Leah Talbot has a car accident when close to home. After ending up in a ditch, she seeks help from a neighbour. Martin Tate answers the door, and lets her in. He's charming and helpful, and after managing to get home, Leah goes back the following morning to thank him. Except he isn't there. The police are there. Leah's neighbour has been murdered. Her female neighbour, Alice Booth. And there's only one suspect.

I loved this book. It was a very easy read and I devoured it in one sitting. There was no real mystery to it, as it was obvious who the killer was, so it was a very straightforward story. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't compelling. It takes place over the course of about 24 hours, and after Leah learns about the fate of her neighbour, the story changes pace and it then becomes about a search for Tate. Except Tate is fixated on Leah, and is determined to pull the strings. He leads blackmails her and leads her on a separate man hunt, which takes her to a few gruesome discoveries. At every stage, we then have a chapter from Tate, so we know how he has managed to keep one step ahead of her. I really enjoyed that element of it. Knowing what Leah was about to walk into before she did meant at some stages I was holding my breath when reading this book, and was the main reason why I read it in a few hours. I had to know what was going to happen next.

I would definitely recommend this book. It was fast-paced, creepy (in a good way) and extremely compelling. A perfect way to while away an evening in lockdown

Omg! It’s fascinatingly riveting page turner makes you anxious, sit at the edge of your seat squirming but you cannot help yourself and you turn the pages a little faster to pump the full adrenaline into your veins till you feel better the crush!

This is one of my fastest reads and it was quiet entertaining mouse-cat chase, action packed, heart pounding, twisty ride!

Let’s give you more clues about story line if you didn’t already read the blurb!

Leah Talbot hits the deer on the deserted road close to her village. She realizes there’s a house lights on nearby. She knocks the door to get help, meeting with charismatic Martin Tate who becomes her knight in shiny armor, inviting her into his place. Poor Leah is shaken, hysterical but also appreciative the help she gets from her mystic charming man.

Then very next day she rings the door twice like a postman to say thank you with hope to see her charming man again but alas her dreamy man is product of her vision. The police welcomes her, telling her the resident of the house is brutally murdered!

Don’t worry the charming boy is not dead! The resident of the house is a woman. Chill out!
Of yes, there’s a some detail: now we gotta worry about Leah because she’s the one who spent her time with a killer all night long! She’s the one who saw his face which makes her
quiet delicious prey/ target for her deer hunter!

Buckle up and get ready the crazy chase between Leah and Martin! It’s fast, it’s jaw dropping, it’s absolutely thrilling!

I’m giving my 4 ultra exciting, mind spinning, whirlwind, crazy wild stars!

It’s easy to read, unputdownable, very addictive!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This was a definite suspenseful book for me. I enjoyed it immensely. It kept my attention throughout. First read by this author but will be on the lookout for more titles.

This book just did not connect with me at all.

To me the plot was like a TV movie and not my cup of tea.

There is nothing I can state that I disliked but similarly nothing that I can say I liked.

Just totally nonplussed either way.

I haven't published a review on my blog as I don't think it's fair to give a negative review when judging by other reviews, to use a well worn phrase "it's not you it's me"

Given a neural score.

I enjoyed this book but was a bit confused. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for my honest review. Quite well written in a different vein than I am used to.

Following a terrible car wreck involving a deer, Leah finds herself in a scantilly populated area. Not too far from home, yet banged up and in the pouring rain, Leah seeks help. She has no phone charge - so decides to knock on the door of a nice house she has looked at before.

Greeted by Tate Martin, Leah finds that he is nice and attentive. He calls the AA, the police and offers to call Leah an ambulance. Leah faints a couple of times at Tate's place, and the final time he lightly kisses her. Although her husband, Elliot, is a cheat, Leah is taken back by Tate's gesture. Tate tells her that this "is not how I" normally behave. Leah decides to wait outside in the pouring rain for the AA truck.

So how DOES Tate normally behave?

Many kudos to R J Parker !!! A winning book!

Also, many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a wonderful read!

What a thrill....

This book was fast-paced, suspenseful and quit thrilling.

There is so much tension and little twists that has you wanting to pace as you read. Each chapter unearthed clues and had me guessing every which way as to what would happen next.

I really enjoyed this one, only wish there was a stronger motivation behind the killers reasoning. It was a bit shaky when it came down to the structure of the set of events to spur the plot forward.

I would definitely recommend to a friend!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK One More Chapter for providing a review copy

I really enjoyed this book it has kind of a different plot. I was immediately drawn into the narrative.
This was a good read from beginning to end. The tension and suspense is great throughout the book and while Leah's actions are, admittedly, cringe-worthy at times,
I would recommend reading this one.

This story is so fast paced you won’t want to put it down. I’m baffled by the 3 star ratings because the sign of a good thriller is one that starts strong and reels you in so you have to finish it in record time! I felt that with this book! There were some problems with the main character and that could be why some docked a star here and there. Personally I’d still give it 4 stars!

Leah hits a deer and goes to the nearby house for help. Martin is charming and handsome. She goes the next day to give him wine and a thank you and the police answer... the woman who lives in this house has been murdered! Awesome premise! A little far fetched and silly but aren’t they all?

This started off amazing, then went off the rails towards the end. Leah Talbot thought she was simply receiving the kindness of a stranger one stormy night but it turns out she was very wrong. Martin Tate is anything but kind and now has his sights set on her.

Leah is definitely one of the dumbest women ever written. Just how stupid could you be? Not only did she give a complete stranger her home address, she incriminated herself in literally every crime scene. What a moron. The texts, the coverups, the footprints in blood. I was exasperated the whole time. About half way through I was seriously concerned with how this was going to end. Thankfully, the author managed to tie this up nicely (sorta), though the final twist wasn't really necessary. Overall, highly entertaining way to start 2021.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for my review copy.

After hitting a deer late one night, Leah makes the fatal mistake of knocking on a stranger’s door and has a somewhat bizarre encounter with the man she assumes to be the house owner. The next day she discovers the house’s real occupant has been murdered - but why? And how will Leah be caught up in the subsequent drama?

I had mixed feelings about this book. The story moved at a decent pace and it was well written - but I didn’t feel any of the characters were very well fleshed out, such that I struggled to empathise with them or become fully invested in the outcome.

The plot was original enough to keep me turning the pages, but the killer’s motivation seemed weak and his psychology wasn’t explored beyond confirmation that he was basically a psychopath with a strong misogynistic streak...

Overall a solid effort and worth a read, but I feel stronger characterisation would have bumped it up by a star.

Thanks to the publisher, author and netgalley for the ARC.

This was a very average thriller. The plot was a bit silly with lots of flaws. It was an easy read though but definitely not memorable enough.

A nice easy thriller, nice for snuggling up on your favourite chair with. Not a long read, it has some minor faults but if you’re looking for a basic thriller without too many scares then this is the one for you!

Good plot but I hated Leah, shes ridiculously stupid! I think if she was polished a bit more this book would be much more satisfying to read. I found her choices distracting and not what a real person would do. Call the police! I would change the title of this book.

3/5. I’d recommend to casual readers.

** spoiler alert ** 3.75 stars

I was lucky to receive this book as an arc from Net Galley.com for a honest review.

This is a kind of book that I would tell a friend to read and state "but don't read the blurb! Go in blind!" as the initial plot twist is wonderful and this grabbed my attention to read the book. The Kindle edition of the cover is beautiful. Illuminating yellow is one of Pantone's colours of 2021 and will be on many reader's minds when walking through the book stores.

Wow! I was hooked in the first couple of chapters. The premise of reading from the killer's POV is always an entertaining one and Tate is a cool and collected villain. I wish there were more chapters that contained his insight. I could picture him in a film or television series.

I had difficulty engaging with Leah and feeling sorry for her marriage breakdown and such. I wish I had more insight to what had happened with her relationship with Elliott. I was able to envision the sleepy town and the neighborhood where Leah lives and the windy roads where she had that horrible accident. I wish I understood more of Leah's turmoil at this point.

I found the portion of the book where Leah is travelling to and is at the abattoir, not very interesting. However, I am not partial to a chase scene. I got stuck here and stopped reading for a day or two. Parker's ideas of keeping everything in tune with Leah being a vegetarian very interesting. I love little ahaha! moments like that.

I am still at a lost about the title of the book. I am not particularly sure why it was chosen. However, I could have missed something.

Thank you R.J Parker and Harper Collins for allowing me to enjoy this book. I am going to take the time to read your back list. I can understand why the author wrote a fantastic villain due to his knowledge of true crime writing.

A fast paced entertaining read. Devoured the story in a day, with just the right amount of ridiculous in the plot to want to scream at the main character. You really don't want to be her neighbour.... Well written and can't wait to read another novel by R.J Parker.

This was an awesome read. Fast-paced but still well developed. Definitely a crime thriller. I have already recommended to friends!

Great book! Engaging from the beginning to the end. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommended!

Leah Talbot is on her way home when she hits a deer. She sees a house ahead and approaches it, hoping a kind neighbour will let her use their phone.

She is greeted by handsome Martin Tate who is more than happy for her to come inside and use his phone. He helpfully calls the police and arrangesfor her damaged car to be towed away.

The next day she decides to take Martin a bottle of wine as a thank you present. On her arrival she is stopped by the police and informed that the home owner was murdered ... and the homeowner is not Martin!!

What happens next is a cat and mouse game between Martin and Leah as Martin gives out instructions for Leah to follow.

I was completely drawn into this book with its fast pace and practically read it in one sitting.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

So, yeah…

This is like one of those Lifetime Movies where you spend much of your time yelling at the main character to just go to the police and stop doing stupid things. The only thing missing was a (insert underrepresented ethnic group cred here) best friend who ends up dead.

I mean, it’s a beach read. The beachiest of beach reads – and for what it is, it’s a lot of fun!

This is super-fast paced, has a fun villain, and you’ll definitely keep reading, munching on snacks along the way.

Not going to lie, I enjoyed the read. I was also highly irritated at it at the same time! Am I going to remember the book a month from now? Nope. But it was entertaining.

*ARC provided via Net Galley

3.5 stars

Possible spoilers

I spent a lot of time shaking my head at Leah... she did not act in an at all appropriate manner considering she had a murderer after her.
The bodies kept piling up.and the story just got more and more far fetched (as opposed to your normal murderer trying to get your attention 😃) and frankly it just got more and more fun.
I wasnt sure at the beginning of the book how much I'd like it,but by the end I was very much liking it,and it over the top killer.

Incredibly good fun,fast placed and worth a read.