Kathryn Croft has become another of those authors that for me are just auto reads and I don’t even bother with the blurbs anymore. The Warning is another psychological thriller that as typical of one of her books that had me engaged from the opening and suspicious of everyone on the pages.

Zoe is a mother who lost her son three years ago and has been dealing with not only her grief but also her husband and surviving son’s. One day Zoe gets a note that tells her she needs to look into Ethan’s death and that things were not what they seemed with the police ruling it a tragic accident.

Everyone Zoe talks to tried to convince her that the warning has to be some kind of sick joke and can’t possibly be true. The boys had sneaked out that night while in Zoe’s care so her guilt has never gone away and now she really needs to find out the truth of just what happened that night even if it means investigating herself.

The story is told from changing the point of view between several different characters with Zoe being the most but there’s also an unknown voice that leads readers onto what had happened. Even with the various voices I found the story easy to follow and hard to trust anyone keeping the pages turning all throughout. Another great read from this author that I’d definitely recommend checking out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A fast-paced story, kept me turning the pages.
A mother’s worst nightmare, the death of a child.
Three years had passed since the tragic accident in the river that took her son Ethan, and his best friend Josh. Out of the blue Zoe receives an email, and then text messages. Who is sending these, and why? Of course she can’t let it pass her by, and she embarks on a quest to find out who, what, why. Her husband Jake, and Josh’s mother Roberta don’t seem as anxious to follow it up which made me more suspicious of all the other cast members.
The characters are very believable and the story was pretty gripping!
I definitely recommend this one if you like a psychological thriller.
All my reviews are quite short and concise as I'm here to show off the book rather than my own writing ability.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest review.

Oh my goodness! This twisty thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way until the very end! Zoe and Jake lost their 14 year old son, Ethan, three years ago, when he snuck out of the house late one night with one of his friends and they both drowned in the nearby river. The loss for the family has been devastating, but at long last, they are finally starting to move forward...when out of the blue, Zoe receives an email that tells her she should be investigating the death of her son...that maybe it wasn't the accident the police assumed it was. As Zoe gets deeper and deeper into the mystery surrounding the death of the two boys, we learn that all is not as it appears...with anyone! The book switches viewpoints with each new chapter--it stays in third person, but gives you a view on a different person in the story each time. Zoe, her husband Jake, their surviving son, Harley, Zoe's best friend, Leanne, the parents of the other boy that drowned, Roberta and Adrian...you learn more about everyone as the story moves along, and you learn that everyone has been keeping secrets, and hiding things from each other, and maybe even from themselves. The characters in this book are fascinating and very complex; the author does a really good job at developing strong characters and helping you to understand the various perspectives, even when you maybe can't relate or be sympathetic. I could not put it down, I had to know what happened. I really felt for several of these characters, and I wanted them to find the closure they needed to move forward. I think this is a very interesting and captivating psychological thriller. I haven't read any other work by this author, but now that I know how good she is, I will have to seek out more of her books. I definitely recommend this book!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Three years ago, best friends Ethan and Josh drowned in a muddy river near their home. There were no witnesses and their deaths were ruled as a terrible accident. Ethan’s family cannot cope with living in the home they all shared together, so they move away. Just as they are starting to get some kind of normality to their lives, Ethan’s mum Zoe receives an email. The email says that she needs to find out the truth about what happened, and no to believe the lie. It is unsigned and Zoe has no idea who would have sent it. As she starts to look into what happened to the boys, she finds her husband isn’t keen to help, and when she visits Josh’s parents she struggles to make them believe her. It’s down to Zoe to find out what really happened to her son and his best friend…

This was one exciting read! The story fell straight into place right from the first page and it continued to pick up pace as the story moved on. I loved Zoe’s character right from the beginning and I felt torn between a mixture of sadness and wanting to shout a rousing ‘you go girl’ every time the story switched to her. This was one determined mum who would go to any lengths to find out what happened to her son, despite receiving no help or being believed. I can’t imagine any mum doing anything any different!

Of course, as the story moved on I just needed to know what on earth was going on! There were just so many questions - who wrote the email, was the boys deaths an accident, why is Zoe’s husband not keen to help her and what is going on with Josh’s parents? Obviously all these are answered as the book continues but there is plenty of suspense and tension before you get to that point. This was definitely a book of lies and secrets!

A heart-breaking story which made me feel uneasy but in a thrilling kind of way!! Lots of twists and turns and it kept me glued to the pages from the very beginning. Would definitely recommend!

Wow! This was my first book by Kathryn Croft and I absolutely loved it. It is a very suspenseful mystery, with tons of twists and turns, and it is literally impossible to put down. I had to read it in two sittings (would've read it in one but life got in the way :)). It kind of reminded me of KL Slater's books a bit (and I love them too!). The story builds, there are plenty of red herrings thrown in there, and then, in the end, there's a big twist. In fact, no, there were two brilliant twists.
I'm not sure whether I really liked any of the characters apart from Zoe but that didn't spoil it for me at all. Croft has a great writing style - the book was so easy to follow and felt quite realistic too. I found it fast paced as well. I am so glad I got to read this as now I know what a fab writer Croft is and I am determined to read all of her books :)
Thank you, Netgalley!

Another brilliant read from Kathryn Croft. It wrings you out emotionally. Two fourteen-year-old boys, Ethan and Josh, drown in the river. Three years afterwards two families and the boys' brother, Harley and their friends are striving to fight off the fallout - the emotional backlash in their own different ways. It puzzled me how two boys could drown unless there was a boat. There wasn't a boat. Surely, a fight between the boys would leave one dead and one alive. "Curiouser and curiouser." Out of the blue, Ethan's mother, Zoe receives cryptic messages intimating that the deaths were suspicious. This opens old wounds. Unable to dismiss this theory, Zoe starts an investigation. A lot of people have withheld crucial information down the years - secrets kept under wraps. Was it an accident or was there a more sinister explanation? It's powerful, tense, emotive and hugely frustrating. Expect to be led many times astray. There are several intriguing sub-plots handled with sensitivity and compassion. It resounds so realistically as you discover the various ways people employ to cope with the situations and attempt to move on - the extraordinary havoc, disruption and changes it causes on so many lives. You feel every vibration of the characters' pain and guilt which makes you bleed with them. This story will stay with me. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

Wow, this book really gripped me from the beginning, I wanted to finish it in one sitting if only I could. Even when I had to put it down I kept thinking about how all those threads will weave together, this is a sign of a really good book. I have read all Kathryn Croft's books and this is her best yet.

The novel is told from different points of view and one anonymous voice talking to us in italics. The reveal of this voice came towards the end and was really shocking. The plot is pacey with plenty of twists and turns, and no space is lost on fillers. The characters are well rounded and I had deep sympathy for Zoe the main the character.

I felt the ending was satisfactory given that this novel is emotional on more than one level, but the author didn't leave any loose ends.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thought provoking psychological thriller. My thanks go to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel. This review is my honest unbiased opinion.

Kathryn Croft is one of my favourite authors and I was soooo excited to see she had a new book out. This book is even better than the rest if that is possible. So deserving of the genre psychological thriller! The ending threw me. I had a few guesses along the way but didn't come close. Wonderful!

I kept thinking I'd sussed it out, wrong again, so enjoyable with all the twists and turns,yet again I couldn't put this one down until it was finished, would recommend to all mystery fans

WoW......Double WoW..............Yet another Fantastic book. Kathryn Croft has done it again!!

I am a big fan of Kathryn's and she never disappoints. As I open her books and I am glued to my seat. Only a loo and coffee break will stop me from reading it!

So "Warning" her latest book was just a brilliant read and was so happy I was approved to read an advance copy.
This book kept me hooked from the first few pages and kept me on the edge of my seat.
It's a great Psychological Thriller that had me guessing until the very end. Plus, when you get to the last few chapters I had to close my mouth! WoW......Didn't see that coming!!!!!

Three years ago, there was a horrible accidient where two teenage boys Ethan and Josh drowned in a local river.
They were found in the early hours of the next day. Ethan was at a sleepover at Josh's house.
However, three years on. Zoe, Ethan's mother received an email out of the blue about the accident and then starts to receive cryptic text messages informing her that is was no accidient that happened between Josh and her son Ethan!

So many questions are going through Zoe's head........

How did her son and Josh drown? Was it an accident?

Was anyone else involved?

Zoe then visits Josh's parents to see if they could remember anything else about this horrible accident.

So many family secrets will come out between both parents. It is a page turner that will have you hooked!

Big 5 golden stars from me! Looking forward to your next book Kathryn Croft! I loved this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Kathryn Croft for my arc of The Warning.

Another exciting psychological thriller from author Kathryn Croft.
This is just what you want from this type of book, excellent storyline that is well paced and believable characters that come to life. Full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.
Three years ago, Zoe's son Ethan was found drowned in a muddy river by their home, along with his best friend Josh. There were no witnesses and their deaths were ruled a tragic accident. With their world shattered, Zoe and her family moved away from their home and started to piece back their lives. They were just starting to get back some normality when Zoe receives an anonymous email. The email tells Zoe that she needs to find out the truth about what happened to her son and not believe the lie.
Zoe starts the hunt for the truth but is surprised by her husbands reaction and Josh's mother's reluctance to believe her. What is the truth and what secrets are waiting to be uncovered.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Within a few chapters after starting this book, I had a bad feeling. Oh no, I said to no one there, not another woman with a bone in her teeth who refuses to let go and can't listen to reason. Now that I've finished, I've changed my attitude to so what? This book is WAY too good to get hung up on a single character (especially one who does, for the most part, have good reasons for being so obstinate). The story is riveting and truly hard to put down; I actually asked my sweet husband to record one of my favorite TV shows so that I could finish the book and watch the show later.

Three years earlier, Zoe Monaghan and her husband, Jake, lost the younger of their two sons. Ethan, age 14, and his best friend Josh somehow fell into a nearby river and drowned after inexplicably sneaking out in the middle of the night; both deaths were deemed accidental. Unable to deal with the emotional upheaval, Zoe, Jake and their remaining son, Harley, move to London, leaving Josh's parents, Roberta and Adrian - who simply can't afford to relocate. At their new location, Jake and his friend Liam are working hard to get their business going, so Jake isn't around to offer much emotional support for his wife and son.

Out of the blue, Zoe - a nurse at at a fertilization clinic - gets an anonymous email claiming that Ethan's death wasn't an accident. While Jake is dismissive (and isn't willing to stir the coals of an old and very destructive fire), Zoe is determined to get to the bottom of the message. She's not sure it isn't a prank at this point, but neither is she willing to disregard it. Ignoring advice from Jake and the local police, she sets out to contact anyone and everyone who knew Ethan and Josh back then to at the very least find out why they went to the river in the first place. By all accounts, Josh is headstrong almost to the point of incorrigible; but her son, she insists, had his head on straight and wouldn't have gone along with anything he felt was wrong.

As time - and more mysterious emails - go along, readers learn that just about everyone involved has secrets (some much darker than others). Some offer clues to the drownings, while others threaten to disrupt the lives of the major characters for totally different reasons. Thrown in the mix are chapters from the perspective of another anonymous character - an apparent stalker of an unknown victim. Who both turn out to be provides yet another twist to a road already filled with unexpected turns.

In short, outstanding - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I absolutely LOVED this novel by Kathryn Croft, I'd never had the pleasure of reading anything by her previously but I am definitely a new found fan! This psycho thriller will keep you on your toes from page one! Thank you Netgalley & Ms. Croft for the opportunity of having an advanced copy in exchanged for an honest review... bottom line GET IT, READ IT! You won’t be sorry.

Two boys aged fourteen years old creep out in the middle of the night.
They are both found dead in the local river the following morning.
Go forward three years, one of the mother's of the dead boys receives a mysterious text which says
IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
This book had me gripped from the very first page. I could not turn the pages fast enough.
The tension was palpable, so many lies and so many secrets.
This author has a unique way of writing, feeding you snippets then taking you in a completely different direction. This is definitely my type of book.
This author is one of my firm favourites. I know that if this author has a new book out I know that it will be special.
A mind blowing psychological thriller. A must read for this genre.
I would like to thank the author Kathryn Croft, Bookouture and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Three years ago Zoe's son, Ethan, drowned in the river along with his best friend. Zoe's family has moved to London for a fresh start but suddenly Zoe receives an email stating that maybe Ethan's death wasn't an accident at all. Zoe's husband, Jake, wants her to ignore it but Zoe feels the pull to find out the truth. Told through multiple pov's, The Warning, will leave you wondering the whole time about what truly happened. Soon old secrets, betrayals, and lies come to the surface leaving Zoe to trust nobody. This book was a fast read, one that I didn't want to put down. I enjoyed every minute of it!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have already read some fantastic books these last few months and this one is one of those that flew straight up to the top of my list.

It's one of those stories where you do not know who to trust and I totally had no idea who I could pin the responsibility on. The whole book through the suspense keeps you company, like a too sticky friend not wanting to let go. The whole time you rack your poor brain and the author keeps pulling rabbits out of her hat. 

This story is heartbreaking, utterly captivating and every page seemed to contain an amount of glue to keep you reading and preventing you from putting it down.

I will certainly highlight the author's name on my list of writers to follow.

The only thing I want to add is, if you are looking for a superb book then this is one I can recommend.

It is my first book by Kathryn Croft, but I will not be my last. 5 big, fat stars.

Thank you, Kathryn Croft, Bookouture and Netgalley. (the review will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and my blog on publication day)

I read this book in one day. I couldn’t stop reading, this book was so good!

The book goes back and forth between different POVs of the different characters. The chapters are shorts and they always keep you wanting more. They end on tiny cliff-hangers phrases that just got to me. Because of these, I felt the novel was fast paced, and action packed, just the way I like it!

I also really enjoyed the investigating aspect of this, a mother that must dig for the truth. A story of the lengths a mother will go to too protect her children.

With a great book comes an even greater ending! I thought mid novel that I already knew what was going to happen but boy was I wrong. Amazing twist ending that I did not see coming. Highly recommend!

I don’t really have a lot to say about this book- it was good but wasn’t great. The first 25 percent of the book just dragged but eventually was very interesting, keeping me guessing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

3.75/5 rounded up to 4

Man, what a book!! Can I repeat it again – What a book!!

I loved how the book began, it has been three years since Zoe’s son Ethan died via accidental drowning in the river along with his best friend Josh, when suddenly Zoe gets a warning. An email which casts suspicion that maybe Ethan’s isn’t accidental!!

“You need to find out the truth about what happened to your son. Don’t let this rest. Don’t believe the lie.”

And Zoe starts investigating…

What really happened to Ethan? And who was sending her these warnings, that too after 3 years?

My first book by Kathryn Croft (yes, I am soon going to read all her other books), and the book was a thrilling rush in each page. I loved the way a mother’s heart wrenched at the thought that her child was deliberately killed. I loved the way Zoe stood alone, strong and determined, trying to go back into the past, to days prior to Ethan’s death. I loved the way, the mother in her, looked after and cared for the elder son. I loved the way Zoe never gave up. And I loved the way she gave total loyalty and support to her sons. I loved Zoe!

The book was a total roller-coaster ride. I loved its bumpy roads, the twists and turns churned my stomach, and I enjoyed every bit of it. I was in such a book high till something niggled me (FYI the book also had the word “niggles” in it, sooo happy)

The ending – it could have been so much better. I went – nooo, don’t do this to me now. I loved you, book, why are you doing this to me. Change the ending, change the ending!! And there were some unanswered questions raised by that ending. Sighhh!!!

But the overall book was fab. I read it over 2 days as I didn’t want it to end. I went so slow, so that the story appeared never-ending. I did read parts of the book hiding from my boss. I wanted to read one more chapter before I had to stop. The book kept me going for 2 days. I loved the book, and it loved me back. Happy dance!! 💃💃

I thought this was an exciting, different and well written thriller that really kept me guessing.I thought the characters were well fleshed out even though there were quite a few of them.The story line was good and so was the pace of the book, and I stayed up way too late just wanting to read a bit more.However, the ending was rather surprising and for me ,without giving away any secrets it made what I was thinking was going to be a 5 star book into a 4 star book.I found the ending a little disappointing.I still think it was a good book and would still recommend it ,I was just somewhat confused by the ending.Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for n ARC.