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All the Wicked Games
Are you ready to play?
Best friends Cleo and Rachel spend their evenings pretending to be people they're not, inventing elaborate stories to escape the monotony of their real lives. It's all harmless fun - until they play the game on the wrong person...
It's your move now.
Five years later, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. And then she receives a text: Rachel is missing. Have you seen her?
There's only one person to blame.
Wracked with guilt for failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Only this time, they're caught up in a far darker game.
The rules don't matter when the goal is revenge.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2022
26 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Lauren North
16 books517 followersLauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 11, 2022
3.5
Rachel is missing which sends Cleo into a panic and a gut full of guilt. According to Rachel’s sister Beth, Rachel was scared and “playing your game again“ and so Cleo agrees to help find her.
The novel backtracks five years to when Rachel and Cleo live together in a rundown house with rolling and rollout tenants. Their best friends both want to have the same dream job but are currently working in a shop which Rachel especially finds very dull. They start to play an online game, a dangerous one it seems and there’s a similarly dangerous one in the present day.
It starts well and I find myself very intrigued about what’s going on and definitely wanting to know more. The two timelines work well especially the present day where it’s as if Cleo is in conversation with the missing Rachel, through reminiscing she is seeking inspiration which may lead to her being found.
For about 75% of the book you can taste the fear they go through in the early timeline and sense the jittering nerves in the present day with the spectre of the past hanging over everything. It becomes clear that Rachel then and now are two entirely different people and it could be any number of people that are seeking payback.
There is tension and parts are very chilling especially as it’s clear several characters are barking mad which adds an unsettling feeling to say the very least.
However, although I can say I do enjoy most of the book it starts to feel too drawn out and the pace doesn’t pick up quickly enough for maximum impact. I’m very on the fence about the ending and having figured out part of it I find can’t entirely buy into it. I do enjoy the closing sentences which sends a shiver up and down the spine.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK/Transworld/Penguin for their much appreciate arc in return for an honest review.
Rachel is missing which sends Cleo into a panic and a gut full of guilt. According to Rachel’s sister Beth, Rachel was scared and “playing your game again“ and so Cleo agrees to help find her.
The novel backtracks five years to when Rachel and Cleo live together in a rundown house with rolling and rollout tenants. Their best friends both want to have the same dream job but are currently working in a shop which Rachel especially finds very dull. They start to play an online game, a dangerous one it seems and there’s a similarly dangerous one in the present day.
It starts well and I find myself very intrigued about what’s going on and definitely wanting to know more. The two timelines work well especially the present day where it’s as if Cleo is in conversation with the missing Rachel, through reminiscing she is seeking inspiration which may lead to her being found.
For about 75% of the book you can taste the fear they go through in the early timeline and sense the jittering nerves in the present day with the spectre of the past hanging over everything. It becomes clear that Rachel then and now are two entirely different people and it could be any number of people that are seeking payback.
There is tension and parts are very chilling especially as it’s clear several characters are barking mad which adds an unsettling feeling to say the very least.
However, although I can say I do enjoy most of the book it starts to feel too drawn out and the pace doesn’t pick up quickly enough for maximum impact. I’m very on the fence about the ending and having figured out part of it I find can’t entirely buy into it. I do enjoy the closing sentences which sends a shiver up and down the spine.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK/Transworld/Penguin for their much appreciate arc in return for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
Five years ago, best friends Cleo and Rachel are working at a makeup counter at Selfridges. They are bored with their lives and decide to spice up their life by going on a Cam Chat site and pretend to be someone else, a better self than they are. It won’t hurt right? But when Rachel meets Luke, and they chat online for several months every night Cleo thinks it is not healthy and she is worries for Rachel
Five years on, Cleo works on the cruise ship Enchantress when she gets a text saying that Rachel is missing so she goes back to her old place to find her.
Thank you, Random House Transworld, for a copy of “The wicked games”. This is a good suspenseful, twisty thriller, told in several points of views going back and forth five years in time. I kept me turning the pages. There was such a build-up to find out who was responsible for what was going on that I found the ending a bit flat. 4 stars from me.
Five years on, Cleo works on the cruise ship Enchantress when she gets a text saying that Rachel is missing so she goes back to her old place to find her.
Thank you, Random House Transworld, for a copy of “The wicked games”. This is a good suspenseful, twisty thriller, told in several points of views going back and forth five years in time. I kept me turning the pages. There was such a build-up to find out who was responsible for what was going on that I found the ending a bit flat. 4 stars from me.
August 15, 2022
I heard of North from her previous book Safe at Home so couldn't resist seeing what the fuss was about!
I love books about 'school secrets that come out in adulthood' so this sounded great!
This starts brilliantly, I loved the two timelines once I worked them out, and the different POVs really builds up tension and understanding in the reader as new things are revealed.
North writes her characters so well, with clear definition and understanding, so the reader can see why their actions match their personalities.
I do think at times the pacing wasn't as fast as I had hoped or suspected, but I know I am a hard one to please when it comes to thrilling reads!
I love books about 'school secrets that come out in adulthood' so this sounded great!
This starts brilliantly, I loved the two timelines once I worked them out, and the different POVs really builds up tension and understanding in the reader as new things are revealed.
North writes her characters so well, with clear definition and understanding, so the reader can see why their actions match their personalities.
I do think at times the pacing wasn't as fast as I had hoped or suspected, but I know I am a hard one to please when it comes to thrilling reads!
May 3, 2025
An intriguing and dark psychological thriller filled with tension and foreboding, told through dual-timeline.
September 7, 2023
Best friends Cleo and Rachel fed up of their humdrum lives, spend their evenings pretending to be people they are not, in an online chat room. Where's the harm in a bit of fun and make believe?
Now five years later Rachel is missing, according to Rachel's sister Beth, Rachel had been playing the game again and so Cleo full of guilt and remorse about the night that destroyed their friendship tries to find her.
Cleo races to find her friend. But this time she is caught up in a far darker game and the rules do not apply when the main aim is revenge.
This is a brilliant twisty thriller told from from several POV's, going back and forth over 5 years.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Now five years later Rachel is missing, according to Rachel's sister Beth, Rachel had been playing the game again and so Cleo full of guilt and remorse about the night that destroyed their friendship tries to find her.
Cleo races to find her friend. But this time she is caught up in a far darker game and the rules do not apply when the main aim is revenge.
This is a brilliant twisty thriller told from from several POV's, going back and forth over 5 years.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2022
This is such a chilling read. It is clear from early on that something dreadful has happened to the two girls in the past but the author keeps the reader on the hook and only releases as much information as she wants us to know – I’ve never been a patient person and I was dying to know what exactly had happened in the past that was having such a terrible impact now on Rachel’s disappearance and on Chloe’s fragile mental state.
This dual timeline story moves between the present day and five years previously. Cleo is now working on a cruise ship and is on shore leave when she receives a message that her old friend Rachel is missing. Torn between wanting to get back to her safe life on board ship but scared for Rachel and knowing their history, she stays to try and help. The reader is then fed snippets from both Cleo and Rachel of what happened five years previously together with the current story featuring both girls.
Where to start. The author certainly kept me in the dark for so long on this one! I think I suspected every one in turn and I still got beaten by the reveal. The story shows what a dark and dangerous place the internet can be if abused and Rachel and Cleo were not blameless in any of this. Their ‘game’ on the website ‘CamChat’ seemed harmless fun to them but they often took things too far and they ended up paying dearly with the loss of their friendship being just one casualty.
Of the two characters, I preferred Cleo but that was mainly because she was the one usually on the page and who I engaged with more, she also seemed more sensible. I felt a little sorry for Rachel – going back to the ‘before’ when she lived with Cleo in a grotty house share, she was rather bored and miserable with her life on the make up counter in a retail store, always being picked on by the supervisor and fed up with being ghosted by men. She always wanted something more but good things seemed to happen to other people.
Suspenseful with a sinister undertone to the plot, I was totally absorbed by this story with revenge and manipulation at its heart. I felt Cleo’s frustration that she wasn’t being taken seriously about Rachel’s disappearance and also her guilt about whatever had happened in the past.
Even though I thought I had worked things out, I was caught out by the surprising and chilling final conclusion. Definitely recommended for your reading pile.
This dual timeline story moves between the present day and five years previously. Cleo is now working on a cruise ship and is on shore leave when she receives a message that her old friend Rachel is missing. Torn between wanting to get back to her safe life on board ship but scared for Rachel and knowing their history, she stays to try and help. The reader is then fed snippets from both Cleo and Rachel of what happened five years previously together with the current story featuring both girls.
Where to start. The author certainly kept me in the dark for so long on this one! I think I suspected every one in turn and I still got beaten by the reveal. The story shows what a dark and dangerous place the internet can be if abused and Rachel and Cleo were not blameless in any of this. Their ‘game’ on the website ‘CamChat’ seemed harmless fun to them but they often took things too far and they ended up paying dearly with the loss of their friendship being just one casualty.
Of the two characters, I preferred Cleo but that was mainly because she was the one usually on the page and who I engaged with more, she also seemed more sensible. I felt a little sorry for Rachel – going back to the ‘before’ when she lived with Cleo in a grotty house share, she was rather bored and miserable with her life on the make up counter in a retail store, always being picked on by the supervisor and fed up with being ghosted by men. She always wanted something more but good things seemed to happen to other people.
Suspenseful with a sinister undertone to the plot, I was totally absorbed by this story with revenge and manipulation at its heart. I felt Cleo’s frustration that she wasn’t being taken seriously about Rachel’s disappearance and also her guilt about whatever had happened in the past.
Even though I thought I had worked things out, I was caught out by the surprising and chilling final conclusion. Definitely recommended for your reading pile.
August 8, 2022
I participated in a blog tour for one of Lauren North’s other books in September last year. When I saw her name appear while scrolling through NetGalley I did not think twice about requesting a copy of this book.
Reaching for All The Wicked Games, you will find yourself wanting to read non-stop. This tale about friendship and guilt will haunt you as flip from page to page. It is a fast-paced, gripping read that keeps you glued to the pages.
Lauren North tells this story from Cleo and Rachel’s point of view moving between now and five years ago. I love the way she moves between then and now revealing events piece by piece. I found myself completely engrossed and battled to drag myself away. This book will keep you entertained from start to end.
Cleo and Rachel are best friends. Living together they are waiting for the big break into the make-up artist world. They dream big, but in the meantime, life must go on, and everyday life is rather boring when you are broke. To entertain themselves they s[end their evenings online, chatting to strangers and making up elaborate stories. It’s all just for fun. Until they play with the wrong man.
One man and one horrific night and it’s the end of a friendship. But five years later, Cleo receives a message that Rachel is missing. Rachel was her best friend, off course she will put her life on hold and do whatever she needs to, as long as she can save Rachel. Returning to her old life, Cleo discovers the game is starting again.
What a brilliant read. Lauren North had me glued to the pages of this book. I loved the friendship between these two women. The author brought these characters to life allowing the reader to share their bond. The ending was brilliant, I loved it.
These two women, struggling to find their way in the world and trying to realise their dreams while surviving day-to-day life was beautifully realistic. The author did a marvellous job sharing the bond between these women. It’s difficult to pick a favourite, both these characters are stunning creations.
Psychological thrillers fans can expect a treat with this story of friendship, jealousy and dangerous games. You will battle to walk away from this gripping read. Be sure to add this one to your TBR, you will not be left disappointed.
https://featzreviews.com
Reaching for All The Wicked Games, you will find yourself wanting to read non-stop. This tale about friendship and guilt will haunt you as flip from page to page. It is a fast-paced, gripping read that keeps you glued to the pages.
Lauren North tells this story from Cleo and Rachel’s point of view moving between now and five years ago. I love the way she moves between then and now revealing events piece by piece. I found myself completely engrossed and battled to drag myself away. This book will keep you entertained from start to end.
Cleo and Rachel are best friends. Living together they are waiting for the big break into the make-up artist world. They dream big, but in the meantime, life must go on, and everyday life is rather boring when you are broke. To entertain themselves they s[end their evenings online, chatting to strangers and making up elaborate stories. It’s all just for fun. Until they play with the wrong man.
One man and one horrific night and it’s the end of a friendship. But five years later, Cleo receives a message that Rachel is missing. Rachel was her best friend, off course she will put her life on hold and do whatever she needs to, as long as she can save Rachel. Returning to her old life, Cleo discovers the game is starting again.
What a brilliant read. Lauren North had me glued to the pages of this book. I loved the friendship between these two women. The author brought these characters to life allowing the reader to share their bond. The ending was brilliant, I loved it.
These two women, struggling to find their way in the world and trying to realise their dreams while surviving day-to-day life was beautifully realistic. The author did a marvellous job sharing the bond between these women. It’s difficult to pick a favourite, both these characters are stunning creations.
Psychological thrillers fans can expect a treat with this story of friendship, jealousy and dangerous games. You will battle to walk away from this gripping read. Be sure to add this one to your TBR, you will not be left disappointed.
https://featzreviews.com
August 19, 2022
There is nothing better than female friendship when it is good but what happens when an outside influence sours it? When a game that was meant to just be some harmless fun goes horribly wrong and fractures their relationship beyond repair.
Now it is five years later and Cleo is about to board The Enchantress cruise ship when she receives news that Rachel is missing. The police aren’t taking it seriously and Rachel’s sister Beth is begging for help.
Lauren has really captured the feeling of moving on from a friendship and the guilt it can cause. How leaving a friend can be worse than any romantic break up. While neither of the characters are particularly likeable you can still empathise with their situations and the feelings that never really go away when you have been that close to someone.
It was the intrigue of the “catfishing” game that ultimately drew me to this book and what it was that had happened but it was the tension that kept me reading. I had my suspicions fairly early on which, shock horror, for once were correct however I was still left reeling by the very unexpected ending.
Now it is five years later and Cleo is about to board The Enchantress cruise ship when she receives news that Rachel is missing. The police aren’t taking it seriously and Rachel’s sister Beth is begging for help.
Lauren has really captured the feeling of moving on from a friendship and the guilt it can cause. How leaving a friend can be worse than any romantic break up. While neither of the characters are particularly likeable you can still empathise with their situations and the feelings that never really go away when you have been that close to someone.
It was the intrigue of the “catfishing” game that ultimately drew me to this book and what it was that had happened but it was the tension that kept me reading. I had my suspicions fairly early on which, shock horror, for once were correct however I was still left reeling by the very unexpected ending.
September 7, 2022
Another marvellous book penned by Lauren North. All the Wicked Games had this reader guessing throughout the tale. With twist after twist, the varying timelines are easy to follow and there are many suspects. The shocking moments, sinister undertones and chilling denouement all make this a terrific read. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK /Transworld /Penguin via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK /Transworld /Penguin via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
September 21, 2022
Kept me hooked from start to finish. I needed to know just what the game was, just what happened 5 years ago, as well as fearing for Rachel's safety, and Cleo's frame of mind in the present.
What a deviously twisty book this is, where you have to believe Cleo as she is the main viewpoint, but at the same time, you wonder just what she is hiding too.
I really couldn't have predicted this and I loved trying to figure everything out.
I loved the concept behind Cleo and Rachel's game and I can't help but feel this book is trying to tell us not to believe everything you see or hear online.
Another fantastic psychological thriller from this fabulous author.
Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
What a deviously twisty book this is, where you have to believe Cleo as she is the main viewpoint, but at the same time, you wonder just what she is hiding too.
I really couldn't have predicted this and I loved trying to figure everything out.
I loved the concept behind Cleo and Rachel's game and I can't help but feel this book is trying to tell us not to believe everything you see or hear online.
Another fantastic psychological thriller from this fabulous author.
Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 6, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cleo and Rachel were best friends 5 years ago but lost touch after they were victims of an attack. Prior to the attack, they were spending a lot of time on CamChat, an online service where you can video chat with random people. On there, they would make up stories about themselves. Now Rachel has gone missing and Cleo feels compelled to help in the search after leaving her friend following the attack. Cleo thinks Rachel may have been back in CamChat and that may have let to her disappearance.
This book was ok. I was sort of interested in what happened to Rachel but I didn’t really feel like we were getting enough new info quickly enough to keep me interested. I also didn’t think the truth about what happened really wowed me. Maybe I have read too many psychological thrillers and I can’t be wowed anymore but ultimately it was an ok read.
Cleo and Rachel were best friends 5 years ago but lost touch after they were victims of an attack. Prior to the attack, they were spending a lot of time on CamChat, an online service where you can video chat with random people. On there, they would make up stories about themselves. Now Rachel has gone missing and Cleo feels compelled to help in the search after leaving her friend following the attack. Cleo thinks Rachel may have been back in CamChat and that may have let to her disappearance.
This book was ok. I was sort of interested in what happened to Rachel but I didn’t really feel like we were getting enough new info quickly enough to keep me interested. I also didn’t think the truth about what happened really wowed me. Maybe I have read too many psychological thrillers and I can’t be wowed anymore but ultimately it was an ok read.
September 23, 2022
This book had amazing potential and it's written very well. My only problems are the game angle, seemed a bit ludicrous to me, and the characters. Both POV characters were 1-dimensional and I did not like either of them. Dislike can sometimes be a good thing but it's very rare and the characterisations have to be brilliant. Not the case here. It felt like the whole point of Cleo was that she gets everything easy and is better at everything than Rachel without noticing, and Rachel is there to be pathetic and jealous despite loving Cleo. Also, maybe it's just me but Cleo came across as completely man-crazy. She's got chemistry with everyone and their brother and all the men want her. If it were just one or the other, I'd have given it 3 stars, but I can't, despite the ok ending. Maybe it will be for other people, it wasn't for me.
August 16, 2022
I am a big fan of Lauren North and she’s on my “buy without blurb” list where I automatically preorder her next book without even knowing what it’s about! All The Wicked Games was a much anticipated read for 2022 (as is her next book The Ugly Truth which is out in 2023-there were a few much listed after proofs at Harrogate Crime Festival this year and early reviews are saying it’s AMAZING!) and as usual Lauren North hit it out of the park!
Besties Cleo and Rachel have drifted apart since an horrific event changed their friendship forever. Cleo has moved out of the digs they used to share and is now working on the cruise ships. But Rachel (and the night where everything fell apart) is never far from her thoughts and when Beth, Rachel’s sister, contacts her to say that Rachel has gone missing she decides to put off embarking on her latest ship to go back and investigate what has happened to her friend…
All The Wicked Games is a shocking psychological thriller that kept me on my toes throughout! Full of unexpected twists and unsavoury characters, I could not put it down! I was so full of questions that I needed answers to NOW such as what happened THAT NIGHT?! Where was Rachel? And what did it have to do with what happened THAT NIGHT?!! Yes everything seems to point back to the night that Cleo and Rachel played their game and it took them in a direction that has affected both of them (in different ways) ever since.
Both girls use their POV to explain what happened THAT NIGHT and how it has led to Rachel’s disappearance 5 years later. We get flashbacks to their early friendship and how it is the game that starts a crack that only seems to grow, creating a canyon that neither of them can cross to get back to the way things were. I remember when a similar game was happening and was very popular especially among teenagers and it worried me sick imagining the sickos taking advantage of the young and the lonely. And there were certainly lots of unsavoury characters hanging around just waiting pounce but could any of them be responsible for what has happened to Rachel?
This is a compelling story about culpability and it’s affect on relationships. Cleo feels guilty about everything that has happened to Rachel and struggles to overcome those feelings even when faced with the truth about the situation she now finds herself in. But why is the past repeating itself and can anyone stop it before it’s too late? It’s game on but this may be one game where the winner DOESN’T take it all!
I loved All The Wicked Games and found it a compelling page turner, full of all the shocks we have all come to love and expect in our psychological thrillers nowadays. Toxicity flows from Lauren Norths words and I loved mopping it up! Highly recommended by me!
Besties Cleo and Rachel have drifted apart since an horrific event changed their friendship forever. Cleo has moved out of the digs they used to share and is now working on the cruise ships. But Rachel (and the night where everything fell apart) is never far from her thoughts and when Beth, Rachel’s sister, contacts her to say that Rachel has gone missing she decides to put off embarking on her latest ship to go back and investigate what has happened to her friend…
All The Wicked Games is a shocking psychological thriller that kept me on my toes throughout! Full of unexpected twists and unsavoury characters, I could not put it down! I was so full of questions that I needed answers to NOW such as what happened THAT NIGHT?! Where was Rachel? And what did it have to do with what happened THAT NIGHT?!! Yes everything seems to point back to the night that Cleo and Rachel played their game and it took them in a direction that has affected both of them (in different ways) ever since.
Both girls use their POV to explain what happened THAT NIGHT and how it has led to Rachel’s disappearance 5 years later. We get flashbacks to their early friendship and how it is the game that starts a crack that only seems to grow, creating a canyon that neither of them can cross to get back to the way things were. I remember when a similar game was happening and was very popular especially among teenagers and it worried me sick imagining the sickos taking advantage of the young and the lonely. And there were certainly lots of unsavoury characters hanging around just waiting pounce but could any of them be responsible for what has happened to Rachel?
This is a compelling story about culpability and it’s affect on relationships. Cleo feels guilty about everything that has happened to Rachel and struggles to overcome those feelings even when faced with the truth about the situation she now finds herself in. But why is the past repeating itself and can anyone stop it before it’s too late? It’s game on but this may be one game where the winner DOESN’T take it all!
I loved All The Wicked Games and found it a compelling page turner, full of all the shocks we have all come to love and expect in our psychological thrillers nowadays. Toxicity flows from Lauren Norths words and I loved mopping it up! Highly recommended by me!
April 16, 2022
OMG.
Right, so I am not sure where to start with this review, but I guess the first thing I will say is it is BRILLIANT!
I have read previous books by Lauren North, and they have kept me transfixed. This was no different, with the added twists and turns that kept me second-guessing at every turn!
Cleo's best friend is reported missing, just as she is due to leave for her next job on a cruise ship.
A best friend she hasn't spoken to for five years.
Still, Rachel was her best friend, and since her sister is so worried and there is some pretty grim backstory to their severed friendship, she heads off to London to see what she can find out.
Honestly, I thought I knew what was going on, then something else would get thrown into the mix, making me double myself, then I'd be sure again, and the same thing would happen again.
But, put it this way, it wasn't until right near the end when I worked it out, a few sentences before it was spelt out to me!
There are several disturbed characters in this book, including our main ones, too. Hence the difficulty in guessing. But that is exactly what you want from a psychological thriller and I got that in spadefuls!
As I said before, BRILLIANT!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and Penguin for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Right, so I am not sure where to start with this review, but I guess the first thing I will say is it is BRILLIANT!
I have read previous books by Lauren North, and they have kept me transfixed. This was no different, with the added twists and turns that kept me second-guessing at every turn!
Cleo's best friend is reported missing, just as she is due to leave for her next job on a cruise ship.
A best friend she hasn't spoken to for five years.
Still, Rachel was her best friend, and since her sister is so worried and there is some pretty grim backstory to their severed friendship, she heads off to London to see what she can find out.
Honestly, I thought I knew what was going on, then something else would get thrown into the mix, making me double myself, then I'd be sure again, and the same thing would happen again.
But, put it this way, it wasn't until right near the end when I worked it out, a few sentences before it was spelt out to me!
There are several disturbed characters in this book, including our main ones, too. Hence the difficulty in guessing. But that is exactly what you want from a psychological thriller and I got that in spadefuls!
As I said before, BRILLIANT!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and Penguin for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2022
Absolutely loved this one. It had me gripped from the very start. The story is told from multiple POV’s and goes back and forth in timelines as we slowly learn more about what happened 5 years ago.
There was so much tension, when I reached the end of a chapter I had to keep reading to find out more.
Each time I thought I had it figured out something else would happen. There was so many twists and turns.
This was my first read by this author I’m definitely going to be reading others as this one was great. Definitely recommend adding this to your TBR!
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Penguin Books for having me on the tour and for my gifted copy of the book.
There was so much tension, when I reached the end of a chapter I had to keep reading to find out more.
Each time I thought I had it figured out something else would happen. There was so many twists and turns.
This was my first read by this author I’m definitely going to be reading others as this one was great. Definitely recommend adding this to your TBR!
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Penguin Books for having me on the tour and for my gifted copy of the book.
May 4, 2022
Thank you to the publishers for my advance copy. Lauren North is a favourite of mine and her latest book is as good if not better than her others. A nail-biting ride, it tells the story of two bored girls who pass the time online of CamChat, fooling other members into making fools of themselves. But Rachel is more deeply imbedded in it than Cleo and when their spiteful schoolgirlish games backfire, it is Rachel who suffers the most. Five years later Rachel has disappeared after going back on CamChat, and Cleo is determined to find her old friend before it's too late. Because Rachel has been taken. It's terrifying!
May 8, 2022
Wow! A deliciously dark and thrilling read that gets under your skin and keeps you guessing until the very end. I absolutely loved it!
Out in August and thriller readers will love it! Thanks so much for the advance copy!😍
Out in August and thriller readers will love it! Thanks so much for the advance copy!😍
May 21, 2024
Thrilling
May 16, 2025
Quite enjoyed the premise of this one. I did figure out who the villain was pretty early on but still enjoyed how we go to the reveal.
July 4, 2022
I’ve read all of Lauren North’s books, so this is the fourth book. A little different for this one, as the others have tended to be family orientated with ‘mum’ being the main protagonist. The two main characters in this book are younger and single. The best of friends, they shared the same ambitions to become make-up artists. Working on the makeup counter in the local department store was just a stop-gap until the right opportunity came along. They shared the same rental accommodation – a 1 room bed-sit each in a multi-occupation house with a shared kitchen. They didn’t have much, they struggled to make ends meet and certainly Rachel at least, was bored in her shop job.
A bored and frustrated mind can make for mischief though, and Rachel got her kicks from spending time in chat rooms winding people up. It was all a game at first to while away the evenings when they had no money to go out, but then things began to go wrong.
The book starts out in the present with Cleo taking some time out from her job on a cruise ship to try to help find out what happened to Rachel, who she hasn’t seen for five years when they fell out over the consequences of their internet games. Cleo is mainly riddled with guilt over what happened back then, but we the reader have no idea why. As Cleo searches for clues as to where Rachel might be, the book goes back and forth in time to what happened leading up to the incident 5 years ago and what is going on now.
Very twisty, very tense, this book keeps you turning the pages. The characters are perhaps not that likeable but it all adds to the mystery and the tension. There was an anxious atmosphere throughout the book with the supporting characters not always that trustworthy, as the reader you could never be sure they were being honest. It all reaches a tense and climactic ending that certainly took me by surprise. Another thrilling read from this author.
A bored and frustrated mind can make for mischief though, and Rachel got her kicks from spending time in chat rooms winding people up. It was all a game at first to while away the evenings when they had no money to go out, but then things began to go wrong.
The book starts out in the present with Cleo taking some time out from her job on a cruise ship to try to help find out what happened to Rachel, who she hasn’t seen for five years when they fell out over the consequences of their internet games. Cleo is mainly riddled with guilt over what happened back then, but we the reader have no idea why. As Cleo searches for clues as to where Rachel might be, the book goes back and forth in time to what happened leading up to the incident 5 years ago and what is going on now.
Very twisty, very tense, this book keeps you turning the pages. The characters are perhaps not that likeable but it all adds to the mystery and the tension. There was an anxious atmosphere throughout the book with the supporting characters not always that trustworthy, as the reader you could never be sure they were being honest. It all reaches a tense and climactic ending that certainly took me by surprise. Another thrilling read from this author.
June 13, 2022
An enjoyable read, for those that prefer light ‘murder mystery’ style fiction.
Whilst the ending was a bit predictable, I really enjoyed the pace and setting of this book. I was immediately drawn in by the style of writing and the short chapters that pulled you into reading ‘just one more!’
Told across two timelines, 5 years ago and now and from Cleo and Rachel’s point of view. You can help but get swept along in these girls lives and how they ended up making such bad choices. Their lifestyle and friendship is relatable and you can’t help rooting for them to just do better/try harder.
I can’t say I warmed to either of the girls. I think the author intended me to like Cleo but I couldn’t help feeling that they were both very ‘cut-throat’ in their attitudes to love, work and friendship. It’s the kind of friendship that requires one person to be more invested than the other as without that I think they’d have become enemies.
I thought that the first half of the book gained quite a good pace but was let down by the second where it kind of plateaued towards the final twist and epilogue. There’s quite a lot of red flags dotted throughout the book that unfortunately (for me) meant I was able to work a lot of the story out before I reached the end. Plus because I worked out so much I couldn’t help feeling frustrated by Cleo not paying attention to what’s infront of her of spending enough time truly considering the clues or her options.
All in all it’s a great read but for me it lacked the ‘wow factor’ at the end. I’d certainly read another by this author as I like her writing style.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Whilst the ending was a bit predictable, I really enjoyed the pace and setting of this book. I was immediately drawn in by the style of writing and the short chapters that pulled you into reading ‘just one more!’
Told across two timelines, 5 years ago and now and from Cleo and Rachel’s point of view. You can help but get swept along in these girls lives and how they ended up making such bad choices. Their lifestyle and friendship is relatable and you can’t help rooting for them to just do better/try harder.
I can’t say I warmed to either of the girls. I think the author intended me to like Cleo but I couldn’t help feeling that they were both very ‘cut-throat’ in their attitudes to love, work and friendship. It’s the kind of friendship that requires one person to be more invested than the other as without that I think they’d have become enemies.
I thought that the first half of the book gained quite a good pace but was let down by the second where it kind of plateaued towards the final twist and epilogue. There’s quite a lot of red flags dotted throughout the book that unfortunately (for me) meant I was able to work a lot of the story out before I reached the end. Plus because I worked out so much I couldn’t help feeling frustrated by Cleo not paying attention to what’s infront of her of spending enough time truly considering the clues or her options.
All in all it’s a great read but for me it lacked the ‘wow factor’ at the end. I’d certainly read another by this author as I like her writing style.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 10, 2022
I raced through All the Wicked Games by Lauren North. It’s definitely one of the most gripping crime novels I’ve read this year. There is so much tension in this book that kept me flicking through the pages at breakneck speed. Every time I reached the end of a chapter; I had to keep reading on to find out what was going to happen.
When Cleo reports her friend, Rachel, missing to the police, the police take very little interest in her concerns; they believe that Rachel has just gone on holiday and will be home soon, although there is one detective who has some concern. But Cleo is adamant that something terrible has happened to Rachel and when the police won’t help her, she begins to investigate on her own, and begins to find information about her friend that she never knew before.
I felt so frustrated for Cleo when she couldn’t get the police to take Rachel’s case seriously. You can see how determined she is to make sure that Rachel is okay. You really get the sense that there is something sinister going on here, especially as Cleo begins to delve into Rachel’s recent past and what she was getting up to.
As Lauren North begins to reveal more about Cleo and Rachel, we learn about something horrific that has happened in their past, something they have both struggled to move on from. The revelation of what took place added to the tension, as Cleo desperately tries to track Rachel down. I really wanted to know what had happened to Rachel, even though everyone else seemed to believe that she would turn up in a few days time, this made me feel more sure that something terrible had happened. The novel takes an even darker turn as Cleo delves deeper into her friend’s life. It’s a novel that makes you think of how far you would go to protect and help your friends.
I did not suspect at all, the direction which Lauren North took the book. I was stunned as I got to the final chapters, but everything did make a lot of sense as the book reached its conclusion. Lauren wrote these scenes so, so well, and I was hooked on every word. I thought the ending was cleverly done and it was so chilling.
I’m certain that All the Wicked Games will be one of my favourite reads of the year. This is the perfect book to take with you if you’ve got a long journey ahead, as you’ll be kept gripped and thoroughly entertained. I really enjoyed this book.
When Cleo reports her friend, Rachel, missing to the police, the police take very little interest in her concerns; they believe that Rachel has just gone on holiday and will be home soon, although there is one detective who has some concern. But Cleo is adamant that something terrible has happened to Rachel and when the police won’t help her, she begins to investigate on her own, and begins to find information about her friend that she never knew before.
I felt so frustrated for Cleo when she couldn’t get the police to take Rachel’s case seriously. You can see how determined she is to make sure that Rachel is okay. You really get the sense that there is something sinister going on here, especially as Cleo begins to delve into Rachel’s recent past and what she was getting up to.
As Lauren North begins to reveal more about Cleo and Rachel, we learn about something horrific that has happened in their past, something they have both struggled to move on from. The revelation of what took place added to the tension, as Cleo desperately tries to track Rachel down. I really wanted to know what had happened to Rachel, even though everyone else seemed to believe that she would turn up in a few days time, this made me feel more sure that something terrible had happened. The novel takes an even darker turn as Cleo delves deeper into her friend’s life. It’s a novel that makes you think of how far you would go to protect and help your friends.
I did not suspect at all, the direction which Lauren North took the book. I was stunned as I got to the final chapters, but everything did make a lot of sense as the book reached its conclusion. Lauren wrote these scenes so, so well, and I was hooked on every word. I thought the ending was cleverly done and it was so chilling.
I’m certain that All the Wicked Games will be one of my favourite reads of the year. This is the perfect book to take with you if you’ve got a long journey ahead, as you’ll be kept gripped and thoroughly entertained. I really enjoyed this book.
August 11, 2022
Rating 3.5 stars
An enjoyable but slightly predictable read!
Cleo is about to board the cruise ship she works on when she receives a frantic phone call telling her that her friend Rachel is missing! Once upon a time Cleo and Rachel were the very best of friends, but it’s clear early on in this story that something bad happened as they’ve not seen each other for five years.
Cleo feels guilty about how things were left between them so she heads back to her old home to help search for Rachel. Seeing people from her past stirs up all kinds of memories and emotions for Cleo and when she finds out that Rachel had been playing a certain game before she disappeared – a game that got them into trouble years ago- she is extremely concerned about her friend’s whereabouts.
This book drew me in from the start. There are many teasing bits of information provided to hold your interest and I was certainly intrigued. I really enjoyed the dual timeline so we could read about now when Cleo is searching for Rachel and five years ago when they were the best of friends.
It was as we hit the twists and turns that I started to predict things, and as my predictions were predominantly correct I found myself feeling a bit underwhelmed. Although I do quite like being right with my guesses in books, sometimes I much prefer being shocked and surprised. Don’t get me wrong there are a few characters in this story that could’ve been the culprit and I didn’t really trust any of them, but the story just seemed to play out exactly as I thought it would.
Overall I did enjoy this story, it is well written and it held my attention throughout. I do also love how it ended.
A story full of secrets, lies and betrayal with a chilling edge to it! Thank you to Lauren North, Penguin & NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.
An enjoyable but slightly predictable read!
Cleo is about to board the cruise ship she works on when she receives a frantic phone call telling her that her friend Rachel is missing! Once upon a time Cleo and Rachel were the very best of friends, but it’s clear early on in this story that something bad happened as they’ve not seen each other for five years.
Cleo feels guilty about how things were left between them so she heads back to her old home to help search for Rachel. Seeing people from her past stirs up all kinds of memories and emotions for Cleo and when she finds out that Rachel had been playing a certain game before she disappeared – a game that got them into trouble years ago- she is extremely concerned about her friend’s whereabouts.
This book drew me in from the start. There are many teasing bits of information provided to hold your interest and I was certainly intrigued. I really enjoyed the dual timeline so we could read about now when Cleo is searching for Rachel and five years ago when they were the best of friends.
It was as we hit the twists and turns that I started to predict things, and as my predictions were predominantly correct I found myself feeling a bit underwhelmed. Although I do quite like being right with my guesses in books, sometimes I much prefer being shocked and surprised. Don’t get me wrong there are a few characters in this story that could’ve been the culprit and I didn’t really trust any of them, but the story just seemed to play out exactly as I thought it would.
Overall I did enjoy this story, it is well written and it held my attention throughout. I do also love how it ended.
A story full of secrets, lies and betrayal with a chilling edge to it! Thank you to Lauren North, Penguin & NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.
September 9, 2022
This is my second novel by Lauren North and it made for a really good read.
The blurb reads
"Are you ready to play?
Best friends Cleo and Rachel spend their evenings pretending to be people they're not, inventing elaborate stories to escape the monotony of their real lives. It's all harmless fun - until they play the game on the wrong person...
It's your move now.
Five years later, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. And then she receives a text: Rachel is missing. Have you seen her?
There's only one person to blame.
Wracked with guilt for failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Only this time, they're caught up in a far darker game.
The rules don't matter when the goal is revenge."
Best friends Rachel and Cleo work and live together and in the evenings they make up stories whilst chatting with strangers via the internet. One night doing this completely ruins their relationship and their friendship is left in ruins. We are then in the present day, but 5 years have gone by and Cleo is trying to move on with her life and is on board a cruise ship working.
One day Cleo receives a text stating that Rachel is missing and this sets off a series of events that was incredibly interesting to read about. It was quite disturbing in parts, but I do enjoy how Lauren North writes and how she navigates the story into something extremely suspenseful.
A good thrilling novel by author Lauren North that will keep you up late into the evening, as you just need to find out what happened to their friendship and why is Rachel missing.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Lauren North and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
The blurb reads
"Are you ready to play?
Best friends Cleo and Rachel spend their evenings pretending to be people they're not, inventing elaborate stories to escape the monotony of their real lives. It's all harmless fun - until they play the game on the wrong person...
It's your move now.
Five years later, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. And then she receives a text: Rachel is missing. Have you seen her?
There's only one person to blame.
Wracked with guilt for failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Only this time, they're caught up in a far darker game.
The rules don't matter when the goal is revenge."
Best friends Rachel and Cleo work and live together and in the evenings they make up stories whilst chatting with strangers via the internet. One night doing this completely ruins their relationship and their friendship is left in ruins. We are then in the present day, but 5 years have gone by and Cleo is trying to move on with her life and is on board a cruise ship working.
One day Cleo receives a text stating that Rachel is missing and this sets off a series of events that was incredibly interesting to read about. It was quite disturbing in parts, but I do enjoy how Lauren North writes and how she navigates the story into something extremely suspenseful.
A good thrilling novel by author Lauren North that will keep you up late into the evening, as you just need to find out what happened to their friendship and why is Rachel missing.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Lauren North and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
September 30, 2022
This is one gripping, engrossing read that will keep your attention from start to finish. What happened 5 years earlier? Rachel and Cleo had been friends for years, they didn’t have a great deal of money, they each rented a room in the same house, so spent a lot of time together. But the become bored and decide to go on a website called CamChat they enjoy fooling people on it, whilst also making fools of themselves. Cleo left 5 years earlier after something bad happened to the girls from this site. Cleo couldn’t stay around any longer she decides it’s time to move on, she is now working on a cruise ship. But then she gets a call from Rachel’s sister telling her Rachel is missing. Does Cleo go and help find her friend or does she continue on to her next cruise?
The story is told from the points of view of both Rachel and Cleo in the now and five years earlier. It’s only as you read on that you gradually find out what had happened back then. But can Cleo find her friend now? Someone has pretended to be Cleo and sent texts to Rachel, who is messing with them.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this psychological thriller, it clearly shows how vulnerable you can be when using the internet. Are you really talking to the picture of the person on your screen, or is it someone out to get you? What started out for Cleo and Rachel as harmless fun when they first started but then they took things too far. Which caused several problems and dangers.
Cleo seemed to be the more level headed of the two girls, she told Rachel they needed to stop with the website but Rachel seemed addicted to it, despite telling Cleo she had stopped she clearly hadn’t. That cost them there friendship.
The suspense grabs you from start to finish, I just couldn’t put the book down as I did that I will just read one more chapter which led to a few more chapters. If you like a good psychological thriller then grab yourself a copy of this, you will not be disappointed.
I would like to thank the publishers @penguinrandom for a gifted copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
The story is told from the points of view of both Rachel and Cleo in the now and five years earlier. It’s only as you read on that you gradually find out what had happened back then. But can Cleo find her friend now? Someone has pretended to be Cleo and sent texts to Rachel, who is messing with them.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this psychological thriller, it clearly shows how vulnerable you can be when using the internet. Are you really talking to the picture of the person on your screen, or is it someone out to get you? What started out for Cleo and Rachel as harmless fun when they first started but then they took things too far. Which caused several problems and dangers.
Cleo seemed to be the more level headed of the two girls, she told Rachel they needed to stop with the website but Rachel seemed addicted to it, despite telling Cleo she had stopped she clearly hadn’t. That cost them there friendship.
The suspense grabs you from start to finish, I just couldn’t put the book down as I did that I will just read one more chapter which led to a few more chapters. If you like a good psychological thriller then grab yourself a copy of this, you will not be disappointed.
I would like to thank the publishers @penguinrandom for a gifted copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
May 18, 2022
Full review on my blog, 29th August 2022: https://inkandplasma.com/2022/08/29/a...
Character - 8
Atmosphere - 9
Writing - 6
Plot - 9
Intrigue - 10
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 9
Rating: 8.43 / 4 stars
--
I requested this one on a total whim while I was on a marathon thriller kick. I’m really glad that I did. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this half as much as I did, and I read the majority of it in one sitting. For all my sins, when I was a teenager I spent far too long on online chatting sites, so the ‘game’ that Rachel and Cleo played was both realistic and horrifying to me. The atmosphere of this book was unbelievably tense, making me increasingly anxious as Cleo tried to find her ex-best friend, the intense feeling of being watched coming through the text in a visceral way. That atmospheric feeling only got stronger as I got further in the book, and it builds to a crescendo in a fantastic way.
ALL THE WICKED GAMES has a past and present timeline, the present being Cleo searching for Rachel and the past being the events that led up to their friendship fracturing event. I liked the way that these were balanced. I didn’t feel like either storyline was being forgotten, and the way that we were fed information meant that I could start piecing together what was going on using both storylines as clues. Even with those clues, I was never quite sure what was going to happen next, and I loved how wrong-footed I felt during the last half of this book. I raced through to the ending so fast because I needed answers before I could sleep.
This is the only time I’ve ever regretted reading one of my ARCs so far in advance – because now I desperately need to talk about the ending of this book but I don’t know a single person who’s read it yet as of writing this review in May. The ending hit me like a punch, and no matter how much I thought I had unravelled of the mystery at the heart of this thriller, it still had more to shock me with. This is a pretty quick read, with all my favourite parts of the psychological thriller genre wound together in an impressive and unsettling way.
Character - 8
Atmosphere - 9
Writing - 6
Plot - 9
Intrigue - 10
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 9
Rating: 8.43 / 4 stars
--
I requested this one on a total whim while I was on a marathon thriller kick. I’m really glad that I did. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this half as much as I did, and I read the majority of it in one sitting. For all my sins, when I was a teenager I spent far too long on online chatting sites, so the ‘game’ that Rachel and Cleo played was both realistic and horrifying to me. The atmosphere of this book was unbelievably tense, making me increasingly anxious as Cleo tried to find her ex-best friend, the intense feeling of being watched coming through the text in a visceral way. That atmospheric feeling only got stronger as I got further in the book, and it builds to a crescendo in a fantastic way.
ALL THE WICKED GAMES has a past and present timeline, the present being Cleo searching for Rachel and the past being the events that led up to their friendship fracturing event. I liked the way that these were balanced. I didn’t feel like either storyline was being forgotten, and the way that we were fed information meant that I could start piecing together what was going on using both storylines as clues. Even with those clues, I was never quite sure what was going to happen next, and I loved how wrong-footed I felt during the last half of this book. I raced through to the ending so fast because I needed answers before I could sleep.
This is the only time I’ve ever regretted reading one of my ARCs so far in advance – because now I desperately need to talk about the ending of this book but I don’t know a single person who’s read it yet as of writing this review in May. The ending hit me like a punch, and no matter how much I thought I had unravelled of the mystery at the heart of this thriller, it still had more to shock me with. This is a pretty quick read, with all my favourite parts of the psychological thriller genre wound together in an impressive and unsettling way.
September 10, 2022
⚠️ TW: mental health, alcoholism, drug abuse, assault, suicide attempt, murder ⚠️ This book was an absolute mind blower! 🤯 This book follows best friends Cleo and Rachel who spend their evenings pretending to be people they're not and inventing elaborate stories for escape the monotony of their real lives. They think it's all harmless fun, until they play their game with the wrong person. And five years on, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. Then she receives a text saying Rachel is missing and she knows there is only one person to blame. Wracked with guilt from failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Wow this book had me hooked from the beginning and I could have easily binged it in a single sitting! I absolutely loved everything about it from the alternating pov's between Cleo and Rachel to the alternating timelines from 5 years ago and now which weaved such a great storyline leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for you to piece together. It's one of those books that is hard to review without giving spoilers but it is such a great fast paced, enthralling read that will keep you guessing until the very end. The only reason I dropped it down a star is because I didn't feel the characters had much depth, in particular Cleo and Rachel, so at times I did get a bit confused about who I was reading about but in all honesty that could just be a me problem but it did effect the flow a little. Overall though I loved this read and highly recommend it!
May 24, 2022
This is my second Lauren North book and it was an excellent story which really held my attention.
All The Wicked Games tells the story of Cleo and Rachel, two young girls, living life together, broke but happy. In order to amuse themselves whilst staying home and saving money they come across CamChat, an on-line chat site where, generally, lonely (or perverted) people chat on camera. In order to spice things up Cleo and Rachel re-invent themselves as different characters each time they chat and lead some individuals on little realising how dangerous the game can become.
When years later Rachel goes missing, Cleo knows she must return to her old life in order to try and save her friend.
The story is told over joint timelines from Cleo's and Rachel's initial friendship and life to the present day where Rachel is missing. This is one of those books which will keeping you read just one more chapter until you are 80% done and need to know how it ends.
The only slight downside for me was that the ending was slightly predictable. I am a mystery writers dream reader as I never see twists coming however I spotted this one fairly early on which slightly dampened the ending for me. I prefer to be caught out than to be right!
Having said that, the book was well written, well-paced and a really enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All The Wicked Games tells the story of Cleo and Rachel, two young girls, living life together, broke but happy. In order to amuse themselves whilst staying home and saving money they come across CamChat, an on-line chat site where, generally, lonely (or perverted) people chat on camera. In order to spice things up Cleo and Rachel re-invent themselves as different characters each time they chat and lead some individuals on little realising how dangerous the game can become.
When years later Rachel goes missing, Cleo knows she must return to her old life in order to try and save her friend.
The story is told over joint timelines from Cleo's and Rachel's initial friendship and life to the present day where Rachel is missing. This is one of those books which will keeping you read just one more chapter until you are 80% done and need to know how it ends.
The only slight downside for me was that the ending was slightly predictable. I am a mystery writers dream reader as I never see twists coming however I spotted this one fairly early on which slightly dampened the ending for me. I prefer to be caught out than to be right!
Having said that, the book was well written, well-paced and a really enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2022
All the wicked games is oh so wickedly brilliant. Utterly brilliant. I opened this book and lost a day as I couldn’t put it down. Hardly daring to breathe, I felt as though the kidnapper was right there behind me, watching me. I was there in the story and in the bed sits the girls used to live in. At least Cleo used to live in. Before she moved on. Rachel was still there, living their lives of five years ago in her head. Or was she?
The deception, twists and turns and sheer dark twistedness (I’m not sure that’s a real word!) had me hooked. I felt in danger even though I wasn’t, and that is the sign for me of a brilliant novel. If you’re there, part of it, wondering if you should breathe, it’s done it’s job. It delivered that and more. I love Lauren North’s books and this was the extra step into the world of twisted. Excellent. I’d not only recommend it, but say if you enjoy crime thriller and you don’t read this you’re missing out hugely! The speed of the story gets faster and faster until you want to grip on to something, anything, to stop yourself being dragged right into the darkness of All The Wicked Games. But you daren’t. Not with this don’t look away story, as it’s gathering speed. Oh my goodness!!
Did I say it was brilliant?
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
The deception, twists and turns and sheer dark twistedness (I’m not sure that’s a real word!) had me hooked. I felt in danger even though I wasn’t, and that is the sign for me of a brilliant novel. If you’re there, part of it, wondering if you should breathe, it’s done it’s job. It delivered that and more. I love Lauren North’s books and this was the extra step into the world of twisted. Excellent. I’d not only recommend it, but say if you enjoy crime thriller and you don’t read this you’re missing out hugely! The speed of the story gets faster and faster until you want to grip on to something, anything, to stop yourself being dragged right into the darkness of All The Wicked Games. But you daren’t. Not with this don’t look away story, as it’s gathering speed. Oh my goodness!!
Did I say it was brilliant?
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
September 24, 2022
Are you ready to play?
Best friends Cleo and Rachel spend their evenings pretending to be people they're not, inventing elaborate stories to escape the monotony of their real lives. It's all harmless fun - until they play the game on the wrong person...
It's your move now.
Five years later, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. And then she receives a text: Rachel is missing. Have you seen her?
There's only one person to blame.
Wracked with guilt for failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Only this time, they're caught up in a far darker game.
The rules don't matter when the goal is revenge.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
Best friends Cleo and Rachel spend their evenings pretending to be people they're not, inventing elaborate stories to escape the monotony of their real lives. It's all harmless fun - until they play the game on the wrong person...
It's your move now.
Five years later, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. And then she receives a text: Rachel is missing. Have you seen her?
There's only one person to blame.
Wracked with guilt for failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Only this time, they're caught up in a far darker game.
The rules don't matter when the goal is revenge.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
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