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Ich soll nicht lügen
Zwei Frauen umkreisen einander in einem Netz aus Lügen. Wer ist Täter, wer ist Opfer? »Er war die Liebe meines Lebens.« »Warum wusste ich nicht, dass mein Bruder verlobt ist?« »Er war depressiv und wollte sich umbringen.« »Mein Bruder hatte keine Depressionen.« »Er ist einfach gesprungen.« »Und wenn ihn jemand gestoßen hat?« »Ich bin die Liebe seines Lebens.« »Bist du seine Mörderin?«
Mags' Bruder Abe liegt im Koma. Er ist von einer Treppe zwölf Meter in die Tiefe gestürzt. Die Polizei glaubt seiner Verlobten Jody, dass es ein Selbstmordversuch war. Mags glaubt ihr nicht. Sie ist sicher, dass Jody lügt. Aber warum? Psychologisch raffinierte Spannung für die Fans von "Girl on the Train" und "Die Witwe".
Mags' Bruder Abe liegt im Koma. Er ist von einer Treppe zwölf Meter in die Tiefe gestürzt. Die Polizei glaubt seiner Verlobten Jody, dass es ein Selbstmordversuch war. Mags glaubt ihr nicht. Sie ist sicher, dass Jody lügt. Aber warum? Psychologisch raffinierte Spannung für die Fans von "Girl on the Train" und "Die Witwe".
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2017
164 people are currently reading
4087 people want to read
About the author
Sarah J. Naughton
14 books162 followersSee also Sarah Naughton
Sarah worked as an advertising copywriter for ten years before her first book was published in 2013. A supernatural thriller for teens, The Hanged Man Rises (Simon and Schuster) was shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards. A second thriller for teens, The Blood List (Simon and Schuster) came out in 2014. Her first adult thriller, Tattletale (Trapeze) is due out in March 2017.
Sarah lives in London with her husband and two sons.
Sarah worked as an advertising copywriter for ten years before her first book was published in 2013. A supernatural thriller for teens, The Hanged Man Rises (Simon and Schuster) was shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards. A second thriller for teens, The Blood List (Simon and Schuster) came out in 2014. Her first adult thriller, Tattletale (Trapeze) is due out in March 2017.
Sarah lives in London with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 457 reviews
November 11, 2016
This was one hell of a book'
When I started it, in the first few chapters I was struggling to work out who was who and what was what. I was thinking ' please don't say this is going to be a book that I have so longed for, danced when I got an early copy to read, but it's going to fall flat on it's face'
WRONG
Once I got to learn who was who.
Abe
His fiancé
His sister
Mira
Then the ones in the tenant block.
The ghetto sort of surroundings.
Then I understood which character was going back in time or their thoughts, that was the major start for me, I couldn't stop reading. Then when I did have to stop, I couldn't wait to start again.
It's complex in its characters as each have a brutal past or living in a domino effect from they're emotional hell.
The fact that Abe is in a coma means no one can ask questions of him and find out the truth.
It's an intense, purely raw book that rattled my head.
Would I recommend you read this? Yes
Stick with it, it all becomes clear.
The title of the book caught me, I now know why the author chose that title.
My thanks to Orion Publi Group via Net Galley for providing me with an early copy.
When I started it, in the first few chapters I was struggling to work out who was who and what was what. I was thinking ' please don't say this is going to be a book that I have so longed for, danced when I got an early copy to read, but it's going to fall flat on it's face'
WRONG
Once I got to learn who was who.
Abe
His fiancé
His sister
Mira
Then the ones in the tenant block.
The ghetto sort of surroundings.
Then I understood which character was going back in time or their thoughts, that was the major start for me, I couldn't stop reading. Then when I did have to stop, I couldn't wait to start again.
It's complex in its characters as each have a brutal past or living in a domino effect from they're emotional hell.
The fact that Abe is in a coma means no one can ask questions of him and find out the truth.
It's an intense, purely raw book that rattled my head.
Would I recommend you read this? Yes
Stick with it, it all becomes clear.
The title of the book caught me, I now know why the author chose that title.
My thanks to Orion Publi Group via Net Galley for providing me with an early copy.
March 5, 2018
The Girlfriend is a decent psychological thriller but it was missing the mark just a tad in my book.
Mags Mackenzie is a 30 year old corporate defense lawyer that lives in Las Vegas. Many years have passed since Mags has seen her younger brother Abe. Mags receives a phone call that Abe is in a coma due to an attempt to throw himself off his apartment balcony.
Mags moves into Abe's apartment temporarily trying to piece together the final events that led up to Abe's medical condition. The last person to see Abe alive is his fiancé Jody. But, some things aren't adding up to Jody's explanations to what happened with Abe. Is Jody responsible for Abe? Who saw what happened that night?
This is a definite entertaining read but for some reason it just fell short for me and didn't live up to the full hype. The actions of the characters were a bit unbelievable at times for me and I was expecting a tad more.
There are a few surprises here and there but many that I already saw coming. But, hey my detective skills worked eh? :).
In my opinion, it's best to go into this one blind and avoid reading too many reviews.
3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc.
Published to GR: 3/4/18
Publication date: 3/6/18
Mags Mackenzie is a 30 year old corporate defense lawyer that lives in Las Vegas. Many years have passed since Mags has seen her younger brother Abe. Mags receives a phone call that Abe is in a coma due to an attempt to throw himself off his apartment balcony.
Mags moves into Abe's apartment temporarily trying to piece together the final events that led up to Abe's medical condition. The last person to see Abe alive is his fiancé Jody. But, some things aren't adding up to Jody's explanations to what happened with Abe. Is Jody responsible for Abe? Who saw what happened that night?
This is a definite entertaining read but for some reason it just fell short for me and didn't live up to the full hype. The actions of the characters were a bit unbelievable at times for me and I was expecting a tad more.
There are a few surprises here and there but many that I already saw coming. But, hey my detective skills worked eh? :).
In my opinion, it's best to go into this one blind and avoid reading too many reviews.
3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc.
Published to GR: 3/4/18
Publication date: 3/6/18
October 16, 2016
I’m crazy in love with this book for many many reasons none of which I can tell you otherwise I’ll spoil it and then prevent you from falling crazy in love with this book.
That would be the shortest review ever though so we’ll talk around things a bit. For a start you’ll probably be expecting the usual sort of psychological thriller. Well yes. And No. She says enigmatically.
The characters in Tattletale are all extraordinarily intriguing, but they won’t necessarily do what you expect them to do at any given time. Sarah J Naughton has a keen eye for psychological knots – and she’ll tie you all up in them from start to finish. There really is some beautifully layered storytelling, challenging assumptions, exploring some dark themes and juggling the emotions of the reader from one extreme to another with almost every chapter.
Very very clever. At times very devious. Certainly emotive. And you know, surprising. Genuinely surprising. The resolution is genius, unexpected, when I got there I had to step back for a bit and take stock of what I was feeling. BAM. It gets you. But gently…
I loved it. Because its not really about what you think it is about. The surface will offer fans of psychological thrillers everything they could possibly want – then the hidden depths will offer everything else. So really. Everyone should read this book.
No one believes a liar. Even when they’re telling the truth.
What is the truth? Well you’ll have to read it if you want to find out. Sorry. Thats the way it goes..
My lips are sealed.
Highly Recommended
That would be the shortest review ever though so we’ll talk around things a bit. For a start you’ll probably be expecting the usual sort of psychological thriller. Well yes. And No. She says enigmatically.
The characters in Tattletale are all extraordinarily intriguing, but they won’t necessarily do what you expect them to do at any given time. Sarah J Naughton has a keen eye for psychological knots – and she’ll tie you all up in them from start to finish. There really is some beautifully layered storytelling, challenging assumptions, exploring some dark themes and juggling the emotions of the reader from one extreme to another with almost every chapter.
Very very clever. At times very devious. Certainly emotive. And you know, surprising. Genuinely surprising. The resolution is genius, unexpected, when I got there I had to step back for a bit and take stock of what I was feeling. BAM. It gets you. But gently…
I loved it. Because its not really about what you think it is about. The surface will offer fans of psychological thrillers everything they could possibly want – then the hidden depths will offer everything else. So really. Everyone should read this book.
No one believes a liar. Even when they’re telling the truth.
What is the truth? Well you’ll have to read it if you want to find out. Sorry. Thats the way it goes..
My lips are sealed.
Highly Recommended
May 14, 2020
**2.5-stars rounded up**
Whew.
The Girlfriend, by Sarah Naughton, is an Adult Thriller told from dual perspectives.
The writing style was okay; nice short chapters, some mystery and fluid prose.
I liked one of the main characters, Mags, and found I became the most involved during her perspective.
The other main character, Jody, was less likable to me personally, but I think she was developed well by the author. She was an extremely unreliable narrator with a traumatic past, who clearly struggles with mental illness throughout the course of the book.
Having never experienced the types of mental struggles and stressors Jody was experiencing, it is hard for me to comment on whether the mental illness rep was a proper characterization or not; I will leave that for others who know more about that topic to debate.
In regards to Jody however, I was pleasantly surprised with the position she found herself in at the end of the story.
I think as a story arc, hers was the most satisfying, definitely leaving off at a more promising place than she started in.
As far as negatives go, I was a little taken aback by a few sentences describing the size of side characters which after first noticing, seemed to pop up everywhere like a beacon.
I am sure that the author was maybe just trying to show some sort of attitude of the characters, but it happened with multiple characters and came across more as fat shaming than anything else.
For example, Mags thinking, "I never thought a fat woman could be so beautiful."
...and later Jody thinking, "...panting, perhaps with the adrenaline rush of a narrow escape, or maybe just because he's fat."
Furthermore, I would say trigger warnings for child abuse, sibling abuse, rape and sexual assault.
Overall, I found this book to be good for the most part with some unpredictable turns.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity!
Whew.
The Girlfriend, by Sarah Naughton, is an Adult Thriller told from dual perspectives.
The writing style was okay; nice short chapters, some mystery and fluid prose.
I liked one of the main characters, Mags, and found I became the most involved during her perspective.
The other main character, Jody, was less likable to me personally, but I think she was developed well by the author. She was an extremely unreliable narrator with a traumatic past, who clearly struggles with mental illness throughout the course of the book.
Having never experienced the types of mental struggles and stressors Jody was experiencing, it is hard for me to comment on whether the mental illness rep was a proper characterization or not; I will leave that for others who know more about that topic to debate.
In regards to Jody however, I was pleasantly surprised with the position she found herself in at the end of the story.
I think as a story arc, hers was the most satisfying, definitely leaving off at a more promising place than she started in.
As far as negatives go, I was a little taken aback by a few sentences describing the size of side characters which after first noticing, seemed to pop up everywhere like a beacon.
I am sure that the author was maybe just trying to show some sort of attitude of the characters, but it happened with multiple characters and came across more as fat shaming than anything else.
For example, Mags thinking, "I never thought a fat woman could be so beautiful."
...and later Jody thinking, "...panting, perhaps with the adrenaline rush of a narrow escape, or maybe just because he's fat."
Furthermore, I would say trigger warnings for child abuse, sibling abuse, rape and sexual assault.
Overall, I found this book to be good for the most part with some unpredictable turns.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity!
March 1, 2018
In a genre that has been over-saturated with B-List Gone Girl and Girl on the Train Kmart brand variations,
The Girlfriend
soars passed the competition. Seriously everyone, this book is going to be a sleeper hit in the mystery genre for 2018. I was not only thoroughly surprised by the plot, but I was engrossed with the characters, the heartbreak, and just everything!
The story mainly focuses on the mysterious attempted suicide of Abe—a caregiver in London who has fallen down a flight of stairs and is in a vegetative state. Police are adamant on ruling this as an attempted suicide, but after contacting Abe's estranged sister Mags, they get more than what they bargained for. Mags is a successful attorney who has moved to Las Vegas; defending criminals and con-artists for a living. Mags is skeptical to believe that Abe would try to take his own life and once she meets his fiancé Jody, she further questions the validity of the police report. As Mags begins to investigate the mysterious loopholes in the investigation, she starts seeing the secrets behind the life her brother has left behind. NO MORE STORY TIME. NO SPOILERS. GO IN BLIND!
It's 2018 and are we tired of the whole "Girl gimmick yet? Well I for one, am not with The Girlfriend . As I started reading the story, I felt a level of familiarity with the plot; insert a mysterious crime that the protagonist believes to be incorrect; insert a deviously antagonistic character that throws a wrench into the whole investigation. However, The Girlfriend is so so SO MUCH MORE. Not only does the story take an original and provocative change of pace as you read along, the story also provides a level of sympathy for the main characters that you wouldn't expect. We first meet a group of characters who don't appear to be likable in any capacity, but as the story develops, you fall victim of falling in love with them. You sympathize with them, you feel their burden, and you root for them. This story is deemed as a suspense-mystery, but it also is a tragedy; a tragedy of acceptance, of love, and of heartbreak. The Girlfriend is a powerful read, and I don't think I'll ever forget it.
Thank you Source Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review. It was honestly my pleasure!
The story mainly focuses on the mysterious attempted suicide of Abe—a caregiver in London who has fallen down a flight of stairs and is in a vegetative state. Police are adamant on ruling this as an attempted suicide, but after contacting Abe's estranged sister Mags, they get more than what they bargained for. Mags is a successful attorney who has moved to Las Vegas; defending criminals and con-artists for a living. Mags is skeptical to believe that Abe would try to take his own life and once she meets his fiancé Jody, she further questions the validity of the police report. As Mags begins to investigate the mysterious loopholes in the investigation, she starts seeing the secrets behind the life her brother has left behind. NO MORE STORY TIME. NO SPOILERS. GO IN BLIND!
It's 2018 and are we tired of the whole "Girl gimmick yet? Well I for one, am not with The Girlfriend . As I started reading the story, I felt a level of familiarity with the plot; insert a mysterious crime that the protagonist believes to be incorrect; insert a deviously antagonistic character that throws a wrench into the whole investigation. However, The Girlfriend is so so SO MUCH MORE. Not only does the story take an original and provocative change of pace as you read along, the story also provides a level of sympathy for the main characters that you wouldn't expect. We first meet a group of characters who don't appear to be likable in any capacity, but as the story develops, you fall victim of falling in love with them. You sympathize with them, you feel their burden, and you root for them. This story is deemed as a suspense-mystery, but it also is a tragedy; a tragedy of acceptance, of love, and of heartbreak. The Girlfriend is a powerful read, and I don't think I'll ever forget it.
Thank you Source Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review. It was honestly my pleasure!
November 26, 2017
**Copied over review from UK Edition: Tattletale**
I’m crazy in love with this book for many many reasons none of which I can tell you otherwise I’ll spoil it and then prevent you from falling crazy in love with this book.
That would be the shortest review ever though so we’ll talk around things a bit. For a start you’ll probably be expecting the usual sort of psychological thriller. Well yes. And No. She says enigmatically.
The characters in Tattletale are all extraordinarily intriguing, but they won’t necessarily do what you expect them to do at any given time. Sarah J Naughton has a keen eye for psychological knots – and she’ll tie you all up in them from start to finish. There really is some beautifully layered storytelling, challenging assumptions, exploring some dark themes and juggling the emotions of the reader from one extreme to another with almost every chapter.
Very very clever. At times very devious. Certainly emotive. And you know, surprising. Genuinely surprising. The resolution is genius, unexpected, when I got there I had to step back for a bit and take stock of what I was feeling. BAM. It gets you. But gently…
I loved it. Because its not really about what you think it is about. The surface will offer fans of psychological thrillers everything they could possibly want – then the hidden depths will offer everything else. So really. Everyone should read this book.
No one believes a liar. Even when they’re telling the truth.
What is the truth? Well you’ll have to read it if you want to find out. Sorry. Thats the way it goes..
My lips are sealed.
Highly Recommended
I’m crazy in love with this book for many many reasons none of which I can tell you otherwise I’ll spoil it and then prevent you from falling crazy in love with this book.
That would be the shortest review ever though so we’ll talk around things a bit. For a start you’ll probably be expecting the usual sort of psychological thriller. Well yes. And No. She says enigmatically.
The characters in Tattletale are all extraordinarily intriguing, but they won’t necessarily do what you expect them to do at any given time. Sarah J Naughton has a keen eye for psychological knots – and she’ll tie you all up in them from start to finish. There really is some beautifully layered storytelling, challenging assumptions, exploring some dark themes and juggling the emotions of the reader from one extreme to another with almost every chapter.
Very very clever. At times very devious. Certainly emotive. And you know, surprising. Genuinely surprising. The resolution is genius, unexpected, when I got there I had to step back for a bit and take stock of what I was feeling. BAM. It gets you. But gently…
I loved it. Because its not really about what you think it is about. The surface will offer fans of psychological thrillers everything they could possibly want – then the hidden depths will offer everything else. So really. Everyone should read this book.
No one believes a liar. Even when they’re telling the truth.
What is the truth? Well you’ll have to read it if you want to find out. Sorry. Thats the way it goes..
My lips are sealed.
Highly Recommended
March 8, 2018
Thank you to Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of The Girlfriend by Sarah Naughton. I devoured this book yesterday. The twists and turns were on POINT! This story is read with multiple POVs with fast chapters.
Mags is a hard ass lawyer who lives in Las Vegas. She is shocked when she gets a call that her estranged brother, Abe, has listed her as his next of kin and has been in a terrible accident. Once Mags goes back to London she learns from the police that they believe Abe committed suicide. Although Mags has not seen her brother in years she finds it hard to believe he’d take his own life.
Abe’s fiancé, Jody, lives in the same complex as Abe. She is the one who found him at the bottom of the stairs. She stays by his side while he is in a coma at the hospital. Once Jody and Mags meet, Mags has even more questions than answers. She is almost positive he didn’t commit suicide. If Abe and Jody were so in love why didn’t he leave her a note? Mags then decides to investigate further into her brothers life.
We get a glimpse of what the characters go through as children. And I must say be prepared for what some people call “triggers”.
This book made me feel all the feels. I was happy, confused, and sad but I was rooting for everyone! This morning my girl asked me what I thought and I told her it was a solid 4 stars but she made me go back and read the first chapter. As I did, I was like ahh holy shizzzz! I get it now ha! For that, I’m going to bump it to a 4.5 and I recommend!
Mags is a hard ass lawyer who lives in Las Vegas. She is shocked when she gets a call that her estranged brother, Abe, has listed her as his next of kin and has been in a terrible accident. Once Mags goes back to London she learns from the police that they believe Abe committed suicide. Although Mags has not seen her brother in years she finds it hard to believe he’d take his own life.
Abe’s fiancé, Jody, lives in the same complex as Abe. She is the one who found him at the bottom of the stairs. She stays by his side while he is in a coma at the hospital. Once Jody and Mags meet, Mags has even more questions than answers. She is almost positive he didn’t commit suicide. If Abe and Jody were so in love why didn’t he leave her a note? Mags then decides to investigate further into her brothers life.
We get a glimpse of what the characters go through as children. And I must say be prepared for what some people call “triggers”.
This book made me feel all the feels. I was happy, confused, and sad but I was rooting for everyone! This morning my girl asked me what I thought and I told her it was a solid 4 stars but she made me go back and read the first chapter. As I did, I was like ahh holy shizzzz! I get it now ha! For that, I’m going to bump it to a 4.5 and I recommend!
March 24, 2018
⭐️���️⭐️⭐️ / 5
The Girlfriend by Sarah Naughton was quite the page turner for me. Unreliable narrators (yes there is more than one!), and a fast-paced story kept me interested until the very last page.
Mags is a corporate lawyer in Las Vegas, and when she finds out her brother Abe that she hasn't see in years fell down a forty-foot stairwell, she immediately hightails it to London. Jody, his grieving girlfriend, is beside herself with sadness and Mags feels sorry for her... at first.
Everyone is unreliable, and the big question is did Abe fall, or was he pushed? Mags and Jody both had very rough upbringings and my heart went out to them as we learned more about their backgrounds which are told in flashbacks throughout the book. I actually ended up absolutely hating Mags at times, but in the end I liked her a lot more. I loved the depth to these characters and Naughton definitely put me through a range of emotions with this book.
I thought the writing was a tiny bit repetitive at times, but nothing crazy. More words/phrases being repeated a little than anything else. And the fact that you don't know if Abe fell or if he was pushed, isn't even what kept me reading this book with an inability to put it down. I was just so caught up in the character's stories that I had to keep reading. Especially Mira, the flat neighbor of Abe and Jody from Albania. She had a small part in the book, but her character really resonated with me for whatever reason.
Final Thought: The Girlfriend had me hooked from the beginning, and I thought the beginning and end were both very clever. The ending was bomb actually, and left me feeling very satisfied. That being said, there are a couple of triggers in this book: child abuse and rape. It was a bit darker than I thought it was going to be, but very good. I can't wait to see what Naughton releases next!
The Girlfriend in 3-ish words: Absorbing, Bold & Unpredictable
The Girlfriend by Sarah Naughton was quite the page turner for me. Unreliable narrators (yes there is more than one!), and a fast-paced story kept me interested until the very last page.
Mags is a corporate lawyer in Las Vegas, and when she finds out her brother Abe that she hasn't see in years fell down a forty-foot stairwell, she immediately hightails it to London. Jody, his grieving girlfriend, is beside herself with sadness and Mags feels sorry for her... at first.
Everyone is unreliable, and the big question is did Abe fall, or was he pushed? Mags and Jody both had very rough upbringings and my heart went out to them as we learned more about their backgrounds which are told in flashbacks throughout the book. I actually ended up absolutely hating Mags at times, but in the end I liked her a lot more. I loved the depth to these characters and Naughton definitely put me through a range of emotions with this book.
I thought the writing was a tiny bit repetitive at times, but nothing crazy. More words/phrases being repeated a little than anything else. And the fact that you don't know if Abe fell or if he was pushed, isn't even what kept me reading this book with an inability to put it down. I was just so caught up in the character's stories that I had to keep reading. Especially Mira, the flat neighbor of Abe and Jody from Albania. She had a small part in the book, but her character really resonated with me for whatever reason.
Final Thought: The Girlfriend had me hooked from the beginning, and I thought the beginning and end were both very clever. The ending was bomb actually, and left me feeling very satisfied. That being said, there are a couple of triggers in this book: child abuse and rape. It was a bit darker than I thought it was going to be, but very good. I can't wait to see what Naughton releases next!
The Girlfriend in 3-ish words: Absorbing, Bold & Unpredictable
March 12, 2018
EXCERPT: Blood doesn't look like blood in the dark.
Now that the adrenaline that powered her scramble down the stairs has drained away, she feels as if all her bones have been pulled out. She can barely stand, has to grasp the metal newel post for support as she stares and stares.
The fourth-floor landing light goes out.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A sinister novel about finding justice in revenge, perfect for fans of In a Dark, Dark Wood and I Let You Go
After years of estrangement from her family, Mags receives a shocking phone call. Her rebellious brother, Abe, is in a coma, and the police suspect he tried to take his own life. But Mags isn't so sure, and she begins to crack away at the life of the brother she once knew: the dark apartment building, the whispering tenants, and her brother's mysterious girlfriend, the only witness to the incident, who raises more questions than answers. As Mags picks up where the police left off, she begins to unearth the secrets her brother left behind—and awakens her own talent for revenge.
MY THOUGHTS: The Girlfriend by Sarah J. Naughton was a book that, once I got into it, got all the characters straight in my mind, I didn't want to put down. There are four main characters, Abe, Jody, Mags and Mira. The story is told mainly from their POVs, with an occasional view from one of the more minor characters.
It is a complex story, but a riveting one, told mainly in the current timeline with occasional flashbacks. It seems that everyone has some sort of abusive past and, of course, this affects the person that they have become. I admit to occasionally getting the person and the past muddled, hence the 4 stars, rather than 5.
There were times while I was reading that I felt tied up in knots. The characterisation is superb, and you never really know where you are with any of them. I would be thinking one thing, and reading something entirely different from what I expected. The plot twists, turns and doubles back on itself. It truly is a roller coaster ride!
Naughton has written a very clever, a diabolically clever, novel. The Girlfriend has it all - crime, drama, mystery, suspense, secrets, suspicions and lies. Lies that the liar believes. . .
The Girlfriend by Sarah J. Naughton was previously published as Tattletale. The new title is far more fitting.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Girlfriend by Sarah J. Naughton for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Now that the adrenaline that powered her scramble down the stairs has drained away, she feels as if all her bones have been pulled out. She can barely stand, has to grasp the metal newel post for support as she stares and stares.
The fourth-floor landing light goes out.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A sinister novel about finding justice in revenge, perfect for fans of In a Dark, Dark Wood and I Let You Go
After years of estrangement from her family, Mags receives a shocking phone call. Her rebellious brother, Abe, is in a coma, and the police suspect he tried to take his own life. But Mags isn't so sure, and she begins to crack away at the life of the brother she once knew: the dark apartment building, the whispering tenants, and her brother's mysterious girlfriend, the only witness to the incident, who raises more questions than answers. As Mags picks up where the police left off, she begins to unearth the secrets her brother left behind—and awakens her own talent for revenge.
MY THOUGHTS: The Girlfriend by Sarah J. Naughton was a book that, once I got into it, got all the characters straight in my mind, I didn't want to put down. There are four main characters, Abe, Jody, Mags and Mira. The story is told mainly from their POVs, with an occasional view from one of the more minor characters.
It is a complex story, but a riveting one, told mainly in the current timeline with occasional flashbacks. It seems that everyone has some sort of abusive past and, of course, this affects the person that they have become. I admit to occasionally getting the person and the past muddled, hence the 4 stars, rather than 5.
There were times while I was reading that I felt tied up in knots. The characterisation is superb, and you never really know where you are with any of them. I would be thinking one thing, and reading something entirely different from what I expected. The plot twists, turns and doubles back on itself. It truly is a roller coaster ride!
Naughton has written a very clever, a diabolically clever, novel. The Girlfriend has it all - crime, drama, mystery, suspense, secrets, suspicions and lies. Lies that the liar believes. . .
The Girlfriend by Sarah J. Naughton was previously published as Tattletale. The new title is far more fitting.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Girlfriend by Sarah J. Naughton for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 7, 2017
Wow. What can I say other than I loved this book. There is not much more I can say otherwise my review would be full of spoilers.
I do recommend that you do get yourself a copy of this book. I am sure you will love it too. Well written with an ending that's unexpected.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Sarah J. Naughton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I do recommend that you do get yourself a copy of this book. I am sure you will love it too. Well written with an ending that's unexpected.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Sarah J. Naughton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2017
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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2.5 stars
As I started Tattletale, I was pulled into it from the beginning. There is some confusion as it just takes off without explanation as to what is happening, but you figure it out as you continue reading. Once you realize who the main cast of characters is, Tattletale gets easier to follow.
The characters that you need to know are:
Abe- in the hospital
Jody- Abe’s fiancé
Mags- Abe’s sister
Mira- Abe and Jody’s neighbor
I wanted to like Tattletale. The description intrigued me but the novel just wasn’t for me. Tattletale has multiple points of view, which I enjoy and those come from Mags, Jody and Mira. Also in the chapters are flashbacks of Abe, Mags, and Jody’s lives, which are relevant to the story.
***Be warned that there are graphic scenes of child abuse and also sexual assault in this novel.
I think novels with unreliable narrators may not be for me. I have had some that I have enjoyed and others not so much. You have no idea whose side to believe in Tattletale, which I applaud Sarah J Naughton for. I sadly found myself not attached to any of the characters. Mags was not likeable at all for me, I did begin to feel some sympathy for Jody as the novel progressed, I wanted to know more about Mira and her life, but the one character I would have loved to hear about and get to know was Abe, whom unfortunately we are unable to do.
I struggled around the halfway mark but continued, but then I almost gave up with Tattletale at 82%. What kept me going was the curiosity as to what exactly happened to Abe. It was good that I decided to continue as when I reach 85% then the novel went somewhere for me. From this point on I didn’t want to put Tattletale down. It goes in a direction that I did not see coming and I had no idea what was going to happen. Things do get unbelievable and unrealistic towards the end. I can’t really say why without revealing some spoilers.
Even though Tattletale was not for me I would be willing to read another of Sarah J Naughton’s books in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and TBConFB for my copy.
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2.5 stars
As I started Tattletale, I was pulled into it from the beginning. There is some confusion as it just takes off without explanation as to what is happening, but you figure it out as you continue reading. Once you realize who the main cast of characters is, Tattletale gets easier to follow.
The characters that you need to know are:
Abe- in the hospital
Jody- Abe’s fiancé
Mags- Abe’s sister
Mira- Abe and Jody’s neighbor
I wanted to like Tattletale. The description intrigued me but the novel just wasn’t for me. Tattletale has multiple points of view, which I enjoy and those come from Mags, Jody and Mira. Also in the chapters are flashbacks of Abe, Mags, and Jody’s lives, which are relevant to the story.
***Be warned that there are graphic scenes of child abuse and also sexual assault in this novel.
I think novels with unreliable narrators may not be for me. I have had some that I have enjoyed and others not so much. You have no idea whose side to believe in Tattletale, which I applaud Sarah J Naughton for. I sadly found myself not attached to any of the characters. Mags was not likeable at all for me, I did begin to feel some sympathy for Jody as the novel progressed, I wanted to know more about Mira and her life, but the one character I would have loved to hear about and get to know was Abe, whom unfortunately we are unable to do.
I struggled around the halfway mark but continued, but then I almost gave up with Tattletale at 82%. What kept me going was the curiosity as to what exactly happened to Abe. It was good that I decided to continue as when I reach 85% then the novel went somewhere for me. From this point on I didn’t want to put Tattletale down. It goes in a direction that I did not see coming and I had no idea what was going to happen. Things do get unbelievable and unrealistic towards the end. I can’t really say why without revealing some spoilers.
Even though Tattletale was not for me I would be willing to read another of Sarah J Naughton’s books in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and TBConFB for my copy.
April 22, 2018
I really really wanted to like this book, but to be honest, I struggled with it, and it took me about a month to finish, which is really unusual for me. The premise is that Mags finds out that something happened to her brother who lives in another country, and he's in a coma. When she arrives, she meets his fiancée Jody, though she's never heard of her before. The police are convinced that it was a suicide attempt, but Mags isn't convinced.
I felt like the story was slow moving, which made it easy for me to put down and not want to continue reading, because there wasn't a huge mystery happening. When the reveals did come, I was left feeling a little underwhelmed, and was waiting for something else to happen.
All in all, I thought this one was just okay. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't quite what I was expecting, so I don't think I was the right reader for this one. If you like slow burning domestic suspense novels, without fast paced or action packed chapters, this may be more up your alley! Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
I felt like the story was slow moving, which made it easy for me to put down and not want to continue reading, because there wasn't a huge mystery happening. When the reveals did come, I was left feeling a little underwhelmed, and was waiting for something else to happen.
All in all, I thought this one was just okay. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't quite what I was expecting, so I don't think I was the right reader for this one. If you like slow burning domestic suspense novels, without fast paced or action packed chapters, this may be more up your alley! Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
April 6, 2018
When a thriller surprises you, it's that much better! In the past year or two, we've seen a huge spike in the "psychological thriller" genre and I have found it rare for a book to truly differentiate itself. I have to say, Naughton did extremely well setting herself apart from the pack in this genre! The Girlfriend was a fresh take on the psychological thriller and held my interest and kept me guessing until the very end! I look forward to seeing what she does next!
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Tattle Tale by Sarah J Naughton Is a book I nearly gave up on as the first few chapters left me bewildered, the chapters moved between events and characters with no explanation but I persevered and once I had worked out who the characters were in relation to the story it made for a quick and enjoyable read. I’m not going to say much about the plot as I hate spoilers but Abe is lying in a coma and for his sister Mags and fiancée Jody the nightmare is just beginning, what follows is a twisted tale of two damaged women, lies, abuse, and mental health issues.
The two women have disturbing pasts which at times made for a difficult read, (some readers maybe upset by some of the content) although I felt some empathy for Mags and Jody they were difficult characters to like. Both have issues which are evident in their actions, and although they both have very different personalities I couldn’t for the life of me find any endearing qualities in either of them. As the plot unfolds I did find myself wondering who was the more reliable narrator, as both women have issues and secrets they would prefer to keep hidden. I do love an unreliable narrator and the author uses this to good effect. The author expertly draws you into her character’s lives, creating tension and layers of suspense as she goes.
As Mag’s investigates her brothers accident everyone comes under suspicion, as the plot progressed and Mag’s attempts to unravel the truth from the lies, the reader gets a sense of unease and foreboding. I did find myself wondering where the plot was leading, there were a few surprises along the way, a couple of which I guessed. Although I wasn’t prepared for the dark and disturbing turn it took, and although perhaps a little unbelievable it was a suitable and apt ending.
If I’m honest Tattletale is a slow starter, but the author builds on the intrigue and suspense making for an enjoyable read. I thought this was going to be a five star read but unfortunately it didn’t quite meet the mark, because Tattletale is told in short sharp chapters that cut from past to present and character to character, it didn’t read as fluidly as I would have liked. I’m sure there will be plenty of readers who will love this taut psychological thriller, for me it was a throughly enjoyable read but not one I loved.
Tattle Tale by Sarah J Naughton Is a book I nearly gave up on as the first few chapters left me bewildered, the chapters moved between events and characters with no explanation but I persevered and once I had worked out who the characters were in relation to the story it made for a quick and enjoyable read. I’m not going to say much about the plot as I hate spoilers but Abe is lying in a coma and for his sister Mags and fiancée Jody the nightmare is just beginning, what follows is a twisted tale of two damaged women, lies, abuse, and mental health issues.
The two women have disturbing pasts which at times made for a difficult read, (some readers maybe upset by some of the content) although I felt some empathy for Mags and Jody they were difficult characters to like. Both have issues which are evident in their actions, and although they both have very different personalities I couldn’t for the life of me find any endearing qualities in either of them. As the plot unfolds I did find myself wondering who was the more reliable narrator, as both women have issues and secrets they would prefer to keep hidden. I do love an unreliable narrator and the author uses this to good effect. The author expertly draws you into her character’s lives, creating tension and layers of suspense as she goes.
As Mag’s investigates her brothers accident everyone comes under suspicion, as the plot progressed and Mag’s attempts to unravel the truth from the lies, the reader gets a sense of unease and foreboding. I did find myself wondering where the plot was leading, there were a few surprises along the way, a couple of which I guessed. Although I wasn’t prepared for the dark and disturbing turn it took, and although perhaps a little unbelievable it was a suitable and apt ending.
If I’m honest Tattletale is a slow starter, but the author builds on the intrigue and suspense making for an enjoyable read. I thought this was going to be a five star read but unfortunately it didn’t quite meet the mark, because Tattletale is told in short sharp chapters that cut from past to present and character to character, it didn’t read as fluidly as I would have liked. I’m sure there will be plenty of readers who will love this taut psychological thriller, for me it was a throughly enjoyable read but not one I loved.
February 6, 2017
WARNING
This riviting psychological thriller contains some quite graphic descriptions of child abuse and rape that some readers might find upsetting.
The main characters in this twisted tale are
Mags - a corporate lawyer who lives in Vegas but has had to make a emergency trip to London because her brother is in a coma after a accident.
Abe - Mags estranged brother
Jody - Abe`s broken and emotionally unstable fiance
Mira -Abe and Jody`s neighbour who may or may not know more about Abe`s accident than she is letting on.
The story is told from the alternative perspectives of Mags,Jody and Mira with some of the chapters containing flashbacks to events from Abe,Mags and Jody`s pasts.I didn't like Mags,I thought she was a very unlikable and unsympathetic,heartless character.Jody`s story was so heartbreaking and sad you needed to have had a heart of stone not to feel quite a lot of sympathy for her and it was easy to understand why she was so broken and messed up.I would have liked to have known more about Abe and wish that there had been more chapters that were told from his perspective.
I loved the descriptions of the converted church where Abe,Jody and Mira lived,as you read the story you could picture the sun shining through the stained glass windows and casting colourful shadows on the floorboards and hear in your head the clanking pipes and the sounds coming from the homes of the other colourful characters that lived in the building.
The only thing that slightly spoiled this gripping thriller for me was the court case towards the end which contained elements that were unbelievable and unrealistic.Apart from that I thoroughly enjoyed this well written debut thriller and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to publishers Trapeze/Orion publishing for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
This riviting psychological thriller contains some quite graphic descriptions of child abuse and rape that some readers might find upsetting.
The main characters in this twisted tale are
Mags - a corporate lawyer who lives in Vegas but has had to make a emergency trip to London because her brother is in a coma after a accident.
Abe - Mags estranged brother
Jody - Abe`s broken and emotionally unstable fiance
Mira -Abe and Jody`s neighbour who may or may not know more about Abe`s accident than she is letting on.
The story is told from the alternative perspectives of Mags,Jody and Mira with some of the chapters containing flashbacks to events from Abe,Mags and Jody`s pasts.I didn't like Mags,I thought she was a very unlikable and unsympathetic,heartless character.Jody`s story was so heartbreaking and sad you needed to have had a heart of stone not to feel quite a lot of sympathy for her and it was easy to understand why she was so broken and messed up.I would have liked to have known more about Abe and wish that there had been more chapters that were told from his perspective.
I loved the descriptions of the converted church where Abe,Jody and Mira lived,as you read the story you could picture the sun shining through the stained glass windows and casting colourful shadows on the floorboards and hear in your head the clanking pipes and the sounds coming from the homes of the other colourful characters that lived in the building.
The only thing that slightly spoiled this gripping thriller for me was the court case towards the end which contained elements that were unbelievable and unrealistic.Apart from that I thoroughly enjoyed this well written debut thriller and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to publishers Trapeze/Orion publishing for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
March 15, 2017
Having met the author Sarah J Naughton at Harrogate last year I was intrigued when I found out that she was going to publish her first adult psychological suspense after her previous success as a children’s author. And as psychological suspense is my “thing” I was looking forward to discovering more. But one thing I did discover was never judge a book by its cover – Sarah J Naughton looks like the most sweet natured “butter wouldn’t melt” type (although with rather a wicked sense of humour I have to say!) but OMG she must have some very warped and deliciously disturbed thoughts in that darkly devious imagination of hers!
It has to be said that such a disturbing and intense storyline is quite obviously going to be very graphically described in places but please don’t let that put you off. The horrors experienced by one of our main protagonists have to be explored in all their hellish entirety so we can understand the actions she feels compelled to take. I won’t pretend to have taken to either Mags or Jody, neither of them seemed to have many redeeming qualities and I found it hard to trust either of their narratives. Mags doesn’t make a good impression on anyone she meets, she is closed off and she knows she’s being a total bitch but gradually we come to understand that there’s more to it than a tunnel visioned concern for her brother Abe, laying in a coma after a fall. By the time we meet Abe he is already in a coma but we get to know him through flashbacks via both Jody and Mags and I think he was my favourite character, the one I felt the most connected to, the one I was rooting for, who deserved their happy ending. But this was no fairy tale and those distressing circumstances lead to an incredibly dramatic last few chapters that culminated in an unexpected twisty denouement. It was also one that was expertly constructed, bringing everything together with a poignancy I hadn’t encountered during the previous pages.
This is a very powerful and skin-crawling novel that disturbed me in such a way that I felt I wanted to go and have a scrub clean in the shower as soon as I had finished it. I can’t say it was an enjoyable read due to the subject matter but it certainly kept me engrossed with an unputdownable tale that left me pondering the moral dilemmas raised within it. It would certainly provoke a healthy debate within book club discussions!
Many thanks to the publisher Trapeze for my review copy of Tattletale that I have chosen to read and review.
It has to be said that such a disturbing and intense storyline is quite obviously going to be very graphically described in places but please don’t let that put you off. The horrors experienced by one of our main protagonists have to be explored in all their hellish entirety so we can understand the actions she feels compelled to take. I won’t pretend to have taken to either Mags or Jody, neither of them seemed to have many redeeming qualities and I found it hard to trust either of their narratives. Mags doesn’t make a good impression on anyone she meets, she is closed off and she knows she’s being a total bitch but gradually we come to understand that there’s more to it than a tunnel visioned concern for her brother Abe, laying in a coma after a fall. By the time we meet Abe he is already in a coma but we get to know him through flashbacks via both Jody and Mags and I think he was my favourite character, the one I felt the most connected to, the one I was rooting for, who deserved their happy ending. But this was no fairy tale and those distressing circumstances lead to an incredibly dramatic last few chapters that culminated in an unexpected twisty denouement. It was also one that was expertly constructed, bringing everything together with a poignancy I hadn’t encountered during the previous pages.
This is a very powerful and skin-crawling novel that disturbed me in such a way that I felt I wanted to go and have a scrub clean in the shower as soon as I had finished it. I can’t say it was an enjoyable read due to the subject matter but it certainly kept me engrossed with an unputdownable tale that left me pondering the moral dilemmas raised within it. It would certainly provoke a healthy debate within book club discussions!
Many thanks to the publisher Trapeze for my review copy of Tattletale that I have chosen to read and review.
January 27, 2018
3.5 stars
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Setting: England
Writing style: 4/5
Triggers? Yes.
Mags Mackenzie is a thirty year-old no-nonsense corporate defense lawyer who works in Las Vegas. Many years have passed since Mags last saw her younger brother, Abe, but she leaves her comfortable home and flies to London after receiving news that Abe is in poor medical condition. She moves into his apartment temporarily and begins to piece together the traits she knew of him from when they were young children. What Mags learns about Abe’s adult life makes an everlasting impact on her own life..
Disliked/ Liked?
I really liked Mags up until she started interviewing all of the tenants in the various apartments. Her thoughts shifted then and became nonsensical and ridiculous (even though she was determined to honor Abe’s memory by finding out the entire truth about his death). Overall, Mags was an interesting character to shadow. Some of her thoughts on romantic relationships?
See, this is why I don’t have relationships. Even if you’re lucky enough to meet someone you genuinely care about, someone who feels the same and isn’t a complete asshole, as soon as you let your guard down and start to rely on them, bang! Out of the blue comes some shitty tumor or terrorist attack or a fall down a stairwell. It’s not worth it. You can’t miss it if it was never there.
This story contained the following:
Delusions ✔
Flashbacks ✔
An unexpected friendship ✔
► I loved the author’s writing style, just not the structure of the story. The multiple POVs broke up the pacing/ momentum of the story and I favored the first half of the book most. The final chapter was bittersweet and a tear-jerker, though, and I loved it!
► Favorite line spoken by Mags?
“Don’t they call stalking ‘murder in slow motion’?”
*Complimentary copy provided by SOURCEBOOKS Landmark/ NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Setting: England
Writing style: 4/5
Triggers? Yes.
Mags Mackenzie is a thirty year-old no-nonsense corporate defense lawyer who works in Las Vegas. Many years have passed since Mags last saw her younger brother, Abe, but she leaves her comfortable home and flies to London after receiving news that Abe is in poor medical condition. She moves into his apartment temporarily and begins to piece together the traits she knew of him from when they were young children. What Mags learns about Abe’s adult life makes an everlasting impact on her own life..
Disliked/ Liked?
I really liked Mags up until she started interviewing all of the tenants in the various apartments. Her thoughts shifted then and became nonsensical and ridiculous (even though she was determined to honor Abe’s memory by finding out the entire truth about his death). Overall, Mags was an interesting character to shadow. Some of her thoughts on romantic relationships?
See, this is why I don’t have relationships. Even if you’re lucky enough to meet someone you genuinely care about, someone who feels the same and isn’t a complete asshole, as soon as you let your guard down and start to rely on them, bang! Out of the blue comes some shitty tumor or terrorist attack or a fall down a stairwell. It’s not worth it. You can’t miss it if it was never there.
This story contained the following:
Delusions ✔
Flashbacks ✔
An unexpected friendship ✔
► I loved the author’s writing style, just not the structure of the story. The multiple POVs broke up the pacing/ momentum of the story and I favored the first half of the book most. The final chapter was bittersweet and a tear-jerker, though, and I loved it!
► Favorite line spoken by Mags?
“Don’t they call stalking ‘murder in slow motion’?”
*Complimentary copy provided by SOURCEBOOKS Landmark/ NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
March 6, 2018
This was a decent psychological thriller.
Mags returns home to England after hearing that her brother Abe has killed himself. He threw himself off the 4th floor balcony in his housing complex. The only witness was his fiance, Jody. Mags instantly knows that something is amiss even though she has been estranged from her brother for many years. She then starts asking questions of other residents in the building. Certainly someone had to hear or see something, right?
As soon as I started this I knew things weren't going to be what they seem which always compels me to keep turning the pages. I will say that I did figure out the twist early on but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. (Hey, it is nice to be right once in awhile!) And while I did enjoy this and finished it in just over a day it's just not one that will linger in my brain for long. A nice easy thriller that won't make you think all that much. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Mags returns home to England after hearing that her brother Abe has killed himself. He threw himself off the 4th floor balcony in his housing complex. The only witness was his fiance, Jody. Mags instantly knows that something is amiss even though she has been estranged from her brother for many years. She then starts asking questions of other residents in the building. Certainly someone had to hear or see something, right?
As soon as I started this I knew things weren't going to be what they seem which always compels me to keep turning the pages. I will say that I did figure out the twist early on but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. (Hey, it is nice to be right once in awhile!) And while I did enjoy this and finished it in just over a day it's just not one that will linger in my brain for long. A nice easy thriller that won't make you think all that much. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 21, 2017
Full review to come.
March 25, 2018
An absolute solid psychological thriller/crime fiction read that will satiate your need for a quick, twisty read! Sarah pulled me in right from the prologue. Then, I actually forgot ALL about the prologue until we get towards the end of the book and get into full circle status. AHA!
I definitely had to suspend some belief in certain parts, but I've said this before, and I'll say it again, it's FICTION. I absolutely was engaged to where Sarah took me with the dilapidated building Mag moved into (her brother's apartment), the cast of characters within, Jody's background, etc. etc. While she put a lot of different things into this story line, it never felt muddled or distracting. She definitely took them to some dark places and in my thrillers, the darker the better!
The last chapter had me confused for a little bit, but after speaking to another reader about it, he quickly pointed me in the right direction and then it all made sense! However, I do think that this one little part could've been left out and I would've been A-OK with that.
Every character in this book is flawed and screwed up in their own right. Sometimes you only see what you want to see. Sometimes you see what others present to you and look no further. Take a look at this book and see if you see what I did 😉.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for this copy!
I definitely had to suspend some belief in certain parts, but I've said this before, and I'll say it again, it's FICTION. I absolutely was engaged to where Sarah took me with the dilapidated building Mag moved into (her brother's apartment), the cast of characters within, Jody's background, etc. etc. While she put a lot of different things into this story line, it never felt muddled or distracting. She definitely took them to some dark places and in my thrillers, the darker the better!
The last chapter had me confused for a little bit, but after speaking to another reader about it, he quickly pointed me in the right direction and then it all made sense! However, I do think that this one little part could've been left out and I would've been A-OK with that.
Every character in this book is flawed and screwed up in their own right. Sometimes you only see what you want to see. Sometimes you see what others present to you and look no further. Take a look at this book and see if you see what I did 😉.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for this copy!
April 19, 2018
Thank you so much Sourcebooks for providing my free copy of THE GIRLFRIEND by Sarah Naughton - all opinions are my own.
This is an intense, raw book that I devoured it was so good! The story focuses mainly on Abe, a caregiver in London, who falls down a flight of stairs and ends up in a coma. During the investigation, the police are likely to rule it an attempted suicide, so they contact Abe’s estranged sister Mags, who lives in Las Vegas. Mags does not believe her brother tried to commit suicide, especially after meeting Abe’s fiancé Jody. This twisty story just takes off from there.
This is my kind of psychological thriller.. It does have an already familiar plot but with a completely unique twist that kept me turning the pages. The character development is outstanding and I adore the writing style. It is a fast read, written in multiple perspectives with very short chapters. As I was reading, I felt myself getting attached to each character because even though they weren’t particularly likable, I emphasized with them. And yes, there are unreliable narrators, so the plot device of Abe being in a coma adds a level of intensity as he is not able to divulge the truth. I could not put this book down because I had to know how it ended! THE GIRLFRIEND is tragic, full of secrets, and completely heartbreaking. I undeniably loved every single page!
This is an intense, raw book that I devoured it was so good! The story focuses mainly on Abe, a caregiver in London, who falls down a flight of stairs and ends up in a coma. During the investigation, the police are likely to rule it an attempted suicide, so they contact Abe’s estranged sister Mags, who lives in Las Vegas. Mags does not believe her brother tried to commit suicide, especially after meeting Abe’s fiancé Jody. This twisty story just takes off from there.
This is my kind of psychological thriller.. It does have an already familiar plot but with a completely unique twist that kept me turning the pages. The character development is outstanding and I adore the writing style. It is a fast read, written in multiple perspectives with very short chapters. As I was reading, I felt myself getting attached to each character because even though they weren’t particularly likable, I emphasized with them. And yes, there are unreliable narrators, so the plot device of Abe being in a coma adds a level of intensity as he is not able to divulge the truth. I could not put this book down because I had to know how it ended! THE GIRLFRIEND is tragic, full of secrets, and completely heartbreaking. I undeniably loved every single page!
October 25, 2016
I was unsure of where this book was taking me, and so very nearly never finished it.
It starts with a tragic accident, Abe has gone over the bannisters from the 4th floor of where he lives and is now in a coma. Jody, the love of his life is by his bedside and Mags, his estranged sister, has travelled from the USA to deal with something that she has no desire to deal with.
Tatttletale is a very tense read. It has many layers and after the start, which builds up slowly, it manages to grip and is very captivating. I was really amazed at how this book turns into something quite unexpected.
Mags, a lawyer, feels there is something not right with her brothers 'accident' and when she receives a note, she delves deeper and finds ..well, I'm not one for spoilers.
Naughtons novel is very cleverly plotted. Although as a reviewer I do feel that I have to issue a warning. This book comes with topics of child sexual abuse and rape which makes uncomfortable reading.
It is one of the saddest novels I have read this year, but the twists are unbelievably sharp.
Read with caution, but it is enjoyable read inasmuch as it can be due to the theme.
It starts with a tragic accident, Abe has gone over the bannisters from the 4th floor of where he lives and is now in a coma. Jody, the love of his life is by his bedside and Mags, his estranged sister, has travelled from the USA to deal with something that she has no desire to deal with.
Tatttletale is a very tense read. It has many layers and after the start, which builds up slowly, it manages to grip and is very captivating. I was really amazed at how this book turns into something quite unexpected.
Mags, a lawyer, feels there is something not right with her brothers 'accident' and when she receives a note, she delves deeper and finds ..well, I'm not one for spoilers.
Naughtons novel is very cleverly plotted. Although as a reviewer I do feel that I have to issue a warning. This book comes with topics of child sexual abuse and rape which makes uncomfortable reading.
It is one of the saddest novels I have read this year, but the twists are unbelievably sharp.
Read with caution, but it is enjoyable read inasmuch as it can be due to the theme.
February 16, 2018
If you like books where you don't know who to trust then this book is for you.
Mags is a corporate lawyer in Las Vegas. When her brother Abe is seriously injured in London she gets on a plane and returns to London, despite having not seen or spoken to him in years. She's girlfriend Jody lives in th same complex and is the one who found Abe bleeding out and called the ambulance. now Abe lies in a coma in hospital and Mags does not believe that he tried to kill himself as the police believe. She must learn about her brother and his life in order to find out what happened that night... and the more she learns the more she wants to find who tried to kill her brother.
A great fasstory paced story that is hard to put down. Highly recommend this book. Thanks to Source Books Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book in exchange for my honest opinions
Mags is a corporate lawyer in Las Vegas. When her brother Abe is seriously injured in London she gets on a plane and returns to London, despite having not seen or spoken to him in years. She's girlfriend Jody lives in th same complex and is the one who found Abe bleeding out and called the ambulance. now Abe lies in a coma in hospital and Mags does not believe that he tried to kill himself as the police believe. She must learn about her brother and his life in order to find out what happened that night... and the more she learns the more she wants to find who tried to kill her brother.
A great fasstory paced story that is hard to put down. Highly recommend this book. Thanks to Source Books Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book in exchange for my honest opinions
January 14, 2018
Tattletale is Sarah J Naughton's first adult novel and has a monster of a different kind. Tattletale will be published in hardback and paperback 23rd March 2017
August 5, 2017
***3.5 stars***
Review coming closer to publication date.
Review coming closer to publication date.
February 10, 2018
*I received this Arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Release Date: March 6th 2018
I am so disappointed right now, being a lover of mystery/thriller I had such high expectations for this book. I requested this from NetGalley months ago but had to wait to review until a month prior to the publication date. I think some will enjoy this book, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me for many reasons.
I haven't read a book by Sarah J Naughton before, but I'm still willing to give another book a go.
Mags has been estranged from her family for years, a rough childhood leads to some wounds never healing. Noone took it hard than Mag's rebellious brother Abe. When Mags gets a shocking phone call stating her brother is in a coma, she rushes to his side as his next of kin. The police believe he tried to commit suicide, but Mags isn't so sure. She starts picking through the life of her estranged brother; his dark apartment building, his neighbors, his job and whether there were signs of depression. Abe's fiance, Jody was the only witness to the incident but her version of events brings more questions than answers.
Mags will stop at nothing to uncover what happened to her brother, picking at the clues and secrets hiding throughout his life- something she never thought she'd want for the brother she hardly knew, revenge.
My biggest problem with this novel was the writing. I didn't enjoy, it didn't grip me, and I felt like I should stamp a DNF on it and just moved on. So why didn't I? I feel bad not finishing a book I have been given the opportunity to read, and honestly, i thought it might redeem itself at some point if only I kept on reading. The first few chapters were confusing as fuck, I had no idea what was going on. It's not until the last few chapters that you understand the first few. Sometimes this works, but I didn't feel like it worked here because of the whole chunk of the middle that I had to crawl my way through.
Another problem was that the pacing was very slow. It felt like it took ages for something to happen, and when it did there wasn't enough POW! to it to really draw me in.
I didn't like and didn't connect with any of the characters. Literally none of them. The closest would have to be Abe because I felt like I was going to fall into a coma reading this book. Maybe that's unfair, but that's how I felt. If you cant connect or like characters, there is no care factor there for what is happening to them. It wasn't until MUCH later that I felt for Jody, but by then she had just annoyed me too much for it to be a redeeming part of the story or her character.
The flashbacks were really random too, I wasn't understanding what was going on, they would start and end out of nowhere.. maybe it was my copy but whenever these popped up I was like what the fuck is this, what is going on?
It also felt like the abuse Mags suffered as a child, was somehow meant to make the reader feel sorry for her being so cold as an adult, but I just didn't buy that. Yes, people deal with things differently, but she had such a bitchy vibe going on it turned me right off her.
Its also told in three perspectives - Mags, Jody's and Mira's ( the next door neighbor), which is broken up by their name at the top to state whos point of view we are seeing.
I did like the ending in a way. It wasn't amazing, blew my mind but it was far better than the rest of the book. Which was kind of disappointing, there needs to be something that grips you before this point. The ending showed the author can come up with some really clever ideas, and really add the twists when you least expect them, but it was just too late for me by that point. I had to look at the book as a whole, and unfortunately, it just wasn't what I expected and I shouldn't struggle as much as I did to get through it.
There was also a gay relationship and a mental health rep. Both of which I thought were represented pretty well. Unfortunately, there is a bit of rape victim blaming as well, which goes with the story, but to me as a person, there's always so much victim blaming that it gets on my nerves.
Overall the ending was the best part. We had a gay relationship, mental health reps which I liked but the victim blaming wasn't one of them. There were too many confusing parts, that take too long to understand. I didn't like the characters, the pacing was slow and the writing was a struggle.
I didn't like this book, there was too much I didn't like over the few that I did to redeem it for me, even with the ending. I think people will like this book, it just wasn't for me, but dont let my opinion alone discourage you from reading it if it sounds like something you will be interested in.
Recommended for: Thriller / Mystery.
Release Date: March 6th 2018
I am so disappointed right now, being a lover of mystery/thriller I had such high expectations for this book. I requested this from NetGalley months ago but had to wait to review until a month prior to the publication date. I think some will enjoy this book, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me for many reasons.
I haven't read a book by Sarah J Naughton before, but I'm still willing to give another book a go.
Mags has been estranged from her family for years, a rough childhood leads to some wounds never healing. Noone took it hard than Mag's rebellious brother Abe. When Mags gets a shocking phone call stating her brother is in a coma, she rushes to his side as his next of kin. The police believe he tried to commit suicide, but Mags isn't so sure. She starts picking through the life of her estranged brother; his dark apartment building, his neighbors, his job and whether there were signs of depression. Abe's fiance, Jody was the only witness to the incident but her version of events brings more questions than answers.
Mags will stop at nothing to uncover what happened to her brother, picking at the clues and secrets hiding throughout his life- something she never thought she'd want for the brother she hardly knew, revenge.
My biggest problem with this novel was the writing. I didn't enjoy, it didn't grip me, and I felt like I should stamp a DNF on it and just moved on. So why didn't I? I feel bad not finishing a book I have been given the opportunity to read, and honestly, i thought it might redeem itself at some point if only I kept on reading. The first few chapters were confusing as fuck, I had no idea what was going on. It's not until the last few chapters that you understand the first few. Sometimes this works, but I didn't feel like it worked here because of the whole chunk of the middle that I had to crawl my way through.
Another problem was that the pacing was very slow. It felt like it took ages for something to happen, and when it did there wasn't enough POW! to it to really draw me in.
I didn't like and didn't connect with any of the characters. Literally none of them. The closest would have to be Abe because I felt like I was going to fall into a coma reading this book. Maybe that's unfair, but that's how I felt. If you cant connect or like characters, there is no care factor there for what is happening to them. It wasn't until MUCH later that I felt for Jody, but by then she had just annoyed me too much for it to be a redeeming part of the story or her character.
The flashbacks were really random too, I wasn't understanding what was going on, they would start and end out of nowhere.. maybe it was my copy but whenever these popped up I was like what the fuck is this, what is going on?
It also felt like the abuse Mags suffered as a child, was somehow meant to make the reader feel sorry for her being so cold as an adult, but I just didn't buy that. Yes, people deal with things differently, but she had such a bitchy vibe going on it turned me right off her.
Its also told in three perspectives - Mags, Jody's and Mira's ( the next door neighbor), which is broken up by their name at the top to state whos point of view we are seeing.
I did like the ending in a way. It wasn't amazing, blew my mind but it was far better than the rest of the book. Which was kind of disappointing, there needs to be something that grips you before this point. The ending showed the author can come up with some really clever ideas, and really add the twists when you least expect them, but it was just too late for me by that point. I had to look at the book as a whole, and unfortunately, it just wasn't what I expected and I shouldn't struggle as much as I did to get through it.
There was also a gay relationship and a mental health rep. Both of which I thought were represented pretty well. Unfortunately, there is a bit of rape victim blaming as well, which goes with the story, but to me as a person, there's always so much victim blaming that it gets on my nerves.
Overall the ending was the best part. We had a gay relationship, mental health reps which I liked but the victim blaming wasn't one of them. There were too many confusing parts, that take too long to understand. I didn't like the characters, the pacing was slow and the writing was a struggle.
I didn't like this book, there was too much I didn't like over the few that I did to redeem it for me, even with the ending. I think people will like this book, it just wasn't for me, but dont let my opinion alone discourage you from reading it if it sounds like something you will be interested in.
Recommended for: Thriller / Mystery.
February 7, 2017
I seem to be having no luck with all these highly-anticipated releases at the moment, another one that I’m sure will be loved by many but missed the mark for me.
You’re propelled into the action from the very first page, this is usually a plus for me when the action begins right away but here, I felt too much was going on and I had to re-read several paragraphs just to ensure I was following the events and didn’t miss anything that would be ‘vital to know’ later in the book. Despite the opening feeling very cluttered, it had my full attention (if only so I didn’t miss anything) and I was looking forward to seeing where the story would go.
I’m not going to talk too much about the plot for fear of spoiling certain bits that didn’t work for me, but may work for others. Regarding the characters, I did not like them, not one single character, and that’s okay because I believe not every character has to be likeable, as long as they are well-developed or serve a purpose in the story. That was the case here, the characters were either very well developed with complex backgrounds or served a purpose in the story. The trouble is, where certain parts of this story should have evoked feelings in me, especially due to the dark themes surrounding this book, they didn’t. Where I perhaps should have felt sympathy or pity for a character, I just felt frustrated, like the writing wasn’t deep enough for me to connect with, it lacked the ‘believability’ these themes [of abuse] need; I know what I should have felt but I just didn’t feel it. Both main characters in this book, Jody and Mags, had extremely traumatic upbringings but I couldn’t connect with either character, sadly it all felt a bit empty to me.
Around the half way mark, my interest was waning, and I thought the story rather dull then there was a revelation that pulled me back in. By stating this book is for fans of ‘I Let You Go’ [by Clare Mackintosh], I was expecting something monumental – I can see why the comparison was made but, the twist wasn’t mind-blowing, more like an ‘ah-ha now we’re getting somewhere’ moment. However, it was a well needed and a clever revelation. I feel the character’s backgrounds and current states of mind could have been explored more to create a psychological chill rather than relying on the shock factor of the twist.
This was a fast paced-read with short chapters that created the ‘just one more chapter’ feeling, however, the alternating viewpoints in this story felt disjointed and disrupted the overall flow of the book. For me personally, from these types of reads, I like to be drawn into the mind of the characters, with a wish to continue “studying” them once the read is over, or the twist/revelation has to come completely out of left field and be jaw-droppingly, mind-blowingly awesome.
Again, this book has all the ingredients to make a great psychological thriller but it missed the mark for me.
*I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
You’re propelled into the action from the very first page, this is usually a plus for me when the action begins right away but here, I felt too much was going on and I had to re-read several paragraphs just to ensure I was following the events and didn’t miss anything that would be ‘vital to know’ later in the book. Despite the opening feeling very cluttered, it had my full attention (if only so I didn’t miss anything) and I was looking forward to seeing where the story would go.
I’m not going to talk too much about the plot for fear of spoiling certain bits that didn’t work for me, but may work for others. Regarding the characters, I did not like them, not one single character, and that’s okay because I believe not every character has to be likeable, as long as they are well-developed or serve a purpose in the story. That was the case here, the characters were either very well developed with complex backgrounds or served a purpose in the story. The trouble is, where certain parts of this story should have evoked feelings in me, especially due to the dark themes surrounding this book, they didn’t. Where I perhaps should have felt sympathy or pity for a character, I just felt frustrated, like the writing wasn’t deep enough for me to connect with, it lacked the ‘believability’ these themes [of abuse] need; I know what I should have felt but I just didn’t feel it. Both main characters in this book, Jody and Mags, had extremely traumatic upbringings but I couldn’t connect with either character, sadly it all felt a bit empty to me.
Around the half way mark, my interest was waning, and I thought the story rather dull then there was a revelation that pulled me back in. By stating this book is for fans of ‘I Let You Go’ [by Clare Mackintosh], I was expecting something monumental – I can see why the comparison was made but, the twist wasn’t mind-blowing, more like an ‘ah-ha now we’re getting somewhere’ moment. However, it was a well needed and a clever revelation. I feel the character’s backgrounds and current states of mind could have been explored more to create a psychological chill rather than relying on the shock factor of the twist.
This was a fast paced-read with short chapters that created the ‘just one more chapter’ feeling, however, the alternating viewpoints in this story felt disjointed and disrupted the overall flow of the book. For me personally, from these types of reads, I like to be drawn into the mind of the characters, with a wish to continue “studying” them once the read is over, or the twist/revelation has to come completely out of left field and be jaw-droppingly, mind-blowingly awesome.
Again, this book has all the ingredients to make a great psychological thriller but it missed the mark for me.
*I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
October 16, 2016
Can't wait to recommend the hell out of this book.
Already my stand out 2017 read! So slick, so well plotted and a really unpredictable conclusion. Perfect storytelling.
I loved it.
Already my stand out 2017 read! So slick, so well plotted and a really unpredictable conclusion. Perfect storytelling.
I loved it.
March 29, 2017
Tattletale was one of the most anticipated psychological thrillers of the year. While it did deliver, I'm not entirely sure it lived up to the hype.
Abe is in a coma. Was it an accident? Was it suicide as the detectives believe? Or was it something more sinister?
Mags hasn't seen her brother for years but she's desperate to know the truth about what happened. And then she meets Jody.
Jody and Mags have both experienced highly disturbing childhoods, which some readers might find upsetting. Neither is particularly endearing and as the plot moves on, you wonder if either of them is a reliable narrator. There are some surprises as you expect from this genre but a few I could see coming a mile away.
Some of the material is quite dark but I didn't feel it was as gripping and compelling as it could have been. While the first few chapters were quite confusing and I couldn't figure out what they had to do with anything, it did all make sense in the end. However, for me, I thought the actions of the characters became just a bit too unbelievable.
Tattletale has all the ingredients and potential but it fell a little short of the mark. However, for the most part I did enjoy it and I do look forward to whatever Naughton comes up with next.
Abe is in a coma. Was it an accident? Was it suicide as the detectives believe? Or was it something more sinister?
Mags hasn't seen her brother for years but she's desperate to know the truth about what happened. And then she meets Jody.
Jody and Mags have both experienced highly disturbing childhoods, which some readers might find upsetting. Neither is particularly endearing and as the plot moves on, you wonder if either of them is a reliable narrator. There are some surprises as you expect from this genre but a few I could see coming a mile away.
Some of the material is quite dark but I didn't feel it was as gripping and compelling as it could have been. While the first few chapters were quite confusing and I couldn't figure out what they had to do with anything, it did all make sense in the end. However, for me, I thought the actions of the characters became just a bit too unbelievable.
Tattletale has all the ingredients and potential but it fell a little short of the mark. However, for the most part I did enjoy it and I do look forward to whatever Naughton comes up with next.
March 23, 2017
I absolutely devoured Tattletale by Sarah J Naughton in almost one sitting. Tattletale is a twisty thriller that will leave you gasping your way through it as the story twists and turns. A contender for my favourite read of the year. 5 stars
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