This is a very twisty book.
The plot and writing is very good.
It is a great book and I would recommend it

Really intriguing premise. An adult dealing with survivors guilt since she was 7 years old. Its a hard concept to get your head around, as she was so young and how can she possibly blame herself? However I was impressed by the light that was shed on this condition and how it was handled very sensitively.

Despite keeping this is mind and trying so hard to let this diagnosis temper judgement...Beth was still a very difficult character. She was with a kind man who she was using, as she did not have any feelings for him really. It's hard to understand her relationship with Jamie. Would a brother resent his sister being saved so much?
Every single one of her relationships were fraught with inconsequential baggage...it seemed her life was just overly complicated but even with the survivors guilt it's hard to see how it got to this stage.

I also found the pacing very slow at times...I think it could have been a bit shorter and tighter....we definitely needed more adrenalin and more danger....had it been quicker would have rated it much higher but mid way through I was very frustrated with how little information we had and how much more of the book there was to go.

Overall its an interesting read but could definitely have done with some pacing changes.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great plot to get yourself lost in. This book has everything. A real fast paced thriller. Will get your heart racing on more than one occasion. Very well written. Highly recommend this book

A good read that had you guessing throughout, loads of twists and turns that kept you guessing right to the end

This was well written and had me guessing but for me it just lacked something and I don't know what.

I read an advance copy of, Your Life for Mine, by Karen Clarke. This book is a page turner. Somebody saved Beth's life, but they died in the process, now someone is trying to kill Beth. This is such a gripping novel, I loved it.

This was a really good thriller but I was disappointed by the conclusion, feeling that it was a bit far-fetched. For the rest of the story, however, I was gripped by Beth's suspicions and could not predict who was behind the threats.

Undoubtedly, Beth is haunted by her traumatic experience of nearly-drowning. Suffering from survivor's guilt, Beth cannot forget the fact that her saviour was someone who lost his life. To cope, Beth channels these emotions through her career as an art therapist. Helping people who are also suffering is helping Beth to cope with her memories but it never has truly disappeared. This is reflected in the break-down of her marriage and her estranged husband, Matt, really had my sympathies! I could imagine his haunted look every time he appeared in the story: wounded by leaving the family home and missing his daughter, Hayley so much.

The threats that begin at Beth's party start a path of suspicion. Suddenly, everyone around her has a motive for wanting to see Beth suffer after the near-drowning. Could it be her brother? Her estranged husband? Her current boyfriend? Her art-therapy clients? The list is almost endless and throughout the story I thought I had determined which characters could not be involved. However, Clarke's writing kept me guessing and incorrect! This was an enjoyable element of the thriller because I could really get a sense of Beth's fear and paranoia.

With plenty of twist and turns, this is a fast-paced thriller and I was engrossed very early on. Even when I was not reading this book, I could not help but ponder how the plot would be develop and what would happen to Beth. I found her a likeable character and admired her method of channelling her childhood trauma through art therapy. Furthermore, the descriptions of Beth's own paintings of the sea made the art sound really impressive - but this is reinforced by the art exhibition that is being planned to showcase this work.

What let this book down for me was the conclusion. Certainly dramatic, I did not enjoy how the story unfolded and felt the conclusion was pushing reality too much. I think there was not enough closure and it was wrapped up a bit too conveniently. I wanted more justice and retribution! However, the way that Clarke closes the story did make me wonder if there would be a follow-up to this story?

I liked this read and applaud how the writer has switched genres. As a first thriller, I think this largely worked really well and I would be excited to see what Clarke releases next.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The plot seemed very familiar but in saying that it still was very well written. It had me guessing the whole way through. What disappointed me was I just couldnt connect with the characters. The chapters werent too long and the pace was just right.

This is my third domestic noir read from this author and it was my favorite so far. Loved the premise and the twists and turns throughout. Our protagonist Beth makes some really bad choices but you forgive her in the next chapter as she is surrounded by people and one is dangerous - which one?

Your life for mine is exceptional. I read in one sitting and suffered book sleep deprivation. But it was worth it.

If you love a good psychological Thriller this one is for you!

I liked this book a lot. It originally appealed to me because the cover art is beautiful but the writing kept me there. I will definitely recommend and keep choosing this author.

Really well plotted thriller! I put my life on hold for a day so I could finish this! At every turn the author kept me guessing who was the culprit! I was pleasantly surprised that I guessed incorrectly about who was trying to kill the main character. Many red herrings but it was reflective of the character as well since she kept trying to guess who among those close to her was trying to get their revenge. I did not like this character at times but I felt like she was well aware of her negative tendencies. I’m also glad that the author didn’t rely on overdone tropes like having a child disappear to advance the plot. definitely would recommend this book if you’re looking for a well written fast paced thriller.

Karen Clarke has come up with a compelling and addictive tale that held me in its grasp right from the short and sweet prologue. The first chapters immediately set the tone of the book and I was totally engrossed in the story. Told from the perspective of the main character, Beth Turner, this book crackles with tension. The cleverly crafted and intriguing plot follows Beth who the reader gets to meet when she receives a threatening text whilst journeying from London to her own birthday party, organised by her boyfriend, Vic. Beth has a beautiful house and a wonderful daughter but her past has not been all sweetness and light, and her life plummets into a nightmare when her past catches up with her.

I was wowed by the easy-to-read, emotive and extremely suspenseful style of Karen Clarke in this standalone tale of psychological suspense. The writing flowed effortlessly and the narrative was very well structured. Your Life for Mine was a story that was packed with suspicion and twists as it spiralled its way to the surprise denouement. It is a must-read for fans of the psychological thriller genre. I look forward to reading many more books from Karen Clarke. I read Your Life for Mine with relish and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Overall, an enjoyable and tension-filled domestic thriller. 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I received this arc through net galley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This book chilled me but also made me want Beth to come out the victor and find out who wanted her dead.

I would highly recommend this book and will be looking for more books by Karen Clarke.

Oh wow this book was brilliant even though I guessed halfway through who was threatening the main character it didn’t spoil things for me at all. This book was so good I just couldn’t stop reading it. What a fantastic book to end what has been an awful year. I highly recommend this book to people who like a physiological read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of this book and the author executed it perfectly. I suspected various characters as the story progressed and was surprised when the villain was revealed in a climactic, well written scene ,where Beth is left to drown in the sea.

The main character, Beth, had almost drowed aged 7 and the man who saved her, tragically died as a result. She has always felt guilty about this and it seems someone is out for revenge. When we learn the backstory of her new boyfriend, her ex husband, her brother, friends and clients, there are so many possibilities and th athor really does a great job of making the reader suspect them.

I felt engaged with the main character and invted in her story, so found it hard to put this book down without reading one more chapter. I will definitely be keen to read more by Karen Clarke.

Meet Beth Turner. From the outside she looks like any other thirty-three-year-old woman, with a gorgeous house and beautiful daughter. But when Beth receives a threatening text message from an anonymous number on the way to her surprise birthday party, she knows her time is up. Beth has a secret that has haunted her past for as long as she can remember. A secret that only those closest to her know. A stranger died once because of Beth. As she arrives at her house, there’s only one thing she knows for certain, someone at the party wants her to pay.

So this was an okay read. On paper I really liked the plot, in translation, the plot was decent but nothing spectacular. Clarke throws in a lot of red herrings throughout this read which I did enjoy, however it all led to a fairly obvious reveal at the end which I did find disappointing. I would not say I was gripped by the plot but there was something about it that kept me reading.

The characters on the other hand are really good. I felt a connection in some way to all of them. Beth in particular is really interesting and I enjoyed learning about her and her past and how this has impacted the Beth we then read about. The other characters in this are interesting as well and all play an intriguing role in Beth's life. At some point during this read, most of them are suspects which adds some excitement to the read and did lead to me questioning them and their motives. The characters are definitely the strength of this read.

'Your Life For Mine' is okay but not electrifying. Clarke does portray emotions well and features a lot of them too. For me, this needed something else to transform it into a gripping read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for an advance copy.

It’s Beth Turner’s 33rd birthday, on her way home to celebrate with her loved ones she receives an anonymous text message, “Enjoy your birthday Beth. It’ll be your last.”.
Beth has a secret that has haunted her and her family for as long as she can remember, a stranger died once… because of Beth. So begins a series of events that will force Beth to face the past and try to uncover the truth about who is taunting her, who wants her dead. But will she find out before it’s too late?

Karen Clarke has created a gripping suspense novel, full of well imagined characters and likely suspects. Like Beth, I suspected just about everyone at some point, going in circles and jumping between suspects. Beth is always looking over her shoulder, we never know who she can trust. I truly did not anticipate the eventual ending.

Beth’s desperation was at times palpable and her anguish and confusion relatable. She is a layered but needy protagonist, who leads the reader into her innermost fears and thoughts. The dynamics of Beth’s family added to the intrigue, the supporting characters were interesting and their individual traits reinforced the suspicions hinted at throughout the storyline.

Undoubtedly the final chapters of the book were the most gripping, I absolutely zoomed through and could not stop reading until I knew who wanted Beth dead!

Thank you to the Author, HQ Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. Ive not read any of her previous books and this is her debut psychological thriller.

I raced through this and it had me hooked. There were parts i thought i knew where it was heading but i was proved wrong!

Packed with suspense and tension this is a great thrilling read.

When the past comes back to haunt you can you really live in the present?

This is an addictive page turner and unpredictable.

Published 14th October and i look forward to reading more from Karen.

Aged 7 Beth nearly drowned. A man who attempted to rescue her did drown, 27 years later she is getting threats that she won't see her next birthday. She is anxious and nervy and suspects everyone. I found her one-dimensional and unlikeable and the story far fetched but it was tense and kept me interested until the end.