minor cel...more

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Feb 16, 2014 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 out of 5 stars -- "Assume nothing. Believe no one. Check everything."

Psychological thriller with a first person stream of consciousness point of view.

Gaby Mortimer, a well-known daytime television program co-host, finds a dead body on a morning run. Soon she's hauled in for questioning by the police who consider her a suspect in the murder. The dead woman, Ania Dudek, has been strangled and it seems that she has ties to the Mortimer household.

Is Gaby being framed for this crime? And, if so,...more 3.5 out of 5 stars -- "Assume nothing. Believe no one. Check everything."

Psychological thriller with a first person stream of consciousness point of view.

Gaby Mortimer, a well-known daytime television program co-host, finds a dead body on a morning run. Soon she's hauled in for questioning by the police who consider her a suspect in the murder. The dead woman, Ania Dudek, has been strangled and it seems that she has ties to the Mortimer household.

Is Gaby being framed for this crime? And, if so, who really killed Ania? Was it Philip Mortimer, Gaby's husband, who seems to have an airtight alibi but who has to go to Singapore on business just as the police haul Gaby in for interrogation and then keep her until she makes bail. Their marriage seems to be floundering. Is it Marta, nanny to Gaby's daughter, Millie? She's a bit brusque and secretive. Or perhaps it is Gaby's stalker who's been leaving odd gifts for awhile now. There are many possible other suspects, but DI Perivale and his partner PC Morrow seem convinced that they have Gaby pegged.

After Gaby is let go from her job due to all the negative publicity, and her life starts to fall apart, she meets a sympathetic journalist, Jack Hayward, who wants to help her clear her name and get a great exclusive story. The two begin their own investigation and start to uncover the secrets and the motive.

I enjoyed this novel though I found Gaby to be a somewhat unsympathetic character -- she seems so passive and unreliable that I wanted to shake her into opening her eyes. The pacing was well done, the reveal slow enough to keep me turning the pages so quickly that I read this novel in a single sitting. The conclusion hits just the right note.

I wish publishers, other readers and reviewers, would avoid comparing novels as I didn't find anything about this warranting comparison to Gone Girl. It stands alone on its own merits, and anyone who likes a good psychological suspense thriller will enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and (less)

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Mar 01, 2014 Anna Jesse rated it 3 of 5 stars

Gaby Mortimer heeft een perfect leven: een mooie baan bij de tv, een succesvolle man, een prachtige dochter en een groot huis in Londen. Tot ze tijdens het hardlopen stuit op het lijk van een jonge vrouw en alle zekerheden uit haar bestaan wegvallen. Gaby belandt in een nachtmerrie.

Onder je huid is de perfecte psychologische thriller voor lezers van S.J. Watsons Voor ik ga slapen en liefhebbers van de boeken van Nicci French. Durrant beschrijft met veel gevoel hoe de hoofdpersoon verstrikt raakt...more Gaby Mortimer heeft een perfect leven: een mooie baan bij de tv, een succesvolle man, een prachtige dochter en een groot huis in Londen. Tot ze tijdens het hardlopen stuit op het lijk van een jonge vrouw en alle zekerheden uit haar bestaan wegvallen. Gaby belandt in een nachtmerrie.

Onder je huid is de perfecte psychologische thriller voor lezers van S.J. Watsons Voor ik ga slapen en liefhebbers van de boeken van Nicci French. Durrant beschrijft met veel gevoel hoe de hoofdpersoon verstrikt raakt in een psychologische achtbaan waaruit geen ontsnappen lijkt, met een zeer sterke plottwist aan het einde.

Nou, nou, als je de flaptekst moet geloven dan kom je bedrogen uit, voor de liefhebbers van S.J. Watson en Nicci French is dit weer een behoorlijke tegenvaller. Durrant schrijft wel aardig, maar heeft nog niet het niveau van de genoemde auteurs.

Gaby komt er niet zo goed vanaf en is met haar oeverloze gedachten en geklets al snel een irritante personage. Pas halverwege komt er wat vaart in het verhaal wanneer Gaby verdacht wordt van een moord. Feit is dat ze alleen de vermoorde jonge dame heeft gevonden tijdens het joggen, maar alle verdenkingen wijzen in haar richting. De politie vind haar kleding, aantekeningen en een bonnetje van een creditkaart transactie tijdens een zoektocht naar de moord in het huis van het slachtoffer.

Vooral in het begin van het verhaal weet Durrant haar personages geen richting te geven, later trekt dit wel iets bij, maar van enige spanning is geen sprake. De grootste deel van het verhaal gaat ook op aan nietszeggende dialogen en beschrijvingen van allerhande dingen die de spanning niet ten goede komen.

De schrijfstijl is eenvoudig, geen moeilijk gedoe, dus alle tijd om je op het verhaal te storten. De plot zit goed in elkaar, maar mist wat vaart en actie. Het begin is vooral een opsomming van dure kledingmerken wat de lezer al snel verveeld, Halverwege heeft Durrant haar draai gevonden en wordt het allemaal wat beter. De ontknoping is dan nog wel aardig en maakt het nog dan toch nog redelijk aangenaam leesvoer.

Ik geef dit boek dan ook krap 3 sterren vooral door het slechte begin.

Ondanks mijn negatieve klank kan ik het boek toch niet aan of afraden, de meningen zijn verdeeld; of je houdt ervan of je vind het niks. Staat het verhaal je aan dan zeker proberen.
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Apr 02, 2014 Cindy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-giveaway

Under Your Skin by Sabine Durrant is a murder mystery told from the point of view of Gaby Mortimer, a well known morning TV show host. Although her life looks perfect on the outside, her marriage is faltering, and she's had to cope with her mother's death from alcoholism.

The story begins when she is out for a morning run and discovers the body of a murdered young woman. The police investigation finds evidence that links the murdered woman to the Mortimer home, and eventually Gaby is suspected an...more

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Mar 20, 2014 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2014

This book has been compared to GONE GIRL and while some of the overtones are the same, I found this book much more enjoyable and the mystery much harder to crack on my own. While I didn't particularly like any of the characters in UNDER YOUR SKIN, I didn't have the same loathing for them as I did the charterers in GINE GIRL. I've read a lot of mysteries and thrillers and have gotten pretty good at figuring out whodunit usually by the halfway point of the book. This book keep me guessing until th...more

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Feb 13, 2014 Lisa B. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-things-netgalley, 2014-read

From the outside, Gaby Mortimer’s life looks pretty good - good job, successful husband, loving daughter. But the true story comes out quickly once she discovers the body of a young woman who has been murdered.

This is a “who done it” mystery at it’s best. I got sucked in immediately. And while I would not call the story fast paced, it was a page turner that I could not put down. There are so many possible suspects that the ending caught me totally off guard. I just love when that happens.

If this...more

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Feb 14, 2014 Lora rated it 3 of 5 stars

Gaby Mortimer, a famous morning show presenter, finds the body of a woman while out jogging one day. The lead investigator, DI Perivale, is immediately suspicious of Mortimer and it isn't long before she's brought in for questioning. When connections begin to be made between Gaby and the murdered woman, Ania Dudek, Gaby wonders if someone is trying to frame her for the crime. With her marriage faltering and notes from a unknown stalker, Gaby enlists the help of a journalist to clear her name. Fo...more

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Jun 23, 2013 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

Oh. This IS good. Love the misdirection!

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Jan 12, 2014 Hannah Fullmer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-isles, mystery, netgalley, obsession, domestic-noir

Under Your Skin by Sabine Durrant fits nicely into the domestic noir/psychological thriller category that has become so popular after the wild success of Gone Girl. Unfortunately, like many other novels in this genre, although Under Your Skin is adequately written, it fails to rise above the formulaic, and a few days after finishing it, I find that I am already forgetting the characters and plot.
The story is narrated in the first person by Gaby Mortimer, daytime television presenter and unhappy...more

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Mar 06, 2014 Bonnie Plante rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was quite interesting. It is the story of Gaby Mortimer, a morning show host who seemingly has everything. When out for her morning run, she finds the body of a young woman. As the story progresses it takes turn after turn with unexpected plot twists that leave the reader anxious to see just what else will happen. As the story deepens Gaby is pulled further and further into the dead woman's life with an ending that I didn't see coming.

While I enjoyed the book very much, I am only givi...more

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Feb 06, 2014 Nicky Foster rated it 4 of 5 stars

Overall this is a well written, psychological thriller. I did enjoy it although it did seen to drag a little in places. The suspense is good, the possibilities of who the killer is keeps swaying from one person to another without being too forced. I wasn't entirely convinced by the police procedures or by their way of responding to a murder investigation but this didn't bother me too much. The ending comes a little abruptly and I did suss it out a couple of chapters earlier. I will definitely wa...more

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Mar 27, 2014 Candace rated it 3 of 5 stars

To me the first half of the book gets 2 stars. For the first 18 pages Gaby, the protagonist, just blathers on and on and on. The story did not draw me in quickly and, as a matter of fact, I thought about giving up and moving on. I found Gaby to be mostly annoying, whiny and seemingly stupid. I did not like the author's narrative style...something just seemed off. Her dialog was okay. The second half of the book picked up enough so that I did give a 3 star rating but, by the end, I just wanted to...more

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Mar 23, 2014 Sumeet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I have always enjoyed murder mysteries, and not having read any in a while, I was really looking forward to reading this one. At first it was kind of slow and I found it hard to get into it, but after about the first fifty pages, things started to get really interesting, and I was hooked.

The story starts with our female protagonist- Gaby Mortimer- stumbling upon the dead body of a young woman while on her daily run. Gaby informs the police about her gruesome discovery, and from that moment on he...more I have always enjoyed murder mysteries, and not having read any in a while, I was really looking forward to reading this one. At first it was kind of slow and I found it hard to get into it, but after about the first fifty pages, things started to get really interesting, and I was hooked.

The story starts with our female protagonist- Gaby Mortimer- stumbling upon the dead body of a young woman while on her daily run. Gaby informs the police about her gruesome discovery, and from that moment on her life goes from being picture perfect to total crazy. Gaby is a well-known TV presenter in the city of London, who lives with her career-focused husband and an adorable daughter, and has the future all planned out. Since the story is told through her perspective, we get to know her very intimately and see how this one incident changes her life forever.

The focus of the story is primarily on Gaby and her journey through the whole ordeal. There is hardly anything about the actual murder investigation, and things only get interesting when Gaby herself becomes the prime suspect of the murder. There is a lot of circumstantial evidence linking Gaby to the dead woman, and with her husband out of the country and no family to support her, Gaby has a hard time coping with the changing circumstances. She is clueless, and terrified, and totally out of her element. With no hard evidence to convict her, she is let go on bail. But when she gets out, she realizes that her life has changed for good.

She is fired from work, and due to her semi-celebrity status, she is hounded by the media. When there is no news from her husband, and no respite from the police in sight, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She make a deal with a freelance journalist, Jack, to give him a exclusive in exchange for his help to figure out who the real murderer is. And then things turn crazy. It’s not a very fast paced novel, but the story is so well-written that you never get bored and the ending just blows your mind.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the beginning of the story was a great way to introduce the characters, and set things in motion. I also really enjoyed the way the whole murder mystery was treated, which was really unique from what I’ve ever read. Although it wasn’t a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat thriller, the writing and the tense, edgy atmosphere the author creates makes up for it. Even though you realize who the murderer is, the twist at the end is huge, and it just leaves you speechless. This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I was duly impressed. She has a unique and captivating writing style, which I absolutely loved, and I’ll be sure to read more of her works in the future.

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Mar 29, 2014 Danielle Choffrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads

I won this book in a giveaway. I do want to make sure everyone knows that this in no way alters what my review is. I hate it when I buy a book based on reviews that are false. The following review is my true opinion.

Sabine Durrant leads the reader on a crazy journey through this book. You follow every cue and clue she feeds you. I would be reading and discover what I thought was a hint, or a clue only to find later I was fooled. I will say the main character, Gaby, is extremely relatable and li...more I won this book in a giveaway. I do want to make sure everyone knows that this in no way alters what my review is. I hate it when I buy a book based on reviews that are false. The following review is my true opinion.

Sabine Durrant leads the reader on a crazy journey through this book. You follow every cue and clue she feeds you. I would be reading and discover what I thought was a hint, or a clue only to find later I was fooled. I will say the main character, Gaby, is extremely relatable and likable. All of Durrant's characters are well thought out, rounded characters. To me that is the most important aspect of a book, because they have the opportunity to break the believability of the story.

It's extremely difficult to write about this book without giving things away, I am trying so hard not to!

When I first got the book I noticed the back jacket compares this book with that of Lisa Unger and to the book Gone Girl. I was a little upset when I saw the comparison to Gone Girl because it is so secret that I despised that book with a passion! After finishing the book I can see how Sabine Durrant's writing can be compared to that of Lisa Unger's. I was reminded of the Beautiful Lies series in many ways as I progressed through the book. The character perspective is reminiscent of Unger's.

As for the comparison to Gone Girl, I think the only connection, I can make, is the fact that they are both character analysis novels. By that I mean with the main character you get a glimpse into their lives, their thoughts, and their actions. You, as the reader, must question what you believe is fiction. Is their behavior normal or questionable? That is a common theme throughout this book. Is the narrator a reliable one or not?

I must say I have read a multitude of mystery books and have been sorely disappointed with the ease at which the reader is able to solve them. This is not one of those books! Was I able to solve the mystery before I reached the last page? Absolutely not! And it is not for lack of trying. I wanted to plow through this book, but I found myself, unconsciously, moving slowly trying to make sure I absorbed all the clues. I would set the book down every 20 pages trying to figure out "whodunit".

This book is a must read in my honest opinion. I wouldn't compare it to Gone Girl or anyone else, it stands, entirely, by itself. This is one of the best books I have read this year, and I believe it will remain there. I do hope there could be a possibility of a movie. I think it would make a great one, if done correctly. (less)

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Apr 09, 2013 Vicky (Books, Biscuits, and Tea) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, for-review, read-in-2013

Originally reviewed at:

Sabine Durrant’s Under Your Skin is – for me, at least – one of those books that is quite hard to talk about without ruining the story and giving away too much, but I’ll try my best to find a balance.

Compared to most of the books in this genre the novel started off quite slowly and it took me some time to fully settle into the story and get used to the writing style but once I did, I could barely put it down. Contrary to what I was initially expecting, it’s not your usual...more Originally reviewed at:

Sabine Durrant’s Under Your Skin is – for me, at least – one of those books that is quite hard to talk about without ruining the story and giving away too much, but I’ll try my best to find a balance.

Compared to most of the books in this genre the novel started off quite slowly and it took me some time to fully settle into the story and get used to the writing style but once I did, I could barely put it down. Contrary to what I was initially expecting, it’s not your usual police procedural book and nor it is one of those race-against-the-clock thrillers where there’s a new victim every few chapters and more blood than you bargained for. Under Your Skin starts with our main character, a London TV riporter called Gaby Mortimer, finding a dead woman’s body near her home while she’s out running one morning. The book then follows Gaby’s life and lets us take a glimpse of how this incident has affected her life and how, hard as she might, her life will never be the same. As the police are trying to collect evidence and figure out what might have happened on that fateful night, Gaby suddenly realises that every piece of evidence is leading back to her. And gradually every little thing in her life is starting to fall apart.

Although it wasn’t as much of a fast paced, nail-biting white-knuckle ride as some of the thrillers I’ve read so far, the writing and the tense, edgy atmosphere the author creates makes up for it. Durrant’s writing is so eloquent and so thorough that I couldn’t help being drawn to Gaby’s story and wanting to find out more about what happens to her. If I had to categorise this book I would probably say it’s a psychological thriller since the focus is on how these events affect Gaby and what’s going on in her head rather than on the events themselves. Also, not only does Gaby’s narration make you empathise with her but the writer’s ability to keep you on edge until the very end is remarkable and you really do feel scared for Gaby. I kept thinking ‘no, do not stay at home on your own. That is a very bad idea.’ I even got to the point where I found even her own husband suspicious and was convinced he’d kill her right there and then. You have literally no idea what’s going on, all you can feel is a calm before the storm and the fact that something bad is about to happen.

There’s a huge twist at the end which I’m not going to talk about but all I can say is, I didn’t see it coming at all. Did it shock me, though? I would say no, not as much as I think it should have. (Agatha Christie has a book with a similar ending and while that one shocked me to no end and made me go ‘how clever’ and ‘this is sick’ at the same time, I didn’t feel the same way when I was reading this one, for some reason. It came as an enormous surprise to me because as I said, I didn’t see it coming at all, and I loved the idea but it didn’t have as much of a shock factor for me as I think it should have.)

All in all I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I picked it up, though, and I would definitely suggest that you do the same if you like psychological thrillers and books that keep you in the dark until the last chapter. Durrant has a unique captivating writing style which I absolutely loved and, despite the fact that (as much as I would love to be able to say this) it wasn't the best thriller I've ever read, I'm sure I'll read whatever the author comes up with next.(less)

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Jan 08, 2014 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, in-my-house

A really enjoyable crime thriller here. Gaby has a job on daytime TV, a wealthy husband, a well behaved daughter, lovely house and a staff of two, she is entirely respectable and something of a public figure. So when she discovers the body of a Polish woman, hidden in the bushes of a local park, she doesn't expect to swiftly become the number one suspect. The victim has been found wearing one of Gaby's old tops and has obviously been showing an interest in Gaby's life, is everything as it seems?...more

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Apr 16, 2014 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is compelling reading and it draws you into the story from the first page.
I really enjoyed this book and like the way it is written. It is clever and well thought out and believable. It is easy to read so much so that I couldn't wait to get to bed to find out what happened next.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

I look forward to reading the next one by this writer that is due out in July 14.
5/5 and I will read it again .

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Jan 19, 2014 Deborah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Former editor and features writer Sabine Durrant’s first foray into crime fiction, Under Your Skin had hooked me from the start.

Gaby Mortimer is a morning TV show presenter with a seemingly-perfect life. Of course that’s not really the case as she’s struggling with a difficult nanny to daughter Millie, a husband who’s equally busy and often absent and a competitive and difficult co-host.

When she comes across a body while on a morning run things become complicated and Gaby's picture-perfect life...more

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Feb 03, 2014 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, entered-first-reads, 20s

A superb story, intricately woven, with characters coming to life after a little bit of slow start but well worth the wait for the setup. The intensity just creeps along until the very end! You are drawn in and get involved with the main character as she deals with finding a body and being accused of murder. But she manages amidst personal turmoil and starts on a whodunnit murder mystery trail of clues until ... I just can't explain how good the ending twists and turns are plotted and written. I...more

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Mar 16, 2014 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

For a first novel by this author, I thought this one was creepy, and totally fascinating. Nothing is as it seems when the protagonist finds the body of a young woman in the woods near her house. To say that the book's story and ending is suprise does not do it justice. I could not believe how well the author pulled this story off; what a mixed up and surprise story this is. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

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