Ten years ago, Rebecca finally managed to get away from her abusive partner Solomon and start a new life. Now mother to young Lottie and wife to veterinarian Sean she lives a peaceful existence in the Welsh countryside belying her traumatic past, which she has successfully hidden from her family. Her life is about to change when Solomon is released from prison after serving ten years for murder. Rebecca knows that it won’t be long until he will come to find her – and seek revenge. But even Rebecca could not have foreseen what Solomon has in store for her. To save herself and her family, she must become a player in a twisted game he has devised specially for her. For every year of his prison sentence, Rebecca must choose a victim for a crime Solomon has planned, and witness it unfold – and therefore become an accomplice in his crimes.

In a market saturated with crime novels, it is difficult to come across an original idea that has not been explored before. In Witness, Mitchell has found the one element that makes her novel unique – the game Solomon plays with Rebecca to get his revenge for ten years in prison after she betrayed him and handed him over to the authorities. I loved the premise of the story, which makes Rebecca an accomplice in Solomon’s crimes, simply by being forced to choose the victims. Very clever! The idea is both confronting as well as thought provoking: would you choose your victims from amongst your enemies so you can justify that they will only get what they deserve? How sweet is revenge, really, when it comes down to it? There is so much potential in this idea and the ethical and moral dilemmas arising from it, it could have served as the single element of the whole story and still succeeded in keeping the reader’s interest. If only Rebecca had been a character I could have liked, wanted to understand, care for! Which is exactly where the novel failed for me – as hard as I tried (and I really did), I could not empathise with any of the characters. Despite insightful descriptions of domestic abuse that would make anyone’s skin crawl, Rebecca remained an enigma to me, and I never quite understood her motives or the torment she would / should have felt when confronted with her abusive former boyfriend once again. Solomon, the ultimate sociopath, was such a stereotype that his chapters didn’t ring true for me, and the book would have worked better if it had excluded his POV altogether.

I really wanted to like this book, because it had so much potential to be great, and Mitchell definitely knows how to write and build suspense. On self-reflection, I don’t think that I judge a book simply by whether I like the characters. I think I can deal with unlikeable protagonists, for example Paul Morris in Sabine Durrant’s Lie With Me, as long as I can relate to them, picture them as flesh and blood beings in my head until the acquire a life of their own, infiltrating my very being whilst the story plays out in my mind. Unfortunately, this never happened for me here. The one thing that kept me reading on, and pick the book up time and time again when I had vowed to give up on it, was the brilliance of Solomon’s “game”, which intrigued me until its final conclusion.

I realise that I am definitely in the minority here, my twin stars drowned by a tidal wave of 5-star reviews, which just goes to show that readers are individuals, with different tastes, preferences, likes and dislikes. This is why everyone should take my review with a grain of salt, and just as it has been intended – as my personal opinion only.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

If something appears to be too good to be true then it normally is, but when you are at a low point in life you sometimes grab at any form of affection, just to feel something other than despair. Rebecca only had her mum whom she loved very much but since she was in hospital with cancer, Rebecca spent all of her time with her. The diagnosis wasn't promising in fact the inevitable was very inevitable, so meeting the very attentive Solomon Kemp was some thing that didn't happen to people like Rebecca. But it had. When Rebecca's mum dies suddenly Solomon, soon to be Rebecca's fiance, steps in but in time what had been caring is now smothering and the only life she has is the one Solomon allows. It ends in tragedy when one of Rebecca's teacher co workers is brutally stabbed to death and Solomon is sentenced to prison for 10 years. This is Rebecca's chance to start again but when you least expect it the past has an habit of turning up to dance around and nip at your ankles. Solomon is back and he wants to play, he wants payment for every year he was in prison. Rebecca must be witness to a series of crimes, each one worse then the one before and she must chose the victim!

Caroline Mitchell has excelled in this genre of psychological thriller bringing a tense and gripping novel to her ever growing band of followers. It is a truly wicked read in every possible way. As she introduces you to the worst sort of mind games ever. Oh what implications can this have, how do you ever forgive yourself never mind seek forgiveness from others for the choices that you make.

This story is told by Solomon and Rebecca in the past and in present time but what I really loved was an insight into a journal that Rebecca kept at the time of the original abuse. This really takes you into the damaged mind of the victim, brilliant touch. My feelings for certain characters changed as I read this book, it was definitely mind games for me too!

I wish to thank NetGalley and Caroline Mitchell for the invitation to read and review this novel.

Shock and surprises right to the very end. A very different story to any I have ever read

I'm so glad my fellow bloggers convinced me to pick up this title, because this newest psychological thriller by Caroline Mitchell turned out to be another more than excellent read that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Due to its well written prose, full-speed pace, intriguing plot and many, many plot twists, I literally flew through the pages of Witness and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Sure, the main character Rebecca isn't exactly reliable and I'm not sure I actually like her. Sure, I don't exactly agree with the things see did. But that suspense, those twists! The plot is without doubt very original and you probably won't see the ending coming. I kind of suspected something was a bit off, but definitely not THAT. If you are looking for your next suspense-packed psychological thriller, Witness is surely an excellent choice!

Witness by Caroline Mitchell tells the story of Rebecca who is trapped in a nightmare. Someone from her past is back in her life determined to make her suffer as a way of taking his revenge on her. Rebecca’s testimony is what put Solomon in prison. As a way of punishing her, he forces her to witness ten crimes with a threat that she will be killed if she reports any of these crimes.

The book started out a bit slow for me but once the crimes started, I just couldn’t put it down. It was interesting yet frightening waiting to see what kind of crime Solomon would pick and the victims that Rebecca was forced to choose. The crimes were all different and seemingly random so it was hard to predict what would happen next.

The story is narrated through two timelines. We get to learn about Rebecca and Solomon from the time that they met to when the relationship fell apart. I liked how the author used Rebecca’s diary to narrate about the past. I kept looking forward to the diary entries to find out what happened between the two. Apart from the diary entries, there were text messages that added to the tension in the book. I kept dreading the texts while looking forward to them at the same time. The use of dual narrative by Rebecca and Solomon was brilliant. As usual (don’t ask why), I found myself intrigued by the darker narrations. They were frightening but intriguing at the same time.

What I really liked…

I thought I had figured out the whole book. It seemed pretty straight forward but then again, the writer managed to really surprise me with a major twist/reveal towards the end. The twist made the whole book way creepier although it was already creepy enough. This brought the book to a chilling but brilliant ending.

Witness by Caroline Mitchell is definitely a thriller that I recommend to all fans of this genre. The book is quite fast-paced with a unique premise. In addition, the story is narrated in short chapters with each ending with a cliffhanger hence making it hard to put down the book. This is a book about secrets, betrayal, manipulation and all this made it quite a page-turner. If you like domestic noirs, I think that you will like this one!

"One say or another I'm gonna find ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha..."

--Blondie (written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison)

The lyrics of that old song ran through my head almost all the way through this book, which, for the record, I enjoyed. Still, now that I've finished, I'm faced with this question: How do I review a book that's exceptionally well written with a plot that's clever, intriguing and compelling but with a lead character who frustrated the heck out of me?

Let me explain. This is a story about the Rebecca, a victim of domestic abuse, both physical and psychological. Really, I "get" the difficulties victims face in escaping from situations like this and their inability to take charge of their own lives for reasons real or imagined. Rebecca, though, took all that to a whole new level - and in the beginning, I sympathized. But once the story started to pick up steam and she rationalized passing up every opportunity to extricate herself, I just couldn't help but say to myself at almost every turn of events, "Woman, what WERE you thinking?"

For instance, after Rebecca has been pushed beyond the limit of most humans and at one point confronts Solomon, her abuser, she thinks to herself, "I wanted to slap him in the face, to demand he stop this."

Say what? He's committed atrocities against you and darned near everyone you love, and the punishment you think will bring him around is a slap? Gott im Himmel, lady! Nothing short of dismembering his nether-parts and feeding them to pigs would have worked for me - and I don't dare put in print what I'd have done to the rest of him after that!

In the end, though, the review came easily, because I firmly believe reviews should be based on the quality of writing and the complexity, originality and flow of the story - not whether or not characters are "likable" or behave the way I want them to. And on those criteria, the author did a super job. Even when I wanted to shake the stuffing out of Rebecca, I shook my head and kept going - simply because I was totally engrossed and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. And that, my friends, is the essence of any really good book.

As for the plot (a very clever one, I hasten to add), Rebecca has found a new life in Wales with her veterinarian husband and young daughter about 10 years after that uber-controlling fiance, Solomon, was found guilty - based on her testimony - of murdering one of her male co-workers. Solomon went to jail, but now he's out - and suddenly, Rebecca's life is turned upside down. When she's in her bedroom, she hears a phone ringing and follows the sound to find a phone that she didn't put there. The message is frightening at best: Solomon says he will force her to witness 10 crimes - one for each year he spent in jail - and she must choose the victims. The message announcing the first ends (as do the others) with these words: "You are a Silent Witness. Talk to the police and you die."

Chapters switch from character perspective (Rebecca, Solomon, and entries in Rebecca's secret diary) and time period, building up background and leading to an unexpected, and for the most part, satisfying, ending. Well done, highly recommended, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A really, really gripping read and an all too believable dissection of a relationship built on abuse and manipulation but even as a seasoned thriller reader I was gobsmacked by the final twists - bravo to the author for such clever plotting!

This is the third of Caroline Mitchell's novels I've been lucky enough to read, here's to the fourth, fifth, sixth... long may it continue!

A real gripping read ,nthoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish

Having read caroline Mitchell's previous book, the first in a series, I was very much looking forward to this stand alone novel and I was not disappointed! It is gripping from the very first moment and the tension is unremitting to the final page. Whe n the lead character realises that the man she effectively condemned to prison ten years earlier is now out she is fearful for her life, and with reason. She is required to witness punishments meted out to those closest to her. Highly recommended.

Witness is a new stand alone novel by Caroline Mitchell. I would describe this book as a crime thriller with spectacular twists and unexpected shocks. The pace starts fast from the very first page taking you on a roller coaster from beginning to end, not letting up and not letting you put the book down! If you do have to put the book down for mundane “life” things then Rebecca will be in your thoughts, trust me!

Rebecca is the main character and she begins to get texts from her ex boyfriend, Solomon. Solomon just got out of prison for murdering Rebecca’s friend when he was jealous, ten years ago.

The texts begin by threatening Rebecca that she has to be a silent witness in ten crimes. One for each year he was in prison. And Rebecca has to pick the victim.

I’m not going to give away anymore of the plot but this book had me gripped trying to discover each text and victim right until the dramatic end.

I loved the writing in this book because it made me actually believe in the characters and believe in Rebecca. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering when the next text would be and what it would entail. Rebecca is a believable character that you soon empathise with but as the story goes on you start not trusting anyone, or at least I didn’t but I have a suspicious mind.

This is a thrilling page turner and I recommend you read it. However, I also recommend you put your phone on silent or if your phone goes off at the same time Rebecca’s does you might actually get a bit spooked.
Overall I really enjoyed this thriller and can’t wait to read more by this author!

Before I even get halfway through this book, I've fallen asleep countless times. When I have to force myself to get through this, I know this is not for me.

Just could not connect with this book at all. I found the characters to be unrealistic in the extreme and could feel no empathy for the "heroine". The plot was too loose and very contrived. The idea was good but just failed on every other level for me.

o Rebecca it was a brave decision that led to her freedom from domestic abuse. To Solomon it was the ultimate betrayal.

It’s been ten years since Rebecca’s testimony saw Solomon locked away. Enough time for the nightmares to recede, the nerves to relax; enough time to rebuild her life and put the past behind her.

Then one day a phone rings in her bedroom—but it’s not her phone. Solomon has been in her home, and has a very simple message for her: for each of the ten years he has spent in jail, Rebecca must witness a crime. And, to make matters worse, she has to choose the victims.

Fail to respond and you get hurt. Talk to police and you die. Ready to play? You have sixty seconds to decide…

As the crimes grow more severe, the victims closer to home, Rebecca is forced to confront a past she had hoped was gone forever.

One word for this book - SUPERB.

This is the first psychological thriller written by Caroline Mitchell and it's bloody good!

10 years ago the death of her colleague saw Rebecca's partner and tormentor sent to prison for murder. Now he's been released and he's out for revenge...

I really liked that this book was told from both of the main character's point of view as well as the diary extracts sensitively showing how people can slowly be manipulated resulting in psychological, physical, sexual and financial abuse and the very real hopelessness they feel when they want to leave.

Loads of twists, dark and fast-paced. Clear your schedule as you won't want to put it down!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What do you do when you're forced to be a silent witness? Made to witness horrible crimes through fear and control?

Solomon is sinister, creepy man controlling Rebecca in the worst possible way. The more I read about him, the more I detested him! I desperately wanted Rebecca to go to the police and for Solomon to get his comeuppance. But that would not make for a good psychological thriller!

Witness is a classic cat and mouse, mess with the protagonist's head. You wouldn't believe this chilling tale is the author's first psychological thriller! It's totally addictive, I wanted to know what Solomon was going to do next both in the past and the present.

2016 has been incredible with a hat trick of stunning reads from Caroline Mitchell, with The Silent Twin, the third Jennifer Knight novel, Love You To Death, the first Ruby Preston novel and now this dark and twisted psychological thriller! I can't wait to see what Caroline has to offer in 2017!!

Many thanks to the author and Thomas Mercer publishing for my advanced copy of Witness.