First time I've read a book from this author. The story started strongly with Lucy down on her luck following her fiancé's death. A surprise gift, various relationships, and a job loss all mix well into the plot which surprisingly slows down when a surprise is revealed. The last third of the novel just didn't mesh with the promise of the beginning.

Poor Lucy is trying to repair her life after the death of her fiance, Ben. she lives paycheck to paycheck, trying to overcome the mountain of debt she faces. Her life is grim. But one day on the tube, she find that someone has stuck an envelope full of cash into her purse. Although the money would make a huge difference in her life, Lucy doesn't want to spend the cash; after all, it isn't hers. But as she tries to ascertain where the money came from and whether she should give it back, things get weird. The woman in the apartment across the hall is murdered, and the new tenant keeps playing Ben's favorite song. Wilkinson does a good job of building suspense in this book, but the suspense falls flat at the end. The premise just isn't believable. I also didn't feel like I really got to know and understand who Lucy was both before and after Ben's death. I would have liked more information.

I love Kerry Wilkinson’s books so I was looking forward to reading this, I wasn’t disappointed. An intriguing storyline with twists and turns trying to work out who is watching Lucy. Although the ending was a little unexpected it didn’t take away the enjoyment of the book. I would recommend this book and also this authors other books.

It was my first time reading a book from this author- I thoroughly enjoyed her style of writing being in the first person it really helps you to feel connected to the character and see things from their points of view. Lucy to say the least lives quite a meagre existence, she is really struggling financially and has to budget right down to the last penny, her supermarket job just barely covers her bills and rent, she lives with her dog billy in a flat and doesn’t have many friends except for her neighbour Karen. Lucy takes the same bus to and from work each day, she is flabbergasted to find one Friday night on her way home on her usual bus that someone has put an envelope into her handbag with a large amount of money that could potentially take a lot of pressure from Lucy’s financial woes, but who would do such a thing and why? I was intrigued to discover this, I enjoyed the way the story played out, and found myself laughing as certain points I enjoyed Lucy’s quirky sense of humour, however I found the ending slightly disappointing hence my three stars for this book, despite the ending I really enjoyed watching the story play out and the twists along the way.
Thank you to netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I started to read this book but did not finish it because the story did not hold my interest. It developed too slowly for me to be invested in the main character's story. I would not recommend this book.

This is a fabulous book that keeps you guessing as to who is watching Lucy also are they behind all that is happening in Lucy's life.This is a brilliant read well worth 5*

I first want to thank the publisher Bookouture, Kerry Wilkinson, and Netgalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review. This is an intriguing thriller that has you trying to figure out who is watching Lucy and who is behind the strange happenings in her life. This was my first book of hers and because of this book, I'll be keeping an eye out for her others. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating from me!

Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great read! 5*****

My fist novel by this author. Halfway through, I checked Goodreads to see if it was a debut book and it seems he has millions of them! It’s more of a short mystery story where I enjoyed the first half but unfortunately the second half fell flat as the plot unraveled and I guessed what was going to happen. Not a bad book by any means, I just expected more.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kerry Wilkinson and Bookouture for my arc of A Face in the Crowd in exchange for an honest review.


Synopsis: five years ago Lucy’s boyfriend Ben was killed in a terrible train accident along with his brother Alex. Now Lucy is just trying to get her life back together struggling in a job she hates, a poky flat and the bright star of her life, her dog Billy. But one Friday after she gets off an extremely crowded bus she finds an envelope stuffed with cash in her bag. Where has it come from? Should she hand it in? Is this money the answer to her prayers or the start of a nightmare?



I’ve really enjoyed all of the standalone novels I’ve read by Kerry Wilkinson and this one was no exception. It gripped me from the start and kept me turning the pages constantly. I liked Lucy’s character and really felt a connection to her and the people who lived around her, I think what was so emotive about this is the ‘everyday’ people who were central to the story. The people felt real. The twist was kind of getting to be expected as I got near the end but I still loved it! Really creepy and twisted, absolutely brilliant!

Jen Mullen's review May 17, 2019 · edit
liked it

Another standalone by Kerry Wilkinson. Lucy has a routine and the 24 bus is part of it. She gets on each day to get to work, but rarely pays any attention to fellow passengers. Today, things are not so routine, when she leaves the bus her purse feels a little different--because someone has stuffed an envelope with thousands of pounds into her purse.

Lucy has spent years paying off debts incurred in her name by her boyfriend. She only discovered this when Ben dies in a train crash; now she is bitter, but determined to pay the debts. How could she not have known the man she loved and planned to marry better?

She will turn the money in the envelope over to the police. She will. But first she will wait and see if anything develops, if someone notifies the bus company of a loss or posts a flyer.

Then she spends a little. Then a little more--on necessities and on helping others. Disturbing phone hang ups. A date with a man she met online. The apartment across from her begins playing her favorite song, but no one has seen the occupant.

This is not my favorite by Wilkinson, but he has a fairly high-standard to live up to, and A Face in the Crowd is still an intriguing mystery with some twists and red herrings. His Jessica Daniel series remains my favorite, but I haven't read anything by him that didn't keep me engrossed.

NetGalley/Bookouture
Mystery. June 6, 2019. Print length: 295 pages.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced copy of the latest Kerry Wilkinson. Unfortunately this is the first Kerry Wilkinson book where I didn't really like the characters. I could not warm to them at all (with the exception of Billy the dog) and I felt the story just took too long to get there. I absolutely love the Jessica Daniels series as well as the Andrew Hunter series but this particular story I really didn't enjoy. Kerry is a fantastic story teller/writer but to me this novel didn't do his writing talent justice.This is just my opinion and other people might well enjoy it.

Lucy and her fiance Ben seem to have things going their way , she has a good job and Ben is doing well in his chosen field as a day trader.
That is until Ben is killed in a train crash along with his brother.
Lucys world changes in an instant, she discovers Ben was living with secrets. He has spent all their savings and amassed huge debts in her name.
Now 5 years later she is still struggling, working a low paid, part time, job in a supermarket and living a drab existance in a shabby apartment block.
She keeps herself to herself with only her dog Billy for company.
Riding the bus home from work one friday she discovers an envelope someone has slipped into her bag.
Inside is over £3000, money she could desperately use right now.
Will she manage to do as she originally plans and hand it in to the police ?
Or in her desperation succumb to the overpowering urge to use it?
Will she get back on an even keel with the help of the windfall or will it make life even more difficult?
A well written psychological thriller with an unexpected twist at the end that really held my interest throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this as an ARC.

Lucy has a job at the supermarket. Each day she rides the #24 bus to and from her little bedsit. Really, the only joy in her life is her dog, Billy. Lucy misses the days when she was with Ben, whom she had planned to marry, and with that - not having to "count every penny". Ben died, along with his brother, Alex, in a train crash 5 years ago. Ben also left Lucy in serious debt.

One night, the bus is extremely crowded. Prior to when Lucy arrives home, she finds an envelope with cash that had been dumped in her bag during the bus ride. (over $3000) There is absolutely no identifying information - just the cash. Poor as she is, Lucy knows the "right" thing to do is return it - probably to the police. In the meantime, Lucy's shoes literally fall apart, her computer for university studies crashes and she sees how others in her building are struggling. She spends/gives away about $1200 in a week.

Lucy finally goes on a date with Harry, who she met on the internet. He is an OK guy, they converse freely and she agrees to another date. There are no sparks between them, though.

The story becomes more intense as Lucy is fired from her job, a new neighbor arrives (no one knows the person, yet), Billy is (deliberately?) poisoned, and Harry is attacked.

On bonfire night, Lucy's friend, Karen, holds her 36th birthday party. (Her first birthday party, ever) - and things really begin to happen!

An interesting, quick read. Lucy's character is well-developed and likeable. The story is very good and the plot idea hooks you in. I suggest giving it a try!

Many thanks to Bookoture and NetGalley for a good, interesting read.

Lucy had the perfect life, she was engaged, he would do anything for her and then BOOM her life changed drastically, her fiancé died on a train crash and Lucy’s idyllic life was no more for what she discovered after the death of her fiancé, Ben was that he was in fact up to his eyes in debt, not only had he devoured their savings but he had taken loans out in Lucy’s name…. 5 years down the line, Lucy is living in a bedsit, working as a cashier in a supermarket, living paycheck to paycheck as she is still paying off the loans, how did her life turn out like this?

Lucy was on her way home from work one evening, as usual the bus was packed, they were like sardines in a can, Lucy was delighted when she got home only to discover when she was looking for something in her bag that there was an envelope that hadn’t been there before…. As she opened it, she couldn’t believe her eyes… cash and lots of it, over €3K….now Lucy knows she should hand it in to the police but things don’t quite pan out how she thought she would handle it…. She starts dipping into it, only for things that she really needs but at the same time she wants to know where the money came from….. although it was a good story, the book for me was not a psychological thriller per se, intriguing yes but unlike other books I’ve read by Kerry Wilkinson, I guessed the ending…. Without saying too much, I thought the ending could have been more developed, it seemed to be over too quick especially after the build up to that part…..Overall a good solid quick read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

5-years ago, Lucy’s boyfriend, Ben, died in a train accident, turning Lucy’s life upside down. After his death, Lucy discovers that Ben wasn’t the man she thought he was and she’s still paying the price for his secrets 5-years later.

Lucy struggles financially, pinching together every penny she can to survive. Ever since she got her job at the local supermarket, her routine has remained the same—including a daily trip on city bus. One evening after work, she arrives home to her dog, Billy, and realizes something is off. When she feels inside her bag, she discovers an envelope full of money—more money than she knows what to do with. At first, Lucy is hesitant to use the money, seeing as it’s not hers, but before long, Lucy finds herself using the money. A few dollars here and there couldn’t hurt, right? But Lucy can’t stop and does mental gymnastics to lessen her guilt.

Not long after the money lands in Lucy’s hands, strange things start happening around her. Harry, the man she’s dating, is beaten after leaving her apartment. Her neighbor, Karen, is harboring secrets that Lucy accidentally stumbles upon. And the police believe that someone in their complex is a cold-blooded murderer.

Lucy thought the envelope of money would save her life, but she discovers that couldn’t be further from the truth…

A Face in the Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson is a short mystery/suspense with an intriguing premise. While I quickly consumed this book, I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. The idea of someone discovering an envelope of money in their bag had me hooked, but the storyline fell a little flat for me. The pacing wasn’t right—it was especially slow for being less than 300 pages. The book really took a nosedive for me the last 20% or so—it became so extremely unbelievable. I’d definitely be interested in reading more by this author, as I feel there’s great potential with his books—2.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book because Lucy was a “real” and likable character, and because the story held its own. Meaning it just was told very well, it wasn’t entirely predictable and the pieces just all fall together.

3.25 Stars* (rounded down)

Curveballs, life is full of them! Just ask Lucy - the main character in Kerry Wilkinson’s “A Face in the Crowd.”

Lucy’s life hasn’t turned out the way she thought it would. A few years ago she was engaged and thought she had it all. Then her world came crashing down. Now she lives day to day as a cashier at a supermarket, while her dog waits for her in their small bedsit.

One day however, everything changes. Someone puts an envelope full of money in Lucy’s purse while she’s traveling home from work on the bus. Upon finding it she vows to turn it in! It’s thousands of pounds, after all! Lucy, of course can’t help but wonder how the money got there. That’s of course when strange things start happening. Coincidence? Hmm. Read on to find out!

Unfortunately for me, “A Face in the Crowd” by Kerry Wilkinson is a suspense / thriller that left a tiny little bit to be desired. I didn’t quite find this novel to be super twisty as I guessed the ending at the beginning. That said I loved the character of Billy (the dog) quite a lot. This is the second Kerry Wilkinson novel that I’ve read so far and I can say that I really like his writing style and can’t wait for to his next standalone.

This was a buddy read with Ms. Kaceey (of course!).

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 5.15.19.

Please read the synopsis first.... This was a solid little read. Nothing too earth-shattering, just a good story with a well-developed main character. Unlike several I've read lately, I really liked Lucy and wanted good things to happen for her. They didn't. Her experiences were mostly plausible and although there was a bit of a twist it wasn't the typical jaw-dropping OMG moments that have become so popular. Just a solid story that got me through the week! Thank you to Netgalley/Bookouture for the ARC of A Face in the Crowd. I enjoyed it and will recommend it!

A Face in the Crowd – Kerry Wilkinson

My first foray into Kerry Wilkinson’s twisted world was the DI Jessica Daniels police procedural series since then I’ve devoured every book I can get my hands on. So far I haven’t read one that I didn’t love on saying that this wasn’t my favourite. I really can’t recommend Kerry Wilkinson enough.

You can’t help feeling somewhat sorry for Lucy her life is in the toilet. Five years ago she had it all money, a good job and the love of a good man Ben and then poof it was all gone. Tragically Ben died very young leaving her a grieving widow. As if that wasn’t enough the secrets he kept began coming through the letterbox.

Lucy gets the number 24 bus everyday for work, one day this is a trip with a difference she gets off the bus with an envelope containing several thousand pounds. The envelope had been slipped into her bag when she was in a world of her own. This is money that she could really use living in a crummy bedsit, working as a checkout girl in her local supermarket, struggling from payday to payday. It suddenly seems as if things are conspiring against her, making it necessary to dip into the money even though she knew she should hand it in to the police.

Most of the characters are ok, there’s one or two that really need to give their heads a wobble. Tanya the ‘caretaker’ of the building that Lucy, Jade and live in, she’s about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. As for the guy downstairs he’s a prize peach. Matt I kinda thought was incidental to the story Lucy was clearly still not ready for a relationship. My favourite character is Billy the dog, I loved him and was se desperately worried about him at one point in the book.

A few sinister things begin to happen since that fateful Friday and each of them unsettles Lucy, there’s the man outside, the strange phone calls just for starters.

If you love a good police procedural or psychological thriller give Kerry Wilkinson a chance I promise you won’t be disappointed.



Read for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture