Thank you to NetGalley and the Author and publisher for a copy of this ARC.The opinions expressed are my own.

Due to a extended illness I've gotten way behind on my reviews, so these are going to be short and sweet!

Not a huge fan of this story.., Ok plot, problem holding my inter but the ending was good. The characters were well liked and complex.
3 stars recommend if you like mystery.

A strange gripping story of a recovering alcoholic who is staying with her mother and attending AA meetings, and trying to deal with what she thinks she did. Her old boyfriend is dead, and she thinks that she killed him by making him drink after he was sober for 8 months. She also thinks that, while drunk, she tried to snatch someone's purse, and now that woman is also dead. But, what is the real story?

Highly recommend if you love psychological thrillers! Astrid is back home with with her mom. As a recovering alcoholic, she has a long. difficult journey ahead of her, and the threatening letters and the constant feeling of being watched only adds to her mental agony.

The story never loses its pace, and the entire sequence of events the night everything finally unfolds was brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a standard psychological thriller for me - it held me attention but nothing really stood out. There were a couple of surprising little twists and definitely some red herrings but nothing that really shocked. If you like this genre and are looking for a quick read, then this is a decent choice. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I remember being so ecstatic when I received the notification that my request for an ARC was approved. Unfortunately, this wasn't quite the roller-coaster ride that I was expecting.

This story is good. It's an entertaining read, but it's a difficult one. I can not begin to imagine the struggle of living with an addiction. My heart bleeds for those that do or who are close to people that do. It's heart wrenching to read of Astrid's struggles of being a 32 year old woman, fresh out of rehab, living with her mother and starting over. She makes you feel the inner daily struggle of wanting to drink and the self consciousness that comes along with being an alcoholic. The story is also terrifying to realize that we are are susceptible to having the same fate, it can start as having casual drinks with friends to becoming a slippery slope with no where to go, but down.

Back to the story, Astrid is battling with her addiction and trying to reacclimate herself to being a functionig adult in society. She haunted with the ghost of her ex-boyfriend. Not only that, but someone is stalking her and leaving her threatening messages. I feel as though the thriller part of this story is diluted by the recovering alcholic aspect. Not that that's a bad thing, I personally was just expecting more of a pulse pounding thriller.

I look forward to reading more Lesley Kara.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Lesley Kara for providing me with an ARC.

Before we go on, I want to say thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for sending me a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Last year, I had the privilege of reading Lesley Kara’s novel, The Rumor, before it was released in the United States. I requested it on Netgalley while I was on a thriller kick because it sounded like it would give me some proper goosebumps. I ended up completely engrossed in the story! So, when Who Did You Tell? appeared on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to dive into another Lesley Kara thriller!

In her new thriller, Kara weaves the story of Astrid Phelps, a recovering alcoholic who finds herself living with her mother in the sleepy town of Flintstead. Astrid has hit rock bottom and, after exiting rehab, is determined to get her life back on track. But there are things, and people, from her past that are refusing to stay buried. When she starts getting threatening letters, Astrid not only has to struggle with the fear of this unknown stalker but the ever increasing urge to drink.

What can I say, this author knows how to write a compelling thriller! I was completely wrapped up in Astrid’s fears, her struggles, and I couldn’t tear myself away. I think my favorite part of this book was how well the feelings of hopelessness and raw need were weaved throughout. I could feel Astrid’s frustration with herself and her addiction. Reading about her cravings was so visceral and heartbreaking. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to give something up when you’re body and brain keep trying to tell you that you need it. Lesley Kara does a masterful job of conveying those feelings so that you empathize with Astrid throughout, even when she’s making… questionable decisions.

Also, I will freely admit that the ending surprised me! Thrillers are probably my third favorite genre after fantasy and sci-fi. Though I can’t claim to be an expert, I’ve read quite a few twisty-turny books where someone is in mortal danger. I also watch an unreasonable amount of true crime shows. What I’m trying to say (other than I know how to hide a body) is that I usually tend to guess how thrillers are going to end about halfway through. This one, however, kept me on my toes! I would think I had it all figured out and *BAM* some new twist would have me rethinking everything! I, for one, appreciate the effort.

The one thing I could have done without is the slap-dash romance with some beach rando. Though I can see why that element was added, it just didn’t seem believable to me. Perhaps I’m just getting cynical in my old age… I say as a thirty-seven year old woman 🙃🙃🙃 Still, reading about Astrid and Josh did remind me of that feeling of giddiness when starting a new relationship. The emotions in this book are just so well conveyed in this book!

Final thoughts: This is a twisty and emotional thriller that will keep you on your toes! The emotions are written so viscerally that you can’t help but put yourself in Astrid’s shoes. And that can be a truly terrifying experience!

Who Did You Tell is the story of recovering alcoholic, Astrid, who has moved to a small town outside London to live with her mom and continue working the Steps with AA. Astrid needs to overcome her grief over the loss of her boyfriend, Simon, to suicide, and forgive herself her shame of her behaviors and mistakes in recent months. On top of that, she is trying to find love again with, Josh, the hot surfer she meets on the beach. But it appears someone doesn't want her to move on with her life.

Twisty to the very end, I thought I'd figured out her stalker twice, but then another surprise would arise to make me realize how wrong I was. Easy to read, this is an incredibly suspenseful thriller that I'd highly recommend.

This is a fast paced psychological thriller full of mystery and suspense. So many twists and turns. The storyline deals with a very real and heartbreaking addiction. I was drawn in from the first page. Astrid’s character is very well developed and believable. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review

My Two Cents: A recovering alcoholic is fumbling her way through small-town life since moving back in with her mom in this summer thriller. It’s easy to relate to Astrid and her feelings of failure for being right back where she started from the beginning. No one leaves home as an adult planning on or even considering having to move back in with their parents and I think a lot of those feelings can be exacerbated when you move from a small town to a big city. Going back to small-town life can be difficult for someone who loves the city and all of its options and anonymity.

Lesley Kara did a great job of making her characters relatable and realistic. Astrid’s struggles seem like an accurate portrayal of a recovering alcoholic, particularly in the scenes where she’s desperately craving a drink and rationalizing all of the ways she could handle it without damaging her recovery. I do think that she was extremely lucky throughout the book. I don’t think that in real life Astrid would meet someone as sweet as Josh, who also has such a really nice dad ready to welcome her in, not to mention all of the additional support from random neighbors. Then again, small towns really do have that community, so who knows?

Throughout the entire novel, the chapters are broken up by little snippets from Astrid’s stalker’s viewpoint. I loved those snippets! Not only did it give us insight into all of the anger and hatred we couldn’t get from an unknowing Astrid, but these little fragments were so well-timed with the various chapters that I was constantly trying to guess who they could be coming from. Everyone was a suspect for me – including Josh, his father, Rosie, Helen and even Charlie the shop owner! I won’t say who the real culprit ended up being, but although they were also a suspect throughout, it was really only obvious in retrospect. It was well-written so that I was constantly guessing and going back and forth with my own suspicions until the person was unmasked.

Two random things I wish I knew more about was what happened to Astrid’s father and Rosie’s connection to Simon. These aren’t spoiler alerts (the real one is the terrific twist of Simon’s suicide that I will refrain from going into!) From the beginning, we know Astrid’s father died a few years before our story began and it seems to have been intertwined with her drinking in some ways, but I never got a clear picture of why. I am wondering if maybe I read past these things too quickly or distractedly reading when holding my baby to sleep (bad habits!). If anyone has some insight, please let me know in the comments! https://thebookbasics.wordpress.com/2020/06/16/who-did-you-tell-by-lesley-kara/

One of the hardest things for Astrid was not only learning who to trust, but to trust herself. Because of her faulty memories from black out drunk episodes, she doubts her own feelings, even going as far as believing she's seeing things. It turns out there are many people in Astrid's life who have an interest in Astrid and her past life.

While Astrid tries to do the right thing (stay sober, be kind to her mum, establish a relationship), she hasn't exactly followed the 12 steps or "done the work" required of her in her AA meetings. She's out of work, living back with her mom, and waiting for her government pay to come through. She's starting to get redemption as her mom gives her a little more leeway. She's gotten herself a bit of a job. And a budding romance. What could go wrong.

You'll wince as you discover just how much can be undone in the space of an evening. The suspense is real as Kara takes us on Astrid's journey in Flinstead, toward recovery, and closure.

Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3LV55VD9PO34Y/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC. This is another great book by Lesley Kara. My heart ached for Astrid throughout her battle with addiction. I was rooting for her to be victorious over the demons that plagued her life. I enjoyed the element of suspense that was an integral element throughout the story. Guilt, deceit and fear take over her life. The conclusion was a satisfying thrill ride that did not disappoint!

A fast twisty roller coaster of a book. So so good. An absolute must read. Lots of suspense and filled with tension. Pick up this amazing book and see if you can figure out who did you tell. Happy reading!

Happy Publication Day @lesleykarawriter I really enjoyed The Rumour by Lesley Kara so I jumped at the chance to review her second book, Who Did you Tell?
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This story revolves around Astrid, a recovering alcoholic, who is doing her best to stay sober and put her life back together after her past love has committed suicide.
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Who Did You Tell? did a wonderful job of hooking me from the beginning and had a jaw dropping ending. I definitely didn’t see the twists coming, and it left me gasping at the end.
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I encourage you to put this one on your TBR, if you have ever struggled with addiction, or know someone who has, I think you will love how Ms Kara really gets into her head with how much an all consuming struggle addiction is.
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I would recommend this one to thriller lovers, those looking for an engaging summer read, and fans of Lesley Kara. Def check this one out, available today!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. ⠀

Astrid is a recovering alcoholic living with her mother in a seaside town. She had spent some time in rehab and is now attending meetings. Astrid’s mother works hard to make sure that Astrid is not drinking and has told her that if she does, she has to leave.

As she attends AA, Astrid gets to know some of the other alcoholics at the meeting. Although they aren’t to acknowledge one another outside of the meetings, she has become friends with Helen. They get together for tea of coffee and chats.

She meets a nice man named Josh on the beach and meets him for coffee. When he learns that she was a scene painter in the past, he invites her to meet his father who wants a scene painted in his house. They spend some time together and are attracted to on another. But she is hesitant to tell him that she is an alcoholic.

When Astrid begins receiving threatening mail, she becomes nervous and doesn’t know who is targeting her. What do they want and why?

I wondered who could have been after Astrid, but from her sordid past, it could have been anyone. This is a very gritty story and shows the misery that a recovering alcoholic goes through. I think anyone who has known an alcoholic can certainly agree that the author got this one spot-on.

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

Astrid is a newly recovering alcoholic. She's staying with her mother and this is her last chance at making a life for herself.... she has nowhere else to go.

Astrid finds strength in routine ... she regularly attends AA meetings, she works, she's making friends.

She has another routine ... finding out who is following her. She thinks it might be an ex-boyfriend ... but he's dead. Her memory is a bit shot ... too many blackouts when she was drinking.

She finds that trying to outrun the ghosts of her past is almost impossible. But someone knows exactly what she did. And that person is looking for some payback in the form of revenge.

This is an engrossing tale of a woman fighting addiction, guilt, penance and redemption. Her relationship with her mother, with new friends, with a man she could fall in love with are all highly suspect. Who is sending her threatening letters? How do they know what she's done ...or not done. The characters are finely drawn, and will remain in your head long after you've finished the book.

Many thanks to the author /Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Netgalley / for the digital copy of this psychological drama. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

This story has a lot of twist and turns that keeps you guessing. Who is after her and what did she do that was so bad. At the end it comes all together. It shows how hard it is for an alcoholic to break the habit. The hold it has on a person. Will Astrid be able to resist? We also see what it does to the mother who cares and don't know how much more she can take. This is a great story that I highly recommend reading.

Ms Kara has crafted a tightly written saga of addiction that feels true to life and shows it’s power over a variety of characters, both those affected and those who love them. Until the end some of the twists here were a surprise but made sense. The setting of #whodidyoutell played an important part bring a backwater where not much happens that plays with Astrid’s disconnect like another malevolent character. I found this dense read to be enjoyable enough to look for the author’s other book. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for this ARC to read and review ahead of publication.

"Three things cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."

Astrid Phelps is a recovering alcoholic, living with her mum in the English seaside town of Flinstead, and going to AA meetings. One day she meets a lovely man named Josh and soon thinks there might be hope for putting together a new life for herself and recovering some of her old passions. But first she has to tell Josh the truth about herself and what she's done...

I think Lesley Kara does an excellent job of writing from the addict's point of view--the pitfalls and struggles, the hope of a better life but fears of failing yet again and disappointing those who love you. The self-talk Astrid goes through in her head is so spot on!

Kara has created some interesting, believable characters here. I also enjoyed the way she weaves the threads of a mystery into this story and keeps the reader guessing about what is really going on. Nicely done.

I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

A friend asked me what I was reading and I said a book I am not really loving. It is making me edgy, uneasy and at times really ugh, yuck, uncomfortable. And then we got into a discussion about what constitutes good writing. Light bulb shatters – while I may not like the characters, topic or discussion, isn’t that what quality is – the ability to make to feel all those things you would prefer not to?

This is a book about addiction. It is a story about a woman, off the rails, who has used all her chances, who knows she can’t take another chance with her drug of choice, she can’t tell another lie, but she does, and does it again and again. This book is about the hard and perilous road an addict walks to kick the dependence.

Tough subject, tightly woven story with drama, suspense, self-inflicted psychological torture and a demented revenge seeker. Now about that great Buddhist quote thrown into the mix about halfway through: “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a copy

I wish authors and publishers would stop mislabeling novels. This was not what it was advertising. Instead it was just another book that could have been a short story if characters were just honest with each other. Every single decision, except the decision not to drink, that Astrid makes id pretty horrible and stupid. She wanders around lying and refusing to speak to people and the result, shockingly, is massive misunderstanding. Oh, and then there is a soap opera like drama about an ex she use to drink with.