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She Made Me Do It
I trusted her. I shouldn’t have…
Samantha Valentine didn’t drift into my life, she collided with it. Soon it was like we had been friends forever. She told me everything about her perfect life, but I always felt there was something she was leaving out.
Then one night, I get a frantic call from Samantha, hysterical and begging me to protect her from her boyfriend. Rushing to her house, instinct takes over and soon my heart is hammering out of my chest as I stand over the body of a man I had never met before this evening.
But by the time the police arrive, Samantha has vanished. The officers tell me that there is no record of her anywhere. The woman I thought was my friend has tricked me into killing a perfect stranger.
As the police slip the handcuffs on my wrists, I know I’ve made a terrible mistake. By protecting a woman I never really knew, I’ve destroyed my life. Who is Samantha really, and why did she make me do this? She’s taken everything from me, but she has no idea how far I will go to get the truth…
A gripping psychological thriller absolutely packed with twists. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Frieda McFadden and Daniel Hurst.
Samantha Valentine didn’t drift into my life, she collided with it. Soon it was like we had been friends forever. She told me everything about her perfect life, but I always felt there was something she was leaving out.
Then one night, I get a frantic call from Samantha, hysterical and begging me to protect her from her boyfriend. Rushing to her house, instinct takes over and soon my heart is hammering out of my chest as I stand over the body of a man I had never met before this evening.
But by the time the police arrive, Samantha has vanished. The officers tell me that there is no record of her anywhere. The woman I thought was my friend has tricked me into killing a perfect stranger.
As the police slip the handcuffs on my wrists, I know I’ve made a terrible mistake. By protecting a woman I never really knew, I’ve destroyed my life. Who is Samantha really, and why did she make me do this? She’s taken everything from me, but she has no idea how far I will go to get the truth…
A gripping psychological thriller absolutely packed with twists. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Frieda McFadden and Daniel Hurst.
11 pages, Audible Audio
Published February 17, 2026
545 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Holy cow! This book is crazy good!! so wild, so clever, so addictive. I did not want to stop reading, I had no idea how it was all going to play out, and that ending was brilliant. This is fantastic series, and can easily be read as a stand-alone .
I don’t want to say too much about this plot, you need to go in as blind as possible. Part police procedural, part twisty thriller, She Made Me Do It is a must read. I was forever questioning what I thought I knew and those are the best kinds of books right. It kept me guessing the whole way, and my feelings about certain characters were forever changing.
Just read this and be stunned. Thank you so much to Bookouture on NetGalley for this amazing book to read early. Out on January 12th.
I don’t want to say too much about this plot, you need to go in as blind as possible. Part police procedural, part twisty thriller, She Made Me Do It is a must read. I was forever questioning what I thought I knew and those are the best kinds of books right. It kept me guessing the whole way, and my feelings about certain characters were forever changing.
Just read this and be stunned. Thank you so much to Bookouture on NetGalley for this amazing book to read early. Out on January 12th.
February 28, 2026
➡️ Did this book's female protagonist get unjustly sent to prison for protecting a woman she never knew?
Or was the woman she allegedly protected a figment of her imagination?
When this woman gets released from prison, it's revenge time.
Five stars for talented author Anna-Lou Weatherley and narrator James Lailey.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thumbs down and zero stars for Audible's production crew. 👎👎👎
I listened to the audiobook. Although narrator James Lailey's performance was outstanding, the book needed at least one female narrator since it unfolded from male and female POVs.
The transitions between the POVs were sloppy, making it frequently difficult to discern who was saying what.
I have listened to all the books in this series, and I am a Detective Dan fan.
All books in this series are Audible Plus freebies.
I will be eagerly awaiting Book #10!
March 20, 2026
What a twisty, fun thriller! Enjoyed it immensely.
February 4, 2026
I have been ill and not reading therefore the length of time taken to finish this does not reflect my feelings!
The only thing that was missing from this book was more development of Dans character, his personal life was missing from this novel
The only thing that was missing from this book was more development of Dans character, his personal life was missing from this novel
December 1, 2025
Detective Dan Riley is back!
She Made Me Do It is book number 9 in this brilliant detective series and I was very excited to get the chance to read it early.
As always I went in completely blind and I was absolutely bowled over by this cleverly written book. The pace is fast, the twists are on point, and the big reveal is jaw dropping. This psychological thriller is utterly addictive so make sure you clear your schedule and settle in with some snacks.
Anna-Lou Weatherly, this is your best Dan Riley yet!! Highly recommend!
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC to read and review.
Publication day for She Made Me Do It is 12/1/26
She Made Me Do It is book number 9 in this brilliant detective series and I was very excited to get the chance to read it early.
As always I went in completely blind and I was absolutely bowled over by this cleverly written book. The pace is fast, the twists are on point, and the big reveal is jaw dropping. This psychological thriller is utterly addictive so make sure you clear your schedule and settle in with some snacks.
Anna-Lou Weatherly, this is your best Dan Riley yet!! Highly recommend!
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC to read and review.
Publication day for She Made Me Do It is 12/1/26
February 24, 2026
2 stars
Sadly this book lost me in the fist chapters and never got me back. The whole premise did not work for me and therefore, the idea of poor innocent victim searching for revenge and in the process she is outsmarting everybody and is 3 steps ahead of the detectives and all the police force.
So what didn't work for me? The idea that a person, who could be totally infatuated and manipulated by another can go as far as to commit murder. And that...in close proximity, because stabbing someone with a knife is quite the act. She never saw the guy being violent. Heck! She never saw the guy period. Not together with his friend, not happy or sad, not in any instance. All hearsay. And yet, let me stick a knife into you, cause someone said you are dangerous...... I mean...you really are a danger to society if that's all it takes to murder someone....
Sadly this book lost me in the fist chapters and never got me back. The whole premise did not work for me and therefore, the idea of poor innocent victim searching for revenge and in the process she is outsmarting everybody and is 3 steps ahead of the detectives and all the police force.
So what didn't work for me? The idea that a person, who could be totally infatuated and manipulated by another can go as far as to commit murder. And that...in close proximity, because stabbing someone with a knife is quite the act. She never saw the guy being violent. Heck! She never saw the guy period. Not together with his friend, not happy or sad, not in any instance. All hearsay. And yet, let me stick a knife into you, cause someone said you are dangerous...... I mean...you really are a danger to society if that's all it takes to murder someone....
November 28, 2025
She Made me Do It
By: Anna- Lou Weatherley
Pub date: Jan 12, 2026
Publisher: Bookouture
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagine trusting someone with your life. A friendship is supposed to be based on bonds, truth and more.
Suddenly you find yourself standing over a dead man. The man your friend told you was not a good man. The police obviously suspect you.
As the book unravels the police tell you there is no evidence your friend! Is Erin going crazy? Did her best friend Samantha really exist?
One crazy ride. Love this authors work. So many twists down to the last page.
By: Anna- Lou Weatherley
Pub date: Jan 12, 2026
Publisher: Bookouture
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagine trusting someone with your life. A friendship is supposed to be based on bonds, truth and more.
Suddenly you find yourself standing over a dead man. The man your friend told you was not a good man. The police obviously suspect you.
As the book unravels the police tell you there is no evidence your friend! Is Erin going crazy? Did her best friend Samantha really exist?
One crazy ride. Love this authors work. So many twists down to the last page.
February 20, 2026
She Made Me Do It by Anna Lou Weatherly
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I gave this book 4 stars because the mystery was interesting but the character dynamics were the real hook. Even once I suspected where it was going, I stayed invested watching Erin chase the truth while Detective Dan Riley tried to figure out whether she was a victim, a witness, or the problem.
Why I Loved It
Erin is a frustrating but compelling lead. She truly believes she protected her friend Samantha Valentine when she killed a man years earlier, yet nobody ever believed her and she lost her freedom for it. Coming out of the psychiatric hospital and trying to rebuild a life while still clinging to Samantha gives her this desperate energy that drives the entire story.
Then another crime happens. Same situation. Same explanation. A woman named Tilley claims she acted to protect Samantha Valentine.
That is where the book gets fun.
Erin spirals because she knows Samantha exists, but the world keeps treating Samantha like a figment of her illness. The psychiatrist’s diagnosis hangs over everything and even Dan Riley has to question her reliability.
“I’m not saying she’s innocent. I’m saying she believes she is.”
When Tilley enters, the tension shifts from mystery to obsession. Erin stops running from her past and starts hunting it.
The reveal that Tilley is Samantha and Samantha is actually Julie lands well because it reframes the entire book. Erin was never crazy in the way everyone assumed. She was manipulated.
What Worked Well
Detective Dan Riley absolutely carries this story. He is patient and humane even when Erin makes herself look guilty over and over again. He never dismisses her outright but never blindly trusts her either. He walks that middle line the whole book.
“You can be telling the truth and still be wrong.”
His home life adds weight. His family is struggling and you feel how tired he is beneath the professionalism. He wants justice but he also wants certainty, and this case refuses to give him clean answers.
The psychological angle works because the author never rushes it. You spend most of the book unsure if Erin is uncovering a conspiracy or reliving a delusion.
“She didn’t make you do anything. She just knew exactly what you’d do.”
The climax in the apartment is strong. Erin confronting Tilley while Dan pieces it together separately feels earned instead of convenient.
What Could Have Been Better
The twist becomes guessable once the second crime mirrors the first too perfectly. The emotional payoff still works, but the surprise factor is lighter than the buildup suggests.
Malcolm’s role feels a little thin considering how important he may be to Erin’s ending. He reads more like possibility than character.
Final Thoughts
This is less a whodunit and more a question of belief. Erin spends the entire novel trying to prove she was never crazy, while Dan tries to determine whether truth and perception can even be separated in this case.
And honestly, Dan Riley is why I will keep reading this series. The mystery was good, but his quiet empathy and the strain on his family life gave the story its weight.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I gave this book 4 stars because the mystery was interesting but the character dynamics were the real hook. Even once I suspected where it was going, I stayed invested watching Erin chase the truth while Detective Dan Riley tried to figure out whether she was a victim, a witness, or the problem.
Why I Loved It
Erin is a frustrating but compelling lead. She truly believes she protected her friend Samantha Valentine when she killed a man years earlier, yet nobody ever believed her and she lost her freedom for it. Coming out of the psychiatric hospital and trying to rebuild a life while still clinging to Samantha gives her this desperate energy that drives the entire story.
Then another crime happens. Same situation. Same explanation. A woman named Tilley claims she acted to protect Samantha Valentine.
That is where the book gets fun.
Erin spirals because she knows Samantha exists, but the world keeps treating Samantha like a figment of her illness. The psychiatrist’s diagnosis hangs over everything and even Dan Riley has to question her reliability.
“I’m not saying she’s innocent. I’m saying she believes she is.”
When Tilley enters, the tension shifts from mystery to obsession. Erin stops running from her past and starts hunting it.
The reveal that Tilley is Samantha and Samantha is actually Julie lands well because it reframes the entire book. Erin was never crazy in the way everyone assumed. She was manipulated.
What Worked Well
Detective Dan Riley absolutely carries this story. He is patient and humane even when Erin makes herself look guilty over and over again. He never dismisses her outright but never blindly trusts her either. He walks that middle line the whole book.
“You can be telling the truth and still be wrong.”
His home life adds weight. His family is struggling and you feel how tired he is beneath the professionalism. He wants justice but he also wants certainty, and this case refuses to give him clean answers.
The psychological angle works because the author never rushes it. You spend most of the book unsure if Erin is uncovering a conspiracy or reliving a delusion.
“She didn’t make you do anything. She just knew exactly what you’d do.”
The climax in the apartment is strong. Erin confronting Tilley while Dan pieces it together separately feels earned instead of convenient.
What Could Have Been Better
The twist becomes guessable once the second crime mirrors the first too perfectly. The emotional payoff still works, but the surprise factor is lighter than the buildup suggests.
Malcolm’s role feels a little thin considering how important he may be to Erin’s ending. He reads more like possibility than character.
Final Thoughts
This is less a whodunit and more a question of belief. Erin spends the entire novel trying to prove she was never crazy, while Dan tries to determine whether truth and perception can even be separated in this case.
And honestly, Dan Riley is why I will keep reading this series. The mystery was good, but his quiet empathy and the strain on his family life gave the story its weight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
SHE MADE ME DO IT BY ANNA-LOU WEATHERLEY
Release date set for the 12th of January 2026
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This book absolutely deserves the 5 stars.
Two of my friends have already read this book and they both rated it 5 stars so I had very high hopes for this one and it was brilliant.
Didn't want to put it down.
Amazing characters.
Questionable characters.
Them twists 🤯.
I really didn't see that coming at all.
High highly recommend this book when it comes out ☺
Release date set for the 12th of January 2026
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This book absolutely deserves the 5 stars.
Two of my friends have already read this book and they both rated it 5 stars so I had very high hopes for this one and it was brilliant.
Didn't want to put it down.
Amazing characters.
Questionable characters.
Them twists 🤯.
I really didn't see that coming at all.
High highly recommend this book when it comes out ☺
January 27, 2026
Worth it!! Alright, I read this one in far too many sittings than I’d hoped to, so I do think that definitely impacted the flow of the story for me personally. Having said that, the plot was unhinged in the best of ways, the author really did have me guessing for quite some time as to the outcome (I did have an inkling that turned out to be correct around 2/3 through), and it was incredibly refreshing to read a thriller that differentiated itself from so many others. I realise my review doesn’t sound overly positive, haha, yet I really do recommend this read for a welcome change of pace!
Read
January 12, 2026No one is who they say they are nor are things like they are presented.
However, DCI Riley, Dan the Man is on the case and will set things to rights.
I enjoyed riding along as the picture became less muddled and more clear as Dan sifted through the case and flushed out the truth.
I may have not have guessed correctly on some of the subplots but my sleuthing skills are becoming more finely honed with each new read.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
However, DCI Riley, Dan the Man is on the case and will set things to rights.
I enjoyed riding along as the picture became less muddled and more clear as Dan sifted through the case and flushed out the truth.
I may have not have guessed correctly on some of the subplots but my sleuthing skills are becoming more finely honed with each new read.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
March 9, 2026
Loved this one, I think it’s the best yet in the series. Had me guessing the whole time.
December 18, 2025
Another amazing Detective Dan Riley book. Usually in a series, you get sick of the characters or the stories get boring. Often in a series, the first is the best and it’s downhill from there. Not with Detective Dan Riley. Each book is better than the last. The case was fascinating. The back and forth and not knowing what to believe. I love Dan’s character. He’s a great detective and truly cares about other people. This series is a must read.
March 2, 2026
I have loved this series until now. Am I the only one that was bored through this entire book?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
She Made Me Do It is a thrilling book that I read way too fast! It's book 9 in the Detective Dan Riley series by Anna-Lou Weatherley, but you can easily read it as a standalone. How far would you go to help a friend? That's a question you'll think about as you read this book. Erin Santos is a lonely young woman with no family and no close friends. She had a traumatic childhood, witnessing unspeakable things, and those things still affect her. When she meets Samantha Valentine it seems like they've been friends forever. They spend a lot of time together and Erin has never had more fun in her life.
One night Samantha calls in a panic telling Erin that her boyfriend is threatening her and she needs help. Erin rushes over and before she knows it the body of a dead man is lying at her feet. When the police arrive, somehow Samantha is gone! When the police tell Erin that there's no record of a Samantha Valentine living here or ever being seen here, things take a turn. The woman Erin thought was her best friend had tricked her into killing the man she said was her boyfriend. As the police slip on the handcuffs and lead Erin away, she knows she's made a terrible decision.
Who is Samantha and why would she do this to Erin? What will Erin do when she gets out? How will she clear her name when Samantha Valentine doesn't exist and the police don't believe her? I read She Made Me Do It in one day and I'm telling you to clear your day and enjoy this riveting thriller! I'm still thinking about this book and telling people about it because it's that good. I rate She Made Me Do It 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. If you love thrillers this one will keep you on edge and guessing until the end. The book comes out January 12 and should be added to your TBR pile now! I thought I had it figured out early on, but I didn't. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of She Made Me Do It in exchange for a fair review. #SheMadeMeDoIt
One night Samantha calls in a panic telling Erin that her boyfriend is threatening her and she needs help. Erin rushes over and before she knows it the body of a dead man is lying at her feet. When the police arrive, somehow Samantha is gone! When the police tell Erin that there's no record of a Samantha Valentine living here or ever being seen here, things take a turn. The woman Erin thought was her best friend had tricked her into killing the man she said was her boyfriend. As the police slip on the handcuffs and lead Erin away, she knows she's made a terrible decision.
Who is Samantha and why would she do this to Erin? What will Erin do when she gets out? How will she clear her name when Samantha Valentine doesn't exist and the police don't believe her? I read She Made Me Do It in one day and I'm telling you to clear your day and enjoy this riveting thriller! I'm still thinking about this book and telling people about it because it's that good. I rate She Made Me Do It 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. If you love thrillers this one will keep you on edge and guessing until the end. The book comes out January 12 and should be added to your TBR pile now! I thought I had it figured out early on, but I didn't. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of She Made Me Do It in exchange for a fair review. #SheMadeMeDoIt
January 20, 2026
I honestly don’t know how I didn’t discover the creator of the Detective Dan Riley series earlier.
Although this book is the 9th in the series, it can be read completely as a standalone.
You have no family, no friends. Then, at exactly such a moment, you meet someone. They touch your heart, and in a very short time, a strong bond forms, as if you’ve been friends for years.
Then one night…
You receive a frantic, hysterical phone call from your friend Samantha. She says she’s afraid of her boyfriend and begs you to protect her. You rush to her house. During a struggle, before the boyfriend can kill the two of you, you manage to incapacitate him. You look down and see him lying on the floor, covered in blood… but Samantha is gone.
When the police arrive, things become even more horrifying. There is no record of Samantha anywhere. The police tell you that the woman you thought was your friend never actually existed. She had manipulated you into killing a complete stranger. Even worse, the police believe that because of childhood trauma, you are schizophrenic and that you invented Samantha.
As handcuffs are placed on my wrists, I realize this:
By trying to protect a woman I never truly knew, I destroyed my life.
Who was Samantha?
And why did she make me do this?
From beginning to end, it’s a book with nonstop pace—full of mystery, tension, and surprises—that constantly makes you question whether Samantha really existed or not. A truly gripping read.
I also really liked the character of Detective Dan Riley.
I will definitely read the rest of the series.
Although this book is the 9th in the series, it can be read completely as a standalone.
You have no family, no friends. Then, at exactly such a moment, you meet someone. They touch your heart, and in a very short time, a strong bond forms, as if you’ve been friends for years.
Then one night…
You receive a frantic, hysterical phone call from your friend Samantha. She says she’s afraid of her boyfriend and begs you to protect her. You rush to her house. During a struggle, before the boyfriend can kill the two of you, you manage to incapacitate him. You look down and see him lying on the floor, covered in blood… but Samantha is gone.
When the police arrive, things become even more horrifying. There is no record of Samantha anywhere. The police tell you that the woman you thought was your friend never actually existed. She had manipulated you into killing a complete stranger. Even worse, the police believe that because of childhood trauma, you are schizophrenic and that you invented Samantha.
As handcuffs are placed on my wrists, I realize this:
By trying to protect a woman I never truly knew, I destroyed my life.
Who was Samantha?
And why did she make me do this?
From beginning to end, it’s a book with nonstop pace—full of mystery, tension, and surprises—that constantly makes you question whether Samantha really existed or not. A truly gripping read.
I also really liked the character of Detective Dan Riley.
I will definitely read the rest of the series.
February 25, 2026
3.5*. I love the Dan Riley series but this isn't one of my favourites. I love Riley's character and the development of his personal life we learn about throughout the books.
I found this story to be an entertaining enough listen that I finished it in two days but it did feel a bit more chaotic and messy than Weatherley's previous books.
Side note, was this an advert for Baccarat Rouge? It's giving the same vibe as The Bulgari Connection by Fay Weldon and that was actually an advert for Bulgari.
I found this story to be an entertaining enough listen that I finished it in two days but it did feel a bit more chaotic and messy than Weatherley's previous books.
Side note, was this an advert for Baccarat Rouge? It's giving the same vibe as The Bulgari Connection by Fay Weldon and that was actually an advert for Bulgari.
January 16, 2026
She Made Me Do It is book 9 in the Detective Dan Riley series. One of the many things I love about this series is that all of these books can be read as stand alones. It didn’t take me long to become invested in this story. It’s an addictive and fast paced read that at times had me gasping out loud. As always with this series the characters are well developed and who to trust is the big question. This is more than a police crime thriller it has a psychological element to it as well. Two of my favourite genres. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more from this author .
December 2, 2025
Another thrilling case for Dan Riley that was super fun to watch unfold!
January 18, 2026
Unhinged. A decent psychological thriller but it got frustrating and confusing after a point.
March 11, 2026
Loved this. Loved the twists.
March 9, 2026
I keep going on these thriller side quests on Audible and this one was honestly quite worth it.
I’m waiting to read a thriller that I can confidently rate 5 stars and am yet to find one—maybe next time!!
I’m waiting to read a thriller that I can confidently rate 5 stars and am yet to find one—maybe next time!!
February 23, 2026
I enjoyed this book a lot!! I was sad finishing book 8 because I thought the series was over. But I double checked, and saw this had just came out! I’ve enjoyed the entire series :)
December 2, 2025
This is my first book in this detective series. There were so many twists and turns all throughout. Not only did you not know who to trust, it takes a lot to know who the female characters actually are. This book was a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another crazy wild ride by Anna-Lou Weatherly in this ninth outing with DCI Dan Riley. And what a ride it is! I do love this author; her style is addictive and engaging with likable main characters, even the questionable ones.
We meet Erin seven years prior having just fatally stabbed Ari Hussein whilst protecting her best friend from his abuse. But what if it was all smoke and mirrors? Soon Erin, who happily told the police everything thinking it would help her case, had sealed her own fate and found herself locked up for manslaughter. And her bestie? Nowhere to be found.
Fast forward to present day London and Tilly Ward has just been found at a similar scene. She has just fatally stabbed Milo Harrison whilst protecting her best friend from his subsequent abuse. The same best friend Erin had protected seven years ago. Samantha Valentine. Coincidence?
DCI Dan Riley surveys the scene and nothing escapes his notice. Not the body on the floor, the knife by his side, the shoes behind the door or the shaking diminutive woman in the next room who had inflicted the fatal wound. Dan is drawn to her story from the start. It's far too complex to be fabricated, surely.
And then the Erin Santos file falls across his desk. And he begins an investigation down the proverbial rabbit hole, unable to let that nagging feeling at the back of his mind go. Something about this whole scenario just doesn't add up. And it's up to Dan Riley and his team to find out what.
As per usual, we are delved straight into the madness and mayhem from the very first page and throughout the entire tale, the reader is pondering what is real and what isn't. It's the kind of tale that messes with your head but Riley and the team were not to be thwarted like the Yorkshire police who dropped the ball far too early in Erin's case, dismissing her as delusional. The question is, is she really delusional? And even if she is, the police had a duty of care to investigate her claims fully instead of dismissing her as a nutjob. And yet, we are left wondering were they right all along? Or did they drop the ball?
Another cracking read by Anna-Lou that had me race through it in under 24 hours (two sittings), despite my somewhat dry spell with reading just now. I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted tale. And can't wait for Dan Riley's next outing.
I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #SheMadeMeDoIt in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
We meet Erin seven years prior having just fatally stabbed Ari Hussein whilst protecting her best friend from his abuse. But what if it was all smoke and mirrors? Soon Erin, who happily told the police everything thinking it would help her case, had sealed her own fate and found herself locked up for manslaughter. And her bestie? Nowhere to be found.
Fast forward to present day London and Tilly Ward has just been found at a similar scene. She has just fatally stabbed Milo Harrison whilst protecting her best friend from his subsequent abuse. The same best friend Erin had protected seven years ago. Samantha Valentine. Coincidence?
DCI Dan Riley surveys the scene and nothing escapes his notice. Not the body on the floor, the knife by his side, the shoes behind the door or the shaking diminutive woman in the next room who had inflicted the fatal wound. Dan is drawn to her story from the start. It's far too complex to be fabricated, surely.
And then the Erin Santos file falls across his desk. And he begins an investigation down the proverbial rabbit hole, unable to let that nagging feeling at the back of his mind go. Something about this whole scenario just doesn't add up. And it's up to Dan Riley and his team to find out what.
As per usual, we are delved straight into the madness and mayhem from the very first page and throughout the entire tale, the reader is pondering what is real and what isn't. It's the kind of tale that messes with your head but Riley and the team were not to be thwarted like the Yorkshire police who dropped the ball far too early in Erin's case, dismissing her as delusional. The question is, is she really delusional? And even if she is, the police had a duty of care to investigate her claims fully instead of dismissing her as a nutjob. And yet, we are left wondering were they right all along? Or did they drop the ball?
Another cracking read by Anna-Lou that had me race through it in under 24 hours (two sittings), despite my somewhat dry spell with reading just now. I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted tale. And can't wait for Dan Riley's next outing.
I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #SheMadeMeDoIt in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
November 26, 2025
Wow... This book was truly spectacular. The story begins with Erin Santos, accused of the murder of a random man, who was "abusing" her best friend, Samantha Valentine. Strangely, after Erin had committed this treacherous act... Samantha had disappeared. Gone. Her address, name, and social media history never seemed to exist. Labelled 'psychotic,' Erin is admitted into a psychiatric ward. Seven years later, Samantha manipulates yet another vulnerable woman (Tilly Ward) into believing they are best friends. And history repeats itself, as Tilly is convicted for the first-degree murder of a civilian whom Samantha claims has been "abusing" her. So who really is Samantha? And why has she yet again appeared in Erin's life?
Right from the start, this book is packed with action and suspense. I was genuinely so desperate to find answers to all the questions, I couldn't put it down till I was finished. It seemed like every single chapter was filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very last page. MY JAW WAS LITERALLY ON THE FLOOR AT THE END. The final "confession" scene was literal perfection, and I was HOOKED.
Also, the characters?!?!? So fantastically executed. Erin was depicted as an individual whom I felt like you couldn't FULLY trust; there was something amiss in her characteristics (again, the author loved to keep us guessing). Detective Dan Riley was a brilliant character who could pick up on the smallest of details.
My only question was that if Erin wanted to change her identity, why didn't she wear contacts.....?
Overall, this was an incredibly gripping and engaging book, perfect for thriller/mystery fans who love a page-turning novel!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending this e-book for review consideration. All opinions are my own
Right from the start, this book is packed with action and suspense. I was genuinely so desperate to find answers to all the questions, I couldn't put it down till I was finished. It seemed like every single chapter was filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very last page. MY JAW WAS LITERALLY ON THE FLOOR AT THE END. The final "confession" scene was literal perfection, and I was HOOKED.
Also, the characters?!?!? So fantastically executed. Erin was depicted as an individual whom I felt like you couldn't FULLY trust; there was something amiss in her characteristics (again, the author loved to keep us guessing). Detective Dan Riley was a brilliant character who could pick up on the smallest of details.
My only question was that if Erin wanted to change her identity, why didn't she wear contacts.....?
Overall, this was an incredibly gripping and engaging book, perfect for thriller/mystery fans who love a page-turning novel!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending this e-book for review consideration. All opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOWZA! Talk about a thrilling, gripping, shocking, page turner!!!!! She Made Me Do It had my attention from the very first page and never let go! I was completely immersed in the plot, finger crossed and doing my best to figure out what was going next! This book was like being on a wild, adrenaline filled roller coaster ride! This is the ninth book in the Dan Riley series but will work perfectly as a stand-alone novel. Whew! What a book. I loved the mystery, the tension, the suspense, the not knowing when the other shoe was going to drop!
Imagine meeting someone who you become fast friends with. Someone who is fun, engaging, and makes you feel good. Imagine that you would do anything to help your friend when she is in need. That someone is Samantha Valentine! Erin and Samantha become close friends, and Erin does something to save her friend and her friend vanishes, leaving Erin in a heap of trouble!
Detective Dan Riley is a great character. He is intelligent, diligent, hardworking, and open-minded. When he takes on a case, he is like a dog with a bone, unwilling to let go until he figures things out.
This book was beyond addictive. It is my favorite one in the series! I loved the pacing, the tension, the twists, the reveals, the suspense, and the HOLY CRAP twist that had me picking my jaw up off the floor. Holy Moly!
If you have not read this series before, you are seriously missing out! As I mentioned earlier, this book works perfectly as a stand-alone. It's wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping, and hard to put down!
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 📖
Imagine meeting someone who you become fast friends with. Someone who is fun, engaging, and makes you feel good. Imagine that you would do anything to help your friend when she is in need. That someone is Samantha Valentine! Erin and Samantha become close friends, and Erin does something to save her friend and her friend vanishes, leaving Erin in a heap of trouble!
Detective Dan Riley is a great character. He is intelligent, diligent, hardworking, and open-minded. When he takes on a case, he is like a dog with a bone, unwilling to let go until he figures things out.
This book was beyond addictive. It is my favorite one in the series! I loved the pacing, the tension, the twists, the reveals, the suspense, and the HOLY CRAP twist that had me picking my jaw up off the floor. Holy Moly!
If you have not read this series before, you are seriously missing out! As I mentioned earlier, this book works perfectly as a stand-alone. It's wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping, and hard to put down!
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 📖
December 4, 2025
She Made Me Do It - she pulled me in right from the first chapter!
This is once again one of those great thrillers that starts as a slow-burner, making you swipe your screen in anticipation to see where it's going. And before you know it, it's 3 a.m. and you're bleary-eyed and grateful that the wild story on your Kindle wasn't about your life.
This was my first Anna-Lou Weatherley's book, and I was a fast fan of her engaging writing style. The characters felt super real and (albeit I've never had to deal with London police or a murder investigation) super relatable and well developed. Especially given the sharp nuances of two rather similar female characters that made the reader spin with a delightful whodunit guessing game.
I think the plot was very original, presenting rather unusual murder investigation timelines and circumstances from the first chapters, making you instantly curious how they're related. And, of course, nothing's as it seems and everything's the way you thought it might be but wasn't...until it was..or not?! It's a brilliantly twisty female focused plot.
I absolutely love a good London mystery and will be looking forward to reading more from this amazing author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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This is once again one of those great thrillers that starts as a slow-burner, making you swipe your screen in anticipation to see where it's going. And before you know it, it's 3 a.m. and you're bleary-eyed and grateful that the wild story on your Kindle wasn't about your life.
This was my first Anna-Lou Weatherley's book, and I was a fast fan of her engaging writing style. The characters felt super real and (albeit I've never had to deal with London police or a murder investigation) super relatable and well developed. Especially given the sharp nuances of two rather similar female characters that made the reader spin with a delightful whodunit guessing game.
I think the plot was very original, presenting rather unusual murder investigation timelines and circumstances from the first chapters, making you instantly curious how they're related. And, of course, nothing's as it seems and everything's the way you thought it might be but wasn't...until it was..or not?! It's a brilliantly twisty female focused plot.
I absolutely love a good London mystery and will be looking forward to reading more from this amazing author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ve always been a huge fan of Dan, so I was really looking forward to the next instalment in this series.
Normally, I would recommend reading a series in order—especially because of the personal lives of the main characters. And although it’s often said that the books can be read as standalones, I still believe you miss out on something when you don’t follow the sequence.
However, for this book I’m happy to make an exception, because the main focus here lies on the case rather than on the protagonist’s private life, and it would be a shame to skip it. So I’d say: definitely read it, whether you’ve read the others or not—but even better, just read the whole series! You won’t regret a single second.
I think I may have already revealed in the previous paragraph how I feel about this book (lol), but I’d still like to go a little deeper into it.
Dan and his sidekick are fantastic characters, and Dan is an incredibly empathetic person. He has a way of putting people at ease like no one else, which builds trust and helps him uncover things others might not. Always useful during a murder investigation.
The author does an excellent job of creating confusion. I found myself wanting to believe Erin, yet the doubt kept lingering. I couldn’t make head nor tail of the case, which kept the story fascinating, gripping, and tense until the very last page.
This is exactly the kind of thriller I love.
I enjoyed every second I invested in this book and can wholeheartedly recommend it.
For me, everything worked perfectly—so it’s a full 5 stars.
Thank you
Normally, I would recommend reading a series in order—especially because of the personal lives of the main characters. And although it’s often said that the books can be read as standalones, I still believe you miss out on something when you don’t follow the sequence.
However, for this book I’m happy to make an exception, because the main focus here lies on the case rather than on the protagonist’s private life, and it would be a shame to skip it. So I’d say: definitely read it, whether you’ve read the others or not—but even better, just read the whole series! You won’t regret a single second.
I think I may have already revealed in the previous paragraph how I feel about this book (lol), but I’d still like to go a little deeper into it.
Dan and his sidekick are fantastic characters, and Dan is an incredibly empathetic person. He has a way of putting people at ease like no one else, which builds trust and helps him uncover things others might not. Always useful during a murder investigation.
The author does an excellent job of creating confusion. I found myself wanting to believe Erin, yet the doubt kept lingering. I couldn’t make head nor tail of the case, which kept the story fascinating, gripping, and tense until the very last page.
This is exactly the kind of thriller I love.
I enjoyed every second I invested in this book and can wholeheartedly recommend it.
For me, everything worked perfectly—so it’s a full 5 stars.
Thank you
December 6, 2025
Anna-Lou Weatherley’s She Made Me Do It is a taut, addictive psychological thriller that pulls you straight into the dangerous allure of friendship gone wrong. From the moment Samantha Valentine crashes into the narrator’s life, the story hums with unease—her charm is magnetic, her secrets unsettling, and her sudden disappearance devastating.
The novel pivots on a single, shocking night: a frantic call, a body on the floor, and a betrayal that unravels everything the narrator thought they knew. Weatherley masterfully layers suspense with emotional tension, blurring the lines between trust and manipulation, loyalty and destruction. The police may see only guilt, but the real mystery lies in Samantha herself—who she is, what she wants, and why she orchestrated such a devastating trap.
What makes this book so compelling is its pace and atmosphere. Every chapter tightens the knot, every revelation deepens the sense of dread, and yet it’s impossible to stop reading.Weatherley’s prose is sharp and immersive, keeping you hooked as the narrator’s life spirals out of control in the hunt for truth.
This is a thriller that thrives on twists and emotional stakes, perfect for readers who love stories where nothing—and no one—is what they seem. Dark, gripping, and impossible to put down, She Made Me Do It is a reminder that sometimes the most dangerous people are the ones we let closest to us.
My thanks to Anna-Lou Weatherley, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The novel pivots on a single, shocking night: a frantic call, a body on the floor, and a betrayal that unravels everything the narrator thought they knew. Weatherley masterfully layers suspense with emotional tension, blurring the lines between trust and manipulation, loyalty and destruction. The police may see only guilt, but the real mystery lies in Samantha herself—who she is, what she wants, and why she orchestrated such a devastating trap.
What makes this book so compelling is its pace and atmosphere. Every chapter tightens the knot, every revelation deepens the sense of dread, and yet it’s impossible to stop reading.Weatherley’s prose is sharp and immersive, keeping you hooked as the narrator’s life spirals out of control in the hunt for truth.
This is a thriller that thrives on twists and emotional stakes, perfect for readers who love stories where nothing—and no one—is what they seem. Dark, gripping, and impossible to put down, She Made Me Do It is a reminder that sometimes the most dangerous people are the ones we let closest to us.
My thanks to Anna-Lou Weatherley, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
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