This one had me questioning! Very well written with exquisite scenes. I liked the author's use of words to drag it out a bit. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

Astrid has finally hit rock bottom and is fresh off the sobriety train, with nothing but the clothes on her back she if forced to live at home with her mother. She has flash backs of her past behaviors and she wants to shut them out, but also wants to avoid drinking. Astrid goes to AA meetings, makes a few close friends, and gets a job. Things seem to be going smoothly. Until she gets some anonymous messages from someone who is wanting to dredge up the past.

I felt like this was a bit of a slow burner book - I really wanted to love it because I loved Kara's first novel the Rumour so much. I think that the characters in this one were just so unlikeable and the story just moved a bit slowly for me.

I really liked this book. I enjoyed the English setting and characters. Astrid is a great character. I felt for her and rooted for her the whole way. We get to know her mom slowly. Josh and Richard are great. The plot moves at a good pace and the suspense stays with you. I recommend this! I reviewed this on Goodreads, but couldn’t get the link.

The horrors and trials of addiction take center stage in this haunting book, where the main character Astrid, is struggling to maintain her fragile sobriety after returning to her hometown to live with her mother after a tragic turn of events (to-be-revealed). But as she works to clear her cluttered mind, someone is determined to drive her deeper into insanity and back in addiction, just as she begins to get her life back on track.

This book was so good in its vivid descriptions of Astrid’s struggles with alcohol, it was honestly anxiety-inducing reading about her episodes because her dilemmas and trials felt so real and I was rooting for her so hard. I wanted her to succeed and make the right choices. I won’t give it away, so you have to read to find out how it all plays out but things really work out the way they should; it’s not perfect, but it’s a start. This book really will help bring a voice to those struggling with addiction.

The mystery aspect was also good - there were a couple twists, though I have to say that I figured out some things along the way. There’s definitely some hints along the way. But there are still some good tidbits in there that are worth waiting for and I enjoyed the reveals. There were absolutely some surprises I didn’t see coming.

Astrid herself was a good character because she was worth rooting for, as I said before. She is a character that you can sympathize with and that you hope can get things together. Though she has done some bad things (again - to be revealed!).

Overall, this is a good book that is heavy on atmosphere and is pretty suspenseful. It’s worth a read for anyone interested in mystery/thrillers, or anyone looking for a good weekend read.

Who Did You Tell is one of those books with just a ton of ridiculous babbling and too much darkness. This book describes the life and recovery of an alcoholic. Having had one in my family years ago, I was intrigued to read, however I just couldn't keep going. Astrid's decisions early on in the novel are frivolous and stupid and made her character completely unlikeable. I read about the first 20 pages or so and put it in my do not finish pile. Sorry but this is a no win in my book

So suspenseful - kept me on the edge of my seat. A few plot twists that I did not see coming, which is truly the best when reading a novel like this! Would recommend!

An interesting story which had a recovering alcoholic trying to find her way back to life living with her mother, but things turned haywire when she felt someone watching her.

My second book by author Lesley Kara. I liked parts of the book, especially the trials of a recovering alcoholic and the AA meetings. I liked the author's honest portrayal of an addict and how every day was a struggle. The author showed great sensitivity in that.

The suspense was subtle in it and the ending was quite expected as there were only a few characters described in the book. I would have liked more of a thrill in the book. Astrid as a character was difficult to like for me, but I could feel empathy for her. She opened my eyes to a different world.

Overall, it was a fun afternoon read.

I was nervous that I would not get into this book, but I did. I was so invested in Astrid that I was sad when the book ended. This is such a beautifully written story about forgiveness, recovery and forgiveness. Labeling this book as a thriller does not quite fit but stick with it! Toward the end, the suspense and action pick way up & it’s totally worth it.

Once again, fans of Lesley Kara and The Rumour will not be disappointed!

You are taken into the world of a recovering alcoholic who is tormented by her memories both vivid and forgotten. Meanwhile she tries to rebuild her life and fights her desperate desire for a drink.

Astrid's world is bedeviled by her past, her present, and her strained relationship with her mother. The depths of her alcoholism brought her back under her mother's roof. Any adult who has had to return home can relate to her feelings of failure and disappointment while she tries to regain her mother's trust.
As she lives with the daily challenge of staying sober, she embraces once again her love of painting, and the hope of a possible romance. She knows it's wrong, but she hides her addiction and her past. She should be honest if she has any hope of building a solid relationship, but she just can't.

Astrid desperately clings to her secrets. But somebody knows the truth, and they are tormenting her. If only she could remember, who did she tell? Who knows? What lengths will her tormenter go to, will she ever find peace?

Slowly and methodically you will find yourself getting wrapped up in the snippets of those memories she is trying desperately to recall. Just when you think you have figured out who her tormenter is, somebody else has you thinking again. I never saw this one coming. What a ride!

Thank you @netgalley @randomhouse @lesleykarawriter for this e-book

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I love thrillers, and this was a great one! I simply could not put this book down. I had many guesses as the plot twist which kept me engaged in the book. I couldn't wait to finish it! Love the characters, especially Astrid and Josh. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys thrillers!

Suspenseful story of a recovering alcoholic riddled with guilt and things she just can quite remember. Then someone starts leaving things for her to find and figuring out the who and why becomes dangerous.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2020
A very good story about Astrid and her life post rehab - living with her mother, attending AA meetings, and - is her mind playing tricks on her, too? Plenty of twists turned into a very good story. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion

This was a really suspenseful, and at times especially heartbreaking, read. I was really impressed by the unique take on the psychological suspense genre. I never saw a twist coming until it was right on top of me.

It's been so long since I read this novel so I don't remember much about it anymore but I vaguely remember thinking that it was fine. The ending wasn't great and I definitely didn't like it as much as her other book, The Rumor.

A good story that starts off a bit slow. However, as the plot progresses and the characters are developed more, there is strength in the story. The author is able to portray some of the struggles encountered by alcoholics. I recommend this book.

I went into this story looking for a fast paced thriller, and, while I did not get what I wanted in that sense, I did get a very interesting story. Simon and Astrid's relationship fascinated me, and there were some parts that I actually felt myself relating to them. Yikes! Who Did You Tell? is a wild ride of a terrible act that may, or may not, have been made public by one of the people involved.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Who Did you Tell? By Lesley Kara is a 2020 Ballantine publication.

Realistic, tense, disturbing!

Astrid is a recovering alcoholic, living with her mother, and struggling mightily to hold on to her new sobriety. She also has a heavy, dark secret hanging over her head, complicating her ability to face her demons head on.

As her memories resurface, Astrid’s past relationship with a guy named Simon begins to take shape- a relationship centered around the pain of addiction, but also one with intense emotions attached.

It is obvious that Astrid is tormented by her past, perhaps with good reason, but apparently someone out there is determined to remind her of her misdeeds, keeping her on a perpetual tightrope as she desperately tries to move on with her life-

I nearly read this book in one sitting- not because it is fast-paced, because it’s not- but because of how deeply I was drawn into Astrid’s struggles. The heavy atmosphere and the constant feeling of foreboding kept me glued to the pages.

This is a mesmerizing and intense story, checking all the correct, traditional psychological thriller boxes. However, it was Astrid's vivid characterization, and her will to stay sober, her vulnerability, uncertainty and fear, and the possibility that she could be in danger, that gave the book an extra padding of depth - more than one normally encounters in this genre.

The drama is very engrossing, drawing the reader deeper into Astrid’s troubled world. The suspense slowly, methodically builds, to a point where it almost becomes unbearable.

I still see a multitude of newly released psychological thrillers out there, but I think the fever has finally broken and there is a slow return to normalcy, which means higher quality stories in this category. However, I still started this book with only average expectations. (Keep in mind, though, that I have not read this author's debut novel- although I plan to remedy that ASAP)

However, this book exceeded my expectations, and is decidedly above average for this category. The novel is very well executed, moody, taut, and suspenseful, but has an added layer of emotional drama that compels the reader to invest, not only in the plot, but in the characters, as well.

Overall, this book is an impressive thriller, and I think Lesley Kara may be an author I’ll

Astrid like many has demons. Demons that she would rather leave behind on her journey to create a new life. Having to move back in with her mother isn't easy, but neither was the path she was walking. Everything seems to be going fine until the past rears its ugly head.

Now Astrid has to delve into the days she would rather forget. To see who could possibly be trying to remind her of times better left forgotten. This isn't going to go away though. While Astrid would love nothing more than to forget, the person causing this turmoil wants her to pay.

Twisting, turning and enlightening Who Did You Tell? is the perfect story to make you question the demons in your past.

Astrid, a one time artist, is struggling to hold onto her recent sobriety after years of alcohol addiction. A blurry past haunts her including lost love and other damaged relationships. A new beginning dawns, but hangs in the balance in this psychological thriller.