Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

This was a real page-turner for me. As the novel opens, we find a cast of mostly unlikable yet very human characters who are faced with a crisis in their otherwise (seemingly) ideal lives: at a 20-year reunion at the protagonist's beautiful new home, her best friend says she was raped--by the protagonist's husband. As one thing leads to another, secrets are exposed, life-long friendships are questioned, and things generally go to hell in a hand-basket.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be well-done. I do have two criticisms, though. The first has nothing to do with the book but with the cover art: it's awful! When I first glanced at this (admittedly, on a small screen), it looked like either a semi-wrecked airplane or--worse--some odd shaped sanitary pad.

The other criticism is more subtle and hard to define. I think there's a statement being made here about men and women and the cruelties both sexes are capable of. There are quite a few mentions of feminism at the beginning of this book, mostly mischaracterizations by people who are opposed to or critical of the protagonist's work with sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. I get it on one level: many people are opposed to the big F word because they seem to not understand what true feminist ideology is. Maybe that's what the author is trying to point out. Yet there was a constant niggling for me, something that felt off. While I know many people have been convinced feminists are something they aren't, did it seem at times like their criticisms were actually legitimate in this book? Why did everyone simply conflate all of feminism with people who work with rape and domestic violence? And are we so backward (in the US or UK) that we allow those notions to persist? I just don't know what the author's intent was here or if it came out clearly by the end. Ultimately, we discover the violence and cruelty some men are capable of, but that always seems juxtaposed at each turn with the deception women are, too, capable of. Is the author trying to show that the fraught terrain of patriarchal society makes women into these self-serving creatures? Or, is there some kind of equity being suggested between women's schemes of entrapment and callousness and men's ability to exploit, rape, beat, and even kill women?

I didn't mean this review to turn into the meanderings above; however, I find myself still trying to tease out these strains and figure out whether or not I'm just thinking too much about all this. Aside from this personal conundrum, I emphasize that this is a strong effort and a book I enjoyed reading.

After twenty years, six university friends have a reunion. They met at Ali's house where shocking events mar the event forever. Karen accuses Mike of assaulting her and Ali has to decide if her best friend or her husband is lying. The book switches timelines from the present back to 1993 where darker memories from the university days are brought to mind. Would someone be willing to kill in order to protect those memories?
I found this book unputdownable as the plot moved quickly and kept me guessing until the very shocking ending. McGowan is an excellent writer and her characters are well-drawn. I have read most of her Paula Maguire series except for The Killing House and have enjoyed that series immensely. I look forward to reading the rest of her novels and I would highly recommend this book to those who love psychological thrillers. I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishers UK for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I thought this book started really well and was enjoying it even though I felt very little empathy with any of the characters. They were all shallow and self centred with the exception of Bill who seemed to be the only one with any sense of decency. I wasn't really surprised by the reveal although there had been a red herring or two along the way!

Ali is hosting a school reunion with friends. That night her best friend Karen makes a shocking accusation, that she has been raped by Ali's husband Mike. Mike denies any wrong doing. To further complicate things Ali is chair of the local womens refuge. Who does Ali believe..........
This is my first book by Claire McGowan, and I really enjoyed it. I was really left guessing until the end. The book is well written with great pace.
Thank you to netgalley, Claire McGowan and Thomas and Mercer for the advance copy if this book in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

This year has been a great year for good mystery, suspense and thriller books! Just about every single book I’ve picked up has been a winner! I love that. This book is one of the good ones.

I really liked this book. I see there are a lot of mixed reviews on this one, but I thought the story was well written and suspenseful. Original storyline, with characters that were unlikable always make it more interesting. Everyone had secrets and no one was who you thought they were. So many secrets...
From the very beginning of this book I was hooked. It started off so dramatic with the assault on Karen during a weekend get together of long time college friends. You thought you knew who did the assault, but weren’t so sure as the story and characters unfolded. So many different secrets and twists are slowly revealed. And that ending just threw me completely! I certainly didn’t see that ending coming.
I requested this book from NetGalley and received it as a ARC. Not realizing I already had the book I picked it as my Amazon first reads with my Amazon prime membership. Ugh, I hate that when that happens. I liked the book so much I purchased the Audible version, so when I couldn’t read I could listen, and the narrators did a great job reading this story. I highly recommend this book or audible book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense/mystery. This is the first book I’ve read by Claire McGowen and I know I want to read more from this author.
A special thank you to the Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent tale of deceit and murder. When Ali has a reunion of her 6 closest college friends, the night will change their lives forever. Ali and Karen have been best friends as long as anyone can remember, but when Karen stumbles into Ali’s kitchen terrified and claiming she had been raped by Ali’s husband, their friendship is more than tested. Throw into the mix an unsolved murder from their college days and everyone is suspicious. Ali is torn between believing her best friend or believing her husband. As Ali digs deeper into the facts she realizes she can’t trust either of them. Well written, edge of your seat page turner with a surprising ending.

What a good read. Who would you trust your loving husband or your best friend? It’s a book of who done it. It was full of twists, turns, mystery and suspense and I really enjoyed it. Would recommend to all of my psychological thriller lovers out there. Thanks NetGalley.

"You don't always remember things right."

A group of 6 friends from Oxford are having a reunion to celebrate 25 years of friendship. Ali Morris and Mike Morris with their two kids, Cassie and Benji, host the reunion. On the day, Ali gets a call from her feminist charity she is a member off, and leaves home to attend the issue, after Karen, her best friend, arrives home with her son, Jake. When Ali returns home, Jodi, pregnant, with her husband, Calum arrives. Soon, the last one of them, Bill shows up on his motorcycle. The part begins and they reminisce the good old times. Soon, everyone starts to get drunk and high as Ali, Jodi and children go to bed. Soon, Ali is awakened by screams. Karen, bruised and bleeding, accuses Mike of raping her while Jodi witnesses it. Calum is slumped on the couch and Mike, on the swing set. Bill joins them in the room as the children wake up, and calls the police. In a single night, her family's life turns upside down and the plot moves on.

The book turned out to be slow-paced. And the character's seemed really frustrating. The situation is really tense, I agree, but for middle-aged buddies, they were quite immature. Ali being a feminist and the kind who is very well-known in media, couldn't smell the fish under her nose and I smelt that fish in Chapter 1 and I am only a couple of years older than her daughter who also questioned her about why she couldn't figure it out. I don't know whether to worship her for her faith and trust or just scream it at her face that she is a fuckin' idiot. Mike seemed like a good character and even Jodi turned out to be the only character who acted like an adult and wow, she is truly something! Calum, don't even get me started. Bill is quite a soul but no, he let me down. Jake, Cassie and Benji also turned out to be good characters. The point is, everyone seemed good except those who matter. Throughout the book, I was on the verge to drop it and just not give the feedback. The only thing which kept me going was the fact I cannot have a half-read book on my conscience and it seemed far better to finish it now. It turned out to be a conflicting read but not a bit surprising. This book turned out to be total let down with it's predictable, slow-paced and did not live up to the hype.

You see, I am huge of The Fall. I really like Claire McGowan and I am pretty excited to read The Other Wife but this book just wasn't it. It didn't feel like it is by Claire. One of the positive things I have to say about this book is that I enjoyed reading the last chapter and epilogue, not because the book finally came to end (okay, maybe, a little) or because I felt something was missing but because, it had a hint of essence of Claire's work.

Recommended: It wasn't for me, maybe it is for you. I see that some found it to be a delightful read. Maybe, you would too.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with a review copy for honest feedback.

I love this author and this newest novel did not disappoint! I kept catching myself holding my breath as I was reading. It was quite the thriller that clearly kept me on the edge of my seat! Can't wait to see what else this author comes out with.

Phenomenal read! Fast paced,, ripped from the headlines feel. The pages fly by as you are gripped in the drama unfolding for this circle of friends. The twists and turns keep you wondering until the very end!

This is a book full of twisted secrets and surprises. Nothing is as it seems.

Ali thought she had a great marriage and great friends. But at a college reunion she hosts at her home, her best friend accuses her husband of rape. Ali, who volunteers at a women's shelter, knows that women rarely make false claims of rape, yet she also can't believe that her husband would do such a thing. Soon, decades-long secrets are exposed, a traumatic event from the past comes back into the forefront, and everything has changed.

Ali is a complex, interesting character. I can't imagine what I would think if I was in a similar situation, and I understood her desire to believe both her husband and her best friend.

The characters all have weaknesses and strengths. None of them are one-dimensional. I didn't expect most of the twists (in fact I thought I saw a few coming, but they were red herrings). I found this to be an engrossing story that gripped me from the first few pages. I definitely recommend it.

What an amazing read!

There is something so appealing about books that feature friendship, especially of the long established kind and so Claire McGowan was already onto a winner with this one featuring six friends born out of the time they had spent at Oxford. One of them, Ali, decides to throw a party and the six turn up but then the party atmosphere turns much, much darker with an accusation made that will change their perception of everything forever.

I loved this book being instantly drawn into the tale. The characters are well-drawn in shades of grey with the circle of six increased by their offspring who include an eighteen year old and a fifteen year old. Each character was realistic in thoughts and deeds. The premise was great and the writer certainly excelled in execution.

What You Did is definitely up there among my favourite reads of 2019.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of What You Did by Claire McGowan. This thriller kept me guessing, although I did have my suspicions. I just couldn't reconcile the scene with my suspicions, but then it all came together in the end. The last line was particularly chilling!

Six friends attended Oxford together, and 25 years later, they have a mini-reunion. Alison and Mike, Jodi and Callum, Karen, and Bill. Two couples are married, Karen, Alison's best friend, is unmarried and flirty. Alison works on the board of a refuge for women attacked by men. Alison and Mike are married, but Ali has always wondered what would have happened if she had gotten together with Bill and not stood up for Mike all those years earlier. Jodi and Callum are expecting their first child at age 43.

The friends gather at Ali and Mike's home and proceed to get drunk and some even get high. Ali is awakened at 3 am, and is stunned when her best friend, Karen, comes in the house screaming that she was raped. Ali's life is turned upside down when secrets about all of the friendships come to light.

I was interested in finding out who raped Karen, and was shocked to read of all the indiscretions and hurt the friends caused each other over the years. I thought the author did a nice job keeping the reader guessing and tied it up nicely at the end, with a surprising chill to the bones about what some people will do to cover for others to get what they want.

#WhatYouDid #ClaireMcGowan #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview What you Did by Claire McGowan.
This is a dramatic book, and it felt like a "movie of the week" quite frankly.
The scenerio - a reunion - an assault - an accusation - Devistation!
Good book and will keep the reader engaged to find out what happened. The characters are difficult to like, but that's real life isn't it!
3.5 stars.

WOW - such an incredible tale of the aftermath of a drunken party. Six college friends, now in their 40s get together for a weekend at Mike and Ali's house, when one of the very drunk guests is raped in the garden. Throughout the book the reader is made aware of the death of a women back in college days, and of the mystery that surrounded her passing. This story loops around both events. I was spellbound throughout my reading and was surprised by the very satisfying ending.

I recommend this book to all who love a good mystery!

My thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for a copy of “What you did “ by Claire McGowan.

I found this a decent enough read and it kept me guessing to the end . Unfortunately I didn’t much care for any of the characters, and I was right with how I thought the book would finish.
Not a bad read but a pretty run of the mill thriller, so I’ve given an average score of 3 stars

Suspense, This story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat through some crazy twists and turns. When a group of middle aged college friends and their families get together for a casual reunion there's conversation , reminiscing and laughter and too much alcohol. Things get crazy when one of the women accuses another friend of raping her at the party. The accused is Mike. But his wife Ali is best friends with the accuser. The story is told told through Alliso'spoint of view. As the story unfolds I learned more about Ali'- and Mike and their university days. And the death of a student both Mike and Allison knew when they were students. Facts about each character are slowly revealed as the story is told blending the present with past. Everyone has a secret, and they are destructive. Eventually, the past and present implode into a shocking conclusion. Great characters and an excellent suspense plot. This story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat through some crazy twists and turns. When a group of middle aged college friends and their families get together for a casual reunion there's conversation , reminiscing and laughter and too much alcohol. Things get crazy when one of the women accuses another friend of raping her at the party. The accused is Mike. But his wife Ali is best friends with the accuser. The story is told told through Alliso'spoint of view. As the story unfolds I learned more about Ali'- and Mike and their university days. And the death of a student both Mike and Allison knew when they were students. Facts about each character are slowly revealed as the story is told blending the present with past. Everyone has a secret, and they are destructive. Eventually, the past and present implode into a shocking conclusion. Great characters and an excellent suspense plot. This story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat through some crazy twists and turns. When a group of middle aged college friends and their families get together for a casual reunion there's conversation , reminiscing and laughter and too much alcohol. Things get crazy when one of the women accuses another friend of raping her at the party. The accused is Mike. But his wife Ali is best friends with the accuser. The story is told told through Alliso'spoint of view. As the story unfolds I learned more about Ali'- and Mike and their university days. And the death of a student both Mike and Allison knew when they were students. Facts about each character are slowly revealed as the story is told blending the present with past. Everyone

I thought I had read a book by McGowan previously but I don't recognise any of the other titles nor the writing style so I think I must be mistaken. What I do know is that I will absolutely read another book by this author.

Set in upper-middle class suburbia the characters in this book are old uni chums who all seem to have their own lives apart from each other. Until there is a shocking betrayal that rips apart the lives of most of the characters who appear in this book. From a victim misbelieved because of their lifestyle choice to another whose perfect life is falling apart to another who has sat on the periphery and is so close to getting everything they have ever wanted. Everyone has their secrets that are unravelled by one fateful night.

I really enjoyed this book. It was clever without being hard work. As with most psychological thrillers the truth is not what it first appears to be, in fact there are multiple truths uncovered as the story unfolds, some of which are life ruining and others life changing. 

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy. I would rate this book 8/10.

I think this may be my favourite read this year. It was gripping and fast-moving, with sympathy being given to a multitude of contrasting characters. I would highly recommend this book.

Ali, a female rights activist, and her husband, Mike, established solicitor, invite close friends Bill, Karen, Jodi and Callum from their university days to a 25 year get together at their London home. After a night of reminiscing and much drinking of alcohol Ali and pregnant Jodi retire to bed leaving Karen, Mike and Callum to carry on their evening. Hours later Karen crashes into the kitchen after been violently attacked and declares that Mike has raped her. Mike denied any wrong doing. Who do you believe your best friend or your husband.

As the story unfolds you realise none of these people are nice and all have their own secrets and agendas. Well worth a read!

Many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.