This book had me wanting to know what was happening all the time. Mixed in with drama as well. It was slow to start but really picked up.

Leona Travis is a jewellery maker living an idyllic life in the Lake District with her boyfriend Scott and daughter Beth. That is until she thinks she sees a ghost from the past in the village shop and everything starts to unravel.

This book was OK and a relatively good story but it just didn't grab me. It took me a good while to read it whereas I usually fly through books I really like. There are a few good twists but I thought they were all pretty predictable, except one red herring which did lead me slightly astray towards the end. The big 'reveal' of what's in the box (mentioned in the blurb) doesn't actually happen until about three quarters of the way through so that felt a bit misleading in terms of what the book was going to be about.

I preferred reading Leona and Ria's chapters to Beth's, towards the end I was just trying to get through her bits to get back to her mum's story. I didn't become massively attached to any of the characters either which is odd for me. That said, the passages describing *SPOILER* domestic violence were well written and built tension though if you're triggered by that or infant death I wouldn't read it. It's not graphic but it'd still be upsetting. Overall it was an OK read but I just wasn't gripped by it. It's good enough but having read so many brilliant stories already this year it's not one I'd reach for ahead of those.

Absorbing, intense and suspenseful.
A well constructed book which ended with a surprise
An entertaining story

What She Saw was an intriguing read that kept me engaged. When it said it was a "gripping psychological thriller with a heart pounding twist" I had high expectations of this novel. I love reading thrillers, but did not find this story to have many twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the storyline, but probably would not classify it as a thriller.

*5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read with interesting characters. Shows how some people let others control them, and they don't realise it until its too late. There were some surprises in this one, and I liked the ending.

Oh wow! I did not really know what to expect from this novel, but the synopsis really drew me in, and from the start to the end I found myself unable to put this book down. It's brilliantly written and overall I'd say it's pretty believable too, an advantage that I feel isn't always the case with books that fall into this kind of genre.

The characters are likable and interesting, and I felt for Leona and her family - even Beth with her typical teenage moodswings! There were also some big surprises that took me completely by surprise, and that I LOVED. There were also some other elements that I was convinced I could see coming, but didn't end up being what I thought they would be, and I was really pleased about that as it didn't feel as predictable as I thought it would be.

Overall this is a truly addictive read, with twists along the way that are bound to keep you guessing, and I am really excited to see what Wendy Clarke comes out with next - can it top this brilliant read?

A wonderfully intricate story of betrayal and loss of trust which is set in the beautiful Lake District. I spent most of the book wondering who to trust and although the ending was a little predictable there was enough suspense to keep me reading until the wee hours.

What She Saw is a brilliantly gripping psychological thriller. Admittedly I found it quite slow at the beginning, however after sticking with it, it turned out to be incredibly hard to put down.

Leona is incredibly protective of her teenage daughter Beth, a student at the local private school. When Beth is bullied, Beth plays truant rather than face her tormentors, or tell her overly-worrisome parents what's going on. Secretly, Beth is sneaking off to indulge in her biggest passion - sketching the stunning views of her Lake District surroundings. And when she meets someone on the hills, Beth now has another secret to keep from Leona.

Meanwhile, Leona has been plagued by thoughts of her past, of secrets she's spent so long keeping. Soon enough, they're going to catch up with her...

I've read many thrillers lately and even though I really enjoy them, I've kind of been falling out of love with the genre, mainly because a lot are quite predictable. However, What She Saw is addictive and surprising, with two subplots that intertwine and are just as intriguing (I particularly enjoyed Beth's). I really enjoyed this novel and would be interested to read more from this author.

Goodness, this is a stunner of a book! It’s hard to believe that this very accomplished thriller is a debut novel.

I was absolutely engrossed in the book. Everything about it was so good.

The setting is wonderful, and so atmospheric, the Lake District. A magnificent backdrop for this tense and compelling story. There is real depth to the characters, and I felt immediately drawn into their lives.

The plot is rich and twisty, it will really keep you guessing, and the tension just builds and builds until the end.

This would make a wonderful gripping TV drama, it’s real edge of the seat stuff.

Highly recommended, a really addictive read.

Leona lives in Langdon Fell in Cumbria with her partner, Scott, and is the mother of Beth, 15. In her spare time, Leona enjoys making jewelry and has recently been taking some pieces to craft shows. Scott works as a guide for people wanting to walk the fells and it is something he loves to do.

One day as Leona is at the shops, she thinks she sees a woman from her past call Ria. This scares her so much that she has a panic attack. Now, she is having problems sleeping and concentrating.

Beth has been skipping school to avoid being bullied by a couple of the girls in her class. Beth is a very talented artist and especially enjoys drawing birds of prey that she sees while hiking the fells.

Scott has become concerned about Leona’s panic attacks and wants her to see a doctor. The psychologist she meets with helps bring back her past and again face her demons.

At one time, Ria lived in London with her very controlling and abusive husband. But something happens that brings it all to a head after which Ria flees the area.

I don’t want to reveal any more than what I have because that’s the shocker that really makes this story. Suffice to say, when I read the “shocker,” I gasped. This is a powerful novel that shows how truly evil some people can be. Great read and I highly recommend it.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Brilliant. Couldn't fault it. The book takes us on the journey of Leonas life. Rea and Leona go way back and the author takes us through each of their lives, she also flashes to the present day where we see Leona struggle with a secret from her past that haunts her. A novel full of mystery and Intrigue. Grab a copy you will be surprised

A very interesting read . Twists and turns to keep you engrossed. Wondering which way the author is going to take it. Nice and easy to read. Flows well. Enjoyable to read

‘What She Saw’ is definitely a nail biting read, my nerves were shot to youknowwhat by the time I reached the end.

Now, my opinion of Wendy Clarke’s novel kept changing throughout, I’ll be honest. There was a lot of promise, but at times it felt as though the storyline didn’t go further than that.

This novel isn’t a wham, bam, thank you mam, kind of storyline, so don’t expect fireworks instantly. It does, in my opinion, take quite a while to get momentum, but when it does it was like a rocket.

The slow burning storyline does work in regards to the shock factor and the way the book concludes, and I am very glad that I listened to my gut regarding the promising themes as it definitely paid off.

Leona is a very well crafted character. I couldn’t help but feel empathy towards her situation, and I knew her heart was in the right place when things didn’t go to plan.

Wendy Clarke took me on journey with shocking results, thanks to this twisted and gritty novel. I’m so looking forward to reading more from this author.

Very well-written; excellent dialogue; good character development. The story was entertaining and intense and this really was a very good debut novel.

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Domestic drama set in the picturesque Lake District of Cumbria. A mother, Leona Travis, has gone to great lengths to create a normal, happy home for her teenaged daughter, Beth. They live with Leona's boyfriend, Scott Newman, and have a quiet, private little family. Their life, however, is a bit of a sham and held together by secrets and lies that Leona has told in an attempt to keep them safe. It's unfortunate that everything starts to unravel and the truth comes out. NO SPOILERS

The scenic views and vistas are described in loving detail and it is definitely a landscape that calls to many. The setting is quite an important part of the story given its isolation and magesty. Beauty is a central theme as both mother and daughter are talented in the arts. The characters are stereotypical and were a bit hard for me to relate to. There is quite a bit of repetition of feelings and angst with the main points of the plot dribbled out slowly across the chapters that are told in alternating points of view. The revelations did not come as any surprise and there was only minor suspense and thrill, but it kept me entertained for a couple of hours even though I'd figured out everything shortly into my reading.

This is a debut in the psychological category and I think the writing shows promise so I'd read another book by this author in the future. It may be that this genre is getting old as so many books like this have already been published. I don't think the synopsis as given on this page is very accurate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of What She Saw. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a great book! It was very slow to start...found myself drifting through the first several chapters--almost chosing to abandon the book for lack of action or real connection to the characters. However, I will also say that I am glad to have stayed the course, because the last half of the book was fabulous. Once the initial twist was revealed, the plot became thicker and more intriguing. Everything made sense and most of the background information became valuable pretty quickly... Conveniently, I already had caches of it stored in my brain! I did not want to put the book down at that point. Great book. I would definitely read from this author again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wendy Clarke for the ARC!

This is such a powerful book!
I will, however, give a trigger warning as it does deal with domestic abuse…
What She Saw tells the story of Leona, a jewellery maker who lives in the Lake District with her partner Scott and teenaged daughter Beth.
Beth is struggling with the pressure of school bullies and, as a mother, this was heartbreaking to read. Leona is haunted by memories of Ria and throughout the course of the book we learn about the relationship between the women.
Ria’s life was governed by the initially charming Gareth who became increasingly controlling and then physically abusive.
One night Ria fought back…
There are lots of twists and turns in this book, hints of potential plot developments that we as readers need to wait for the author to reveal. There are several points where the reader is misdirected so as not to trust a character and this increases the anticipation and fear for the characters.
The characters of Leona, Ria and Beth share the narrative so each chapter shows one of their perspectives. This allows the reader a deeper insight into their emotional stance and is a powerful device to engage the reader.
What She Saw was really well written and totally absorbing: I can’t wait for Wendy’s next book!

Leona would have given her life for her daughter Beth, and the man she loved, Scott. She was busy in her shop working on jewelry pieces that needed to be mailed; realizing she needed a few things from the local market, she set off to do some shopping. Surrounded by the beauty of Cumbria, The Lake District, she should have been happy, satisfied, but something was wrong, a chill went down her spine, someone was walking over her grave! This was the day it all started, the premonition; her panic attacks started becoming more frequent, her heart pounding, not sleeping, why, what was happening to her?
This is how the majority of the way this story is told! You keep waiting for the bogey man to show up; he does, at the end! It is a case of deja vu for me; I do not know why; maybe the constant waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop! This story does keep you in suspense; only, it is a long time coming. Leona has made a mistake in her past; it is now coming back with a vengeance! The number one problem I had with her, is the depression, yes I realize it was postnatal. However, my Mother was eighteen when she married, had right children within ten years, suffered a miscarriage prior to my conception, living with a violent alcoholic. Therefore, for me, this part of the story makes Leona look weak indeed! To me, this book is a cautionary tale! Be careful of what you think you want; you just might get it!
I highly recommend!
carolintallahassee.com

An excellent debut novel from Wendy Clarke, and one which makes me eager to read more by this author.

From the outset there are so many questions, it is clear Leona is hiding something (or many things); what is Ria's role in it all, whats this about money going into her account, why is she so protective of her daughter Beth, and why does she keep people at arms length?

With any good thriller, you try and guess the secrets and twists that await you. I must say, I guessed some things but others I guessed wrong or didn't even anticipate which is refreshing in a thriller/mystery.

The characters are complex and believable, the narrative from 3 viewpoints is a great way to unveil the plot and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this advanced review copy.