I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

*The Pact* by S.E. Lynes is an enthralling, slow-burning character study that explores themes of family loyalty and the lengths we would go to in order to protect our loved ones. The plot unfolds at a measured pace, which may not satisfy readers looking for a fast-paced psychological thriller, but it provides a deep dive into the complexity of its characters and their emotions. The author masterfully builds tension through nuanced relationships and moral dilemmas, making it a gripping read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

What stands out in this novel is its well-crafted characters. Each one is richly developed, and their personal struggles add depth to the story, making it more than just a thriller. The pact itself, as the title suggests, becomes a central focus, and the decisions characters make surrounding it are both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. Overall, *The Pact* is a fantastic read that kept me intrigued, and while not a traditional thriller, it’s a perfect pick for anyone who enjoys a suspenseful exploration of family and loyalty.

What an amazing thriller this had so many twists and turns I felt like I was on a rollercoaster and I love a good plot twist fantastic

I love this authors style of writing and enjoyed my time with them.

I did enjoy my time with this one, however it was slow to start but it did eventually pick up pace which then kept my reader juices going.

Whether I figured out what was happening didn’t sway me from closing the book, I was too far into it by then. I totally didn’t think this was one of her best. The theme wasn’t that unique however she did play with it and made it her own.

I wouldn’t dissuade anyone from reading this as I’m sure you will get a lot out of it.

Brilliant read.. the start was a bit slow and for a while I thought I might give up, but as I have already read 2 other books by this author which were absolutely amazing, I felt it would pick up! And my goodness it did.. my eyes couldn’t move across the pages fast enough. I did kinda guess what was happening but that did not detract from the tension and suspense!

I found this book really hard to get into and never really felt compelled to pick it up. Very slow at the beginning I thought with the main characters not very interesting. I liked the storyline but unfortunately couldn't get invested and the ending was just "What??!" Am I missing something?

Not an awful book just for me a bit boring and slow in places.

This is a well-thought psychological thriller about a tight-knot family of two sisters and one of the sister's daughter. They live together for known and less known reasons - one of the reasons is that Toni is a widow, another that there is a lot of anxiety and care going on. And there are the secrets of the past, too. Toni, scarred by her difficult past, has her 15-year-old daughter on a tight leash. Rosie is a good girl, truly - but she is also young. So her wish to meet a cute boy is only natural, right? But then - why is she currently lying in a hospital, unconscious?

What I like about this novel is how well a tension is built-up. We do know that something happened - but who did what to whom? Also, the mother-daughter relationship is brilliantly written, all the love, yet all the fighting - and finely description of that every one of them is right in their own trying to do what they think is good - and what is simply needed to be done. Their behaviour is backed by their experience (or the lack thereof). And you believe them when they say they love each other. But love is not their blind spot - the trust is. Actually, this motive is simply spot-on, well observed and relevant for the state of many relationships. Good discussion could be held on that topic!

Another finely done aspect - and a good food for thought and debate - is that there is a certain unhealthiness going on in the tight world of the family. I will not say more for the sake of not spoiling - but I certainly think a good therapy could do wonders for all of the females.

As for the mystery - I do think it is a smart one! Although the mystery parts are not as well-thought of as the psychological ones, I could do believe all the scheming behind the curtains - and yes, this setup could well worked in the reality, which is a scary thought.

And let me say this about the last sentence - really, I could either do without it or see this being a part of the plot much sooner.

But having said all that - I have really enjoyed the novel and pages were just flying under my fingers. I will follow this authoress from now on.

This is a great read and a well detailed plot that kept me engaged from the very start.
I really liked the well thought out characters and found them to be believable. I cannot wait to read what the author brings out next.

Two sisters Bridget and Toni made a pact 30 years ago to keep their abusive childhood a secret between the siblings. A pact that they might have to break to save Toni’s 15 year old daughter who is lying unconscious in a hospital bed. Will finally revealing the secret bring them all together or tear them further apart?

The Pact by S.E.Lynes is a slow burning psychological thriller. Told between three different point of views with credible characters it exposes the dangers of social media.

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Very good book. I really enjoyed and will tell others about this author. Will definitely read more from this writer. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest opinion. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

This book was for me a very slow read and to be perfectly honest felt like giving up on it at times. I’m aware it has great reviews but it just didn’t live up to the hype for me. This book improved at about 60% but sadly wasn’t a great read for me.

An unforgettable story, with relatable characters and a very relatable timeline, which especially resonated with me as a mum of a teenager.

This one was pretty good! I enjoyed the twists and the writing. I thought it was a little long and a little slow at the first half. But overall I enjoyed it. Always like a good thriller! Especially with children, makes it that much more intense.

So many fantastic twists and turns and think a lot of people who enjoy psychological thrillers will enjoy this one.

When Rosie wakes up in the hospital, she tries to tell her mother what occurred ... but the words won't come.

Toni is her mom... absolutely worried about her daughter. Mom wants to know why Rosie won't/can't tell her what happened. But is Toni any better? She has her own secrets.

Toni and her sister, Bridget, made a pact thirty-some years ago to never, ever speak about their childhood, not under any circumstances.

(Book Blurb) - But in order to save Rosie, Toni may have to break her lifelong promise to her sister… and open doors to her past she hoped would remain closed forever.

There are four woman at the heart of this tale ... each speaking in alternate chapters... each has their own unique voice and their own perspective.

This is not the first book of this author's I have read. I was a tad disappointed in that it felt like it took forever to get to the meat of the story.

Usually this author's books start with a bang and never lets up. This one .. more like a little pop. That being said, about halfway through the book, things started looking up. The suspense was there, twists and turns kept me riveted to the pages. The characters finally sounded credible. The ending was an unexpected surprise.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Psychological Thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

The Pact

I know by now that picking up a book by S.E. Lynes means a treat but I still wasn’t prepared for how much I’d love this book.

Lynes’ books don’t tend to be fast paced, rather they simmer under you, pieces of a complicated puzzle that have you holding your breath. It’s twisted, tense, gripping and beautifully written. Highly recommended! Five shiny stars.

It is such a slow burn thriller, a combination of present and past events that leads to the opening chapter of Rosie at the hospital, fighting to keep alive. I struggled with this one as it really took its time to pick up, and by then my interest waned a little. Good thing is once it picks up, the suspense builds and continues until the end. That other storyline towards the end was very intriguing and would prefer to have more about it. The alternating POVs of the three characters let the readers know them better. Unexpectedly, they are all relatable and believable, even if not all are likeable. Some things are predictable but there are also some twists that came off as a surprise. Overall, The Pact ends up to be an okay read for me. It may have a slow start but it also got a good finish. A well-written thriller.

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.***

This was a great book. The story was captivating and kept me interested throughout. Can’t wait for more from this author.

This was one heck of an emotional story, on that, as a mother, I can relate to quite a bit. Who wouldn’t do anything within their power to keep their child safe from harm? The problem is that, because of her traumatic childhood, Toni takes her job as protector a little too far. She comes off as overbearing and overprotective more often than not. As you get to know her secret and her past is revealed, you understand why she does what she does. No matter how understandable her actions are, I had a difficult time relating to Toni in the beginning. Only once things began to unravel did I begin to like her.

Rosie is your typical teenage girl. She wants friends, a phone, maybe a boyfriend. But with her hovering mother always checking her messages and forbidding her to use social media, Rosie is left out of so many things. She just wants to fit in with the other kids. So, I wasn’t nearly as appalled as I maybe should have been when she started lying and breaking every rule her mom had ever set.

Bridget, Toni’s sister, is probably the one calming factor in the entire novel. She’s much looser with the rules and works hard to get Toni to bend so that Rosie can have a little fun. That’s not to say that she lets Rosie do whatever she wants, because she’s still careful to make sure she stays safe, but she’s not as restrictive as Toni either.

In the end, I liked how Toni and Bridget faced their combined past and worked together to find Rosie and get her to safety. It shows the special bond of not just mother and daughter, but that of sisters and family as well. The novel does a good job of illustrating the dangers of social media while, at the same time, also showing how being overprotective of your child can backfire in a serious way.

Another brilliant novel by an author that must be watched. I just finished ms Lynes's previous book (Mother) and couldn't wait to get my teeth into this one. And once again I was not disappointed. Well done, can't wait to read the next one!! Recommended.

‘The Pact’ is a fast paced and disturbing read that kept me reading long into the night. With twists, turns and plenty of shocks along the way, this book took me on a rollercoaster of a ride that didn’t let go until the final page had been turned.

SE Lynes is a gifted storyteller, writing a dark and disturbing story that is very relevant to the world we’re living in today. Beautifully written with the depth of emotion I have come to expect from this author, ‘The Pact’ is a brilliant and taut thriller that I highly recommend.

A disturbing 4.5 stars.