Kate O’Leary is the doctor in a village in Northern Ireland. She’s well-respected and she loves her work. But, when she discovers a teenage patient murdered in her home and, subsequently, evidence is uncovered linking Kate to the crime, the locals begin to turn on her. As threats continue to escalate, Kate and her long-time friend, Jannis, attempt to identify the real killer.

I’m not sure what to say about this book. I loved the setting and some of the information about Ireland and its history was interesting. But, the presentation often felt clumsy to me as the story veered off-course more than once. The characters’ personal lives took center stage (repeatedly) while the mystery faded into the background and the pace of the story faltered.

Even though a horrific crime had been committed, there isn’t a lot of police procedural in this book. I would have expected the police to be a presence throughout the story but that’s not the case at all and Kate and Jannis are left to flounder.

There are a number of characters introduced and some aren’t really very important…until they are. By and large, I didn’t connect with any of them and I never felt very invested in the story or its outcome.

Overall, Woman at No. 13 wasn’t the book I thought it would be. There were moments that I enjoyed it, but overall it was disappointing for so many reasons. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

I found this book to be really disappointing. It did not help that I could not connect with the narrative style and found it rather wooden, the characters to be stereotypical. Certainly fast-paced, I raced through this book because the chapters were unnecessarily short. Each chapter is divided into smaller sections, unnecessarily detailing times of the day. Sometimes a chapter would only be a few lines long; other parts were longer. However, I thought this was not really needed and paragraphing would have shown this passage of time in a less disjointed manner.

Set in Ireland, this book is about how the local doctor, Kate, is the first suspect in a teenager’s murder. But this is because she was the last person to see her alive and there are some bloody clothes at Kate’s house. Quickly this suspicion seems to be abandoned but it becomes clear that there are several locals in this incredibly small community that still are convinced that Kate is guilty. Receiving threatening notes, Kate and her best friend take it upon themselves to try and discover who is the murderer and who is behind these threats. Conveniently, it is like the police just disappear.

With the Irish backdrop, the writer makes references to the political troubles of Ireland’s history, as well as recent reformations, including Brexit. However, when the plot develops to show motives behind the murder, I was frustrated that this seemed to build on well-known stereotypes. It made the plot predictable and I was even less interested in finding out the criminals. Indeed, the list of suspects that Kate has did not become unique individuals; everyone outside of the three main characters all just seemed to blend into one.

In my opinion, the blurb presented a story that was quite different to reality. I was disappointed that the police investigation goes incredibly quiet as soon as Kate is released and found the structure of the novel restricted how much tension and suspense could be developed. Instead, it felt like the story was rushing forwards, although I did feel grateful when I reached the conclusion.

Not a match for me, I have read far better murder mysteries where the characters are more developed, there are fewer stereotypes and the narrative is structured to create a gripping and tense atmosphere. Alas, this book really did not deliver.

With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. I felt that what was written in the synopsis wasn’t what happened in the book. The writing was a bit all over the place. I didn’t find this a satisfying read

An interesting take on the usual mystery/ thriller. The local GP will find herself found guility by public opinion when one of her patients is murdered and she is accused. Clues may point at the doctor, but the police....and the community.....decide she's guility and no other investigation will take place. Told by the POV of someone outside the community, the certainity of her guilt based on her faith and her beliefs will leave readers searching the few clues for the actual killer.

This novel offers a blend of suspense, friendship, and the complexities of small-town life. The narrative that kept me guessing until the final pages. There is a web of secrets and lies that propels the story forward. The exploration of LGBTQ themes form a significant part as the novel takes the reader though an examination of identity, friendship, and the consequences of choices made in the crucible of a murder investigation.
There were several perplexing aspects such as the title but as this is an ARC copy it may be that this is resolved by publication.

I finally got to this one! Why did i wait so long! A great thriller with everything needed! Recommend!

Thank you One More Chapter and Netgalley for my digital copy. My thoughts are my own.

Kate is a physician in Northern Ireland. When she is suspected of brutally murdering one of her patients, she calls on her male friend, Jannis, from Germany, for support. Trapped in a town full of hatred and suspicion, Kate and Jannis decide to search for the killer themselves.

I couldn’t decide whether this novel is a mystery, or a social commentary. The story deals with themes of prejudice, Catholicism, abortion, sin, and homosexuality. It is told through the perspective of Jannis, who struggles with his attraction to the local priest. There is a lot going on in this novel, and ultimately I found myself just wanting it to end. Much of the novel deals with Jannis’s personal feelings. There are lots of characters, but little character development. I didn’t particularly like either main character. By the conclusion, I couldn’t even remember the character that ended up being the murderer and I had to look that person up in the book. But truly, by the end, I no longer cared about the identity of the actual murderer.

After reading this story and letting it move around in my brain a bit, I think I can say it’s a solid 3.75 stars.

My problem with it is one thing happened but the “whole” town isn’t angry about that but something else and ready to kill. Then there’s another plot line that seems to have nothing to do with it at all. I really think if that secondary platine wasn’t there, it wouldn’t have been missed at all.

Maybe someone else will like it better than I do. I would never tell anyone not to read. It should be given a chance.

When Kate, the local GP finds her 17 year old patient dead she did not expect to find herself at the front of a murder investigation with the whole town against her… with only the local priest and her friend Jan for support.

The Woman At No. 13 was a fast paced thriller, that had me on tenterhooks. Compelled to pick up every time I had a moment spare, to just read even one short chapter.

It was an easy read, with not a big heir of mystery, but that did not stop the need to continue reading and find out the few, secretive parts of the plot that were not easily given away by the author.

Finally got my hands on this book and wow. If you want a twisty tale that keeps you guessing this is the one for you. Highly recommend reading this one as it will grip you from start to finish.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

This is the third book I’ve read set in Ireland this month. And I’m glad as it is a country I know well. This was particularly real and I felt the characters and their relationship was genuine. A story of feminism, abortion and human fragility. Absolutely loved it!

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley sorry for the delay in reading/reviewing, but it was worth waiting to read over Easter weekend as I couldn't put it down.
Well written, great characters and brilliant storyline.
Highly recommend.

This is the perfect pool side read if you like a good thriller. You will not want to put it down!! It was a roller coaster ride from start to finish.

As much a story about the problems of a small village in Northern Ireland as it is a murder mystery. Kate. a physician is on the spot when her patient Alice is murdered in a gruesome way- and Alice's blood is found inside her home. It's not that simple though and in some ways the complexity of the issues here is more than some readers might want. That said,. this is well written and thought provoking. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers- it's a good read.

Disappointed that this book was given the title The Woman at No. 13. There are so many books with titles similar to this. The People at Number 9 or 10, or Over the Road or Upstairs or Next Door and so forth. This novel deserves a more distinctive title because that's what it is: distinctive. The author acknowledgments say that the original title was Local Whispers, with the symbolism of whispers throughout, it would have been a better title. But still, the house trend obviously works.

On the one hand, this is a murder mystery whodunnit. But the other hand demonstrates what it's like living in a modern-day Catholic community in Ireland, the pressures that still exist after the years of The Troubles, folklore, loyalty, honesty and morality. It deals with the issues that still remain taboo within the Catholic Church and the history and symbolism of yew trees. Fascinating stuff.

The premise is straightforward - a teenager is found murdered and the bare evidence the police have points to only one person. The woman who lives at number thirteen is the local GP and is the only only suspect. She calls for the support of her German friend who moves in with her while she faces threats in the form of notes, letters and the general suspicions from the villagers.

The story is told in the first person by the German friend. This serves to show what it is like for an outsider entering into a close-kit community and their strict views. It also makes him almost neutral as he tries to work out what's going on as the local police are rather useless and as bad as everyone else in the village. The chapters are short and often contain bits of evidence, such as letters, diaries and interviews, and are grouped by the times and days since the murder.

The book takes an unusual turn towards the end, when it is revealed that a number of characters have the same issues and deal with them in the same way. There is a romantic section that covers an awful lot of pages and almost changes the genre of the book. That definitely needs cutting, at least in length by a considerable margin.

​This is a very well written book, concise and snappy, and free from clichés and common themes in murder mysteries. The descriptions of the area are haunting and atmospheric, and the 'whisper' symbolism add to this. The short chapters and sentences make this a fast paced story.

2 stars, The Woman at No. 13 fell short for me. I couldn't get into the story.
Thank you to C.K. Williams, Harper Collins UK, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kate is a doctor who find herself involved in the investigation of the murder of one of her patients. Kate knows she is not involved but why was she framed and can she clear her name. An interesting storyline but sadly it was very flat for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This psychological thriller is set in Northern Ireland and follows a GP Kate. A local teenager confides in Kate, and then is found dead in her home when her parents are away, leaving Kate in the middle of a murder investigation.

Kate calls her long-time friend Jannis who travels straight away from Germany to be right by her side. They soon find themselves trying to solve the mystery of the killer.

When Kate starts to get threatening messages, the tension intensifies and the hunt for the killer becomes more personal.

Who killed the teenager? What other secrets are lurking in the town?

This psychological thriller was quite a quick read, with most chapters quite short I found myself flying through trying to work out who could be the murderer.

The storyline also delves into the divide between nations and the religious beliefs and prejudices that still reside in the country. It was interesting but also quite hard to believe that this kind of views are still causing people to hide who they are.

Mostly told from the point of view of Jannis, this added to the suspense as he is an outside character looking in on the local inhabitants. It means you are following the revelations and mystery along with him throughout.

Overall, a tense, thought-provoking psychological thriller where a GP finds herself thrown into a murder investigation.

The woman at number 13 is a poignant book. It is also a fast paced murder mystery. A mainly Catholic town is left is turmoil as a young girl is found brutally murdered. A police investigation ensues, alongside a rag tag band of locals who take it upon themselves to get justice.

The book has strong underlying themes about the troubles and abortion.

It is fast paced, some chapters only a sentence, and yet covers some deeply complex issues.

The relationships between characters keeps your interest and makes a good subplot.

A tale of love, friendship, grief, loss, faith, belief and murder!

The Woman at No. 13 by C. K. Williams is a thriller about a local doctor Kate O'Leary. When one of her patients is murdered, she becomes the main suspect. But then, she becomes another target of the killer. Can she figure out who the killer is before more people are hurt? This was a quick-paced thriller that kept me entertained. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.