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

Paula Daly does not disappoint with Clear My Name, delivering yet another gripping murder mystery-thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story follows Cassie, a woman convicted of murdering her husband’s girlfriend, but things are never as straightforward as they seem. Daly has a remarkable ability to create complex, compelling characters, and Cassie’s journey through this tangled web of deception and betrayal is utterly absorbing.

The narrative is filled with suspense, and Daly masterfully weaves in a clever twist involving Tess, a key character whose private life and past trauma collide with a potential witness. This subplot not only adds depth to the story but also explains Tess's cynicism and reluctance to form lasting relationships.

With twists aplenty and an unpredictable, gasp-worthy ending, Clear My Name is a must-read for fans of thrillers. Daly’s ability to surprise her readers with each turn is a testament to her skill as a storyteller. Don't miss this addictive, fast-paced ride!

Carrie is in prison for killing her husband's mistress. She had always proclaimed her innocence. Tess is the lead investigator for the group trying to prove that Carrie has been wrongfully convicted. Tess has secrets of her own. Avril is the trainee who is shadowing Tess, and (of course) she also has issues.

This is ultimately Carrie's story, and it is compelling. Did she do it or not? There are many twists and turns, and we find out the truth in the end. As the investigation progresses, we also learn Avril's and Tess' stories. Unfortunately, the story skips times and setting and characters so frequently, it is sometimes confusing. It did keep me reading, but I admit I wasn't totally engrossed. Not a bad story, not a bad mystery, just nothing special.

Clear My Name by Paula Daly was a thriller that I did not want to put down.
Tess who works as an investigator for a charity called Innocence UK, helps people who claim that they have been wrongfully convicted of a crime.
She is investigating a case where a woman was convicted of killing her husbands mistress. Tess believes that the woman is innocent and is looking for evidence to prove her case.
There was plenty of twist and surprises to keep me reading.
Tess was an interesting character. I really enjoyed this story.
I'm a big fan of Paula Daly and can't wait for her next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pretty good!

Carrie is imprisoned for the murder of her husband’s lover; but she is claiming that she is innocent. Tess from the charity Innocence UK is (teamed with young colleague April) is trying to look into the case to evaluate if there might be a miscarriage of justice - and the case also reopens her deeply buried wounds.

The human aspect of the novel is played very well - both Tess and April are much more human and likeable because of the burdens they are carrying. Also these burdens and the bond they build with sharing them makes for a much better work collaboration between them! Actually, I would love for this novel to be a start of the series. These women could uncover more cases!

The plot twist is well-done and believable, backed-up by some well hidden clues. Smartly done!

So why three stars? Firstly, I find the ending being a bit rushed. Secondly - I personally I am not a fan of Tess’s final decision from the moral point.

But otherwise this was the best I have read from Ms Daly yet and I will follow her works from now on.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable book.

I was completely gripped by this story and was impressed with the writing quality. I was entertained throughout the story and would not hesitate to recommend this book.

3 Stars. I was provided an arc by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is exactly what the title suggests. Tess Gilroy works for Innocence UK a non profit organization that works to find the truth of those who say they have been wrongly accused of a crime. I should say that I love these organizations and what they do. It would be a dream to work for one of them. So I was really excited going into this one.

Tess's organization has never taken on a female client until now. Carrie is accused of killing her husband's mistress Ella. This novel is a bit of a slow burn. It gives you bits and pieces leading up to Ella's murder, while also showing Tess and her assistant Avril working through the evidence trying to uncover the truth.

This book has all of the elements that I should've loved but unfortunately it was just okay for me. I didn't really connect with the characters, there were weird random details sprinkled throughout the novel that I felt were unnecessary. I didn't love the way Avril was portrayed.

SPOILER ALERT

I did not see the twist coming, and that would've bumped it up for me but the author decided to take it one step further and logically I couldn't wrap my head around it. Who would sit in jail knowing they had the key to get themselves out just to possibly end up there again? It's a little far fetched for me.

I will say that Tess's secret daughter just didn't make much sense to include in my opinion, I felt like it didn't add much to the story.

All of that being said I did enjoy The Trophy Child by her and will probably pick up more of her works in the future. I can see how people would really enjoy this one but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

I really like this author's books. I recommend this book as well as all the author's other books. I look forward to more books by Paula Daly.

Carrie is arrested and jailed for murdering her husband and leaves her daughter on the outside to deal with the effects. This book is a criminal thriller with loads of twists and turns sure to engage the sleepiest of readers. Women with determination work to right a wrong and face extreme difficulties.

I am always drawn into a story about possible wrongful convictions. Tess works for Innocence UK - investigating whether the courts should reopen cases. Right now they are taking on the case of Carrie - who was found guilty four years ago of killing her husband’s mistress.

I loved the premise but unfortunately the execution didn’t work for me. I didn’t ever feel fully invested in any of the characters. The twists either fell flat or felt too far fetched - particularly one involving Tess’s history and why she was hesitant to return to the small town where she grew up.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free review copy.

This book was gripping! It was edge of your seat the whole way. I love the author’s spin on a cold case file. There were several twists I didn’t see coming.

This was an enjoyable read. Set in the north of England, near Manchester, the plot centers around an agency that reviews prisoners who may have been wrongfully imprisoned. The reader is left wondering right until the very end whether the prisoner is in fact innocent or not. The prime investigator has troubles of her own as the prisoner is from the same town she grew up in. A good book to keep you entertained during lockdown.

Imagine being charged with a crime you protest you didn't commit, and nobody believes you. Then your saving grace walks in, fighting for your freedom. This sets the background of a thrilling story, that can easily be turned into a tv series. Recommended.

I love Paula Daly and this book is one of her best! Fast-paced, great character development, and kept me constantly guessing. This story did not disappoint!

I love Paula Daly books. Ever since the first one I read, Just What Kind of Mother Are You? I've been hooked. Clear My Name is just as darn good! I like the alternating point of view narrators, not confusing at all. Couldn't put it down. Loved it!

Paula Daly never fails to draw me in . Her books keep me guessing..Her plots have so many twists and turns characters that come alive, I highly recommend all her books her latest is a unputdownable read.#netgalley#groveatlantic

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you to the author, to the publisher and to Netgalley. This is the third book that I have read by Paula Daly. I keep changing my mind about whether I should give this book 3 or 4 stars, I decided on 3.5 stars which rounds down to 3. I think that this book was a very interesting concept, but I think it was too short. Not that the book felt unfinished at the end, but that I would have liked more details throughout the book. There wasn't enough to feel connected to the characters. There were too many little stories in the book that seemed inconsequential and maybe took away from the main story...i feel like I didn't get enough information in some areas and other information that wasn't relevant.
I did enjoy the story though and I had a hard time putting the book down...I finished the book in 2 days (which is fast for me).
Can you tell I am feeling a bit conflicted about this book.

My best friend has been urging me to pick up a Paula Daly book for the past couple of years, but it wasn't until I read the blurb for Clear My Name, her latest novel of psychological suspense, that I actually took the plunge. Now, I'm excited to check out her back list since this novel was utterly engaging.

Tess has devoted her life to righting wrongs perpetuated by the UK's criminal justice system. As part of a law firm that re-examines the criminal cases of those who claim to have been wrongly convicted, she's seen her fair share of judiciary mistakes. Attempting to get convicted felons out of prison doesn't exactly make her a popular person, but this doesn't bother her at all. In fact, Tess does everything she can to keep the world at arm's length, something I found a bit off-putting until midway through the book when the reasons for that were explained.

When Tess is assigned the case of a woman currently serving time in prison for allegedly murdering her husband's lover, she's not initially convinced a miscarriage of justice has taken place. Sure, Carrie seems like the least likely person to have committed such a violent crime, but Tess knows better than to be taken in by the stories her clients tell her; after all, if someone is capable of committing murder, lying usually isn't much of a problem for them. But as she begins digging into Carrie's case, Tess finds herself faced with a number of unanswered questions, and it's not long before she starts wondering if Carrie might be innocent after all.

Ever since she was arrested for the murder, Carrie has proclaimed her innocence for all to hear. Her story hasn't changed at all in the four years she's been in prison, and she's desperate for someone to take her seriously. When she meets Tess, she finds herself unable to quell the spark of hope she feels, even though Tess cautions her against getting her hopes up too high. All Carrie wants is to be reunited with her daughter Mia and put her time in prison behind her, but, of course, things don't turn out to be nearly as cut and dried as Carrie wishes they were.

Most of the story is told from Tess's point of view, but the author does give us glimpses of Carrie's early days behind bars. The narrative jumps around a bit in time, but Ms. Daly always makes it clear when certain events are taking place, so I had no trouble keeping everything straight in my mind. Still, if you're someone who prefers a more linear approach, Clear My Name might not be the book for you.

I found myself wishing I could have known Carrie a bit better as a character in her own right rather than seeing so much of her through Tess's eyes. Her story is obviously quite complex, and it would have been quite interesting to spend more time in her head. Still, the story as a whole was really compelling, and I found myself eager to uncover the secrets being kept by both Carrie and Tess.

In order for a book like this one to work, the author must be able to convince her readers that a string of coincidental events aren't too far-fetched to be taken seriously. Not everyone is capable of pulling this off, but Ms. Daly does a great job of it here. I obviously can't go into much detail about said coincidences, but I can tell you I was more than willing to buy into them. They might not be things I'd take seriously in real life, but they fit together very well on the page.

Clear My Name is not a perfect book, but it's fast-paced and twisty, making it a novel I'm delighted to recommend to fans of British thrillers. Paula Daly is an author I'll be watching from now on, and I hope you'll give her work a chance, too.

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WOW! Another excellent novel by Paula Daly. I've read all of Daly's novels and Clear My Name is must read for all thriller lovers.

Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Clear My Name. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Tess Gilroy is the only paid employee of Innocence UK, working as an investigator in a charity that helps the wrongfully accused. The transient lifestyle has afforded Tess the ability to pick up and move temporarily to her clients, but what happens when a case brings her home? Will facing her own past help Tess see the truth?

As a former probation officer, Tess was often in the presence of the innocent, as well as the guilty. Her desire to help those who were wrongfully accused often takes her deep into their former lives. Tess has demons of her own, in a past that she has tried very hard to forget. As the story progresses, the reader is given small snapshots into the investigator's life before her current job. This time shift is well done and does not distract from the main story.

The investigative process is realistically handled, as Tess and her understudy Avril reexamine small bits of the evidence that was used to convict their client of a crime that she says she did not commit. The only problem with the book involves Tess, in which she compromises following the evidence as to not revisit her past. This seems contrary to the character's integrity and seems more like a plot ploy to move things forward. Overall, Clear My Name was a good read and one that mystery thriller readers may enjo