WOW what a great idea for a gripping story! Absolutely brilliantly written and captivating. I was invested in the characters and desperate to find out what would happen as the tale was told. I will be looking into more by Karen King.

I am also a little skeptical with domestic abuse thrillers and whilst I found this a little cliched and very frustrating at times overall I think the author has done a pretty good job. The idea IS to hate the philandering narcissi tic gaslighting asshole of a husband (which we do) and feel sympathy for Freya with the situation she finds herself in (which we do) and although you are screaming - GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN, leave his sorry behind in the hospital and don't look back it does pose some great moral dilemma questions with, well what would you do...??

It isn't as twisty or suspenseful as one might expect for this genre but it is page turning and very compelling and although the author is well known for her romance novels as a debut into domestic/psych thrillers I think she does a great job, The language is sophisticated and the story moves along at a decent pace so its a solid 3 from me and I'll definitely look out for more thrillers in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. It is well written and the characters are described well. This book kept my attention from the first page. It is very twisty and captivating. This is my first Karen King book and I wish I read more books by her in the past. Her writing style is great for the thriller genre. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It is in stores now for £0.99 (GBP).

Freya and Phil had the perfect relationship, the perfect wedding (only the two of them), and the perfect honeymoon. Then, they got home. And he became a violent, abusive husband.
Six years later, he could have died in a car accident, but he doesn’t. His amnesia has erased ALL their married life, though. He remembers his life up until they set foot on the airport, back from honeymoon. Nothing more.
A lot of questions arise in Freya’s mind:
Can he really not remember anything?
Is it possible that he’s changed?
Can she go back to live with him now that she’d decided to leave?
Could he be having an affair before the accident?
Why does he not mention his family... at all?
And so on...
There are some twists and turns that do make the book interesting, especially at the end. The end is brilliant.
On the whole, though, I found that a lot of the doubts Freya had were repeated over and over and that became fastidious, in my opinion. She took too long to make a decision that she had to make - and had already made - and that was another downside for me too.

Freya is married to Phil after a whirlwind romance. But not long after their marriage Freya sees a different side to Phil as he changes into a physical and mentally abusive husband. After numerous incidents Freya decides to leave him and has packed a suitcase when a knock comes to the door. It is the police who have come to inform her that Phil has had a serious car accident and she finds him in hospital in a coma. On waking he finds that he has no recollection of what has happened in the last two years. Freya decides that she cannot leave him now and hopes that this means that he will have forgotten his violent episodes as he seems a changed man. The book opens with an unnamed character claiming to have tampered with Phil’s brakes in order to kill him so when the police inform Phil and Freya about the brakes they wonder who this person is who has a grudge against him especially when Phil starts to receive threatening messages. This is a story full of deceits and,lies, with plenty of tension, suspense and red herrings. I found it a really enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Freya thought Phil was the man of her dreams, only the dream turned into a nightmare. His controlling ways & temper drove her to the edge. When he stormed out after yet another bitter row she decided that was it & she packed her things ready to leave. However before she could drive away the police arrived to tell her that Phil ad been seriously injured in a car crash. When he wakes up he has no memory of anything apart from them returning form honeymoon. He seems to once again be the man she fell in love with & she decides to give him another chance. You can probably hear the collective yell from readers of, "Bad idea!!"

I had mixed feelings about this book. I had to read on the find out if things were as I suspected (they were!) I wasn't totally gripped by it & the style was a bit off putting at times, However it was a decent read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Loved this one! So easy to read and lots of twists and turns along the way. Definitely a quick read and one I recommend.

Who would want Phil dead? Has he actually lost his memory? Is he truly abusive?

I think #KarenKing did a great job with her first #psychologicalthriller! I would definitely read another by her! This book is short, written in multiple POV, unreliable narrators, and has a few great twists.

Wow this was an immensely good read for me, uniquely written and fast paced it was just great. A good domestic thriller for sure, handles some really sensitive subjects very well and you’re sat rooting for her all the way through, thought it was quite suspenseful in places and one I didn’t take long to read at all as I was desperate to see what happened, defo recommended to my friends and family as one to read 😊

What a premise! So entertaining and unique. I absolutely loved this dark and twisted mystery. I give it 5 stars!

Gripping and twisty. A man waking from an accident and can only remember until their blissful honeymoon. A lot happened since. A really good paced read that has you guessing all the way through.

"I follow him, wanting to see it happen with my own eyes, wanting to see him die. He deserves to die. He's a bully, a cheat, scum. He doesn't know that I know about him, know all the awful things he's done."

TW - domestic violence

Freya thought she was the luckiest woman in the world when she met the handsome, charming Phil. They fell in love and married quickly. Not even home from their honeymoon for 24 hours, things start to change. Phil starts showing a different side to him, a nasty temper, and soon the abuse starts.
After two years of this, Freya decides it's time to leave. Suitcase packed and in the car, she's ready to go when the police arrive to tell her Phil is in hospital, having had a horrible car accident. When he wakes, he has no memory of the last two years, and Freya hopes she can change him. But Phil has other ideas.

This was a pretty intense thriller and I enjoyed it so much I flew through it. I loved the twists, the unreliable narrators, the tense feeling of not feeling safe in your own home. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This was an emotional thriller. One of my best reads this year btw. It starts with the MC as she struggles with whether to leave her violent husband or not. I felt like I was reading a real life story, as it details abuse psychologically, psychically, mentally and emotionally that women go through.⁣
⁣
At times, the MC saw her husband as the perfect husband and other times, as the most violent. ⁣
⁣
After an accident, she has to make a decision. Stay with him or leave? But there's just one problem. The accident resulted in a severe memory loss for him. Can she leave him in that condition? Can she be that heartless. Or will she stay with him with all his abuse and tantrums? Maybe he'll change after all..⁣
⁣
The blame game he plays on her after his violent behaviour is infuriating. How can she be at fault simply because she talked to a friend? Why should he hit her in the first place. Tbh this was very sad to read but also interesting. I live for the ending. He got what he deserved! ⁣
⁣

Thank you to netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Super quick easy read. Great domestic drama with elements of suspense! I didn’t guess the ending so had me guessing till the end. I didn’t find the characters particularly likable hence the three star review. Would definitely read another book by Karen King though!

Freya and Phil seem like the perfect couple but there was a lot that going on behind closed doors that wasn't so rosy. They have been married for 2 years when Phil is in a horrific crash that results in him losing his memory of the two most recent years, the length of their marriage. He is reverted back to their honeymoon, just after their wedding, and has forgotten all of the turmoil that they later endured. Freya knows staying with him could be dangerous but figures they could start over since he would only know what she tells him. Will they figure out the full truth of the past two years? Whose life is in danger?

The writing is excellent and well planned out but I would have enjoyed some more twists. I had an idea of what was going to happen from the start (and I am not one of those people who usually figures it out) but I still wanted to keep reading. I was entertained, expected a little bit more, but would definitely read another title from this author (since this is her debut) to see if the storyline was a little less predictable.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

CW: physical and emotional abuse, gaslighting

3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a well written book, but not quite what I expected. I think it is definitely more of a domestic drama with some suspense, than a thriller. The characters were well developed, which made me able to finish the story, but it didn’t have any of those twisty twists or shocks I crave. It did have a couple thrills, chills, and a bit of suspense. I would recommend though, as I believe it was well written and easily read in a sitting type of book. Will definitely look for more by this author, as I do think she is a great writer. Looking for a domestic drama, with some suspense? Here’s your book!

The Stranger in my Bed by Karen King
Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense
Published: 23rd November 2020

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘We have a patient who has been involved in a serious accident. We believe he’s your husband.’

When Freya first met Phil, she thought he was the man of her dreams. He bought her roses every week, booked surprise trips to sun-soaked destinations, and showed her affection like she’d never experienced before. But over time the dream has become a violent nightmare. And now Freya is packing her bags, knowing it’s time she escaped their increasingly broken marriage.

But then Freya gets a visit from the police. Phil’s been in a horrific car crash and – as he comes around – it becomes clear that he remembers nothing since their blissful honeymoon two years before, back when their relationship was perfect. All he wants is to be happily married again.

Freya knows giving him another chance could be dangerous. But now he’s the one who needs her, it’s a chance to turn the tables, and to change the outcome of their relationship once and for all. After all, he will only know what she chooses to tell him…

But what really happened during those two years of marriage? And as they start over again, who is safe? And whose life is in danger?

Fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and Date Night, who are looking for a dark, gripping psychological suspense novel, will love The Stranger in My Bed.


BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Stranger In My bed' by Karen King.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 23rd November 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover its intriguing synopsis. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 58 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in the UK 🇬🇧.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Freya, Phil and Daisy. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Wow!!! Well fair play the first thing I must say is congratulations to Karen King for a HUGE success on what I would have never guessed was your first psychological thriller!!! Absolutely fantastic!! I never did work out who had did what and that is quite a feat considering it is quite hard to shock me now thay I have read so many suspense and thrillers yet I never did see that coming!! Anyway on with my review....

As you can tell from the above I loved it!!! This book is very well and smoothly written it just drags you straight into the storyline and keeps you in there under you have finished. A true page turner this book has an absolutely compelling and addictive storyline that kept me guessing throughout. I was continuously questioning who did what and who the victim was. I loved the ending and thought it fitted perfectly. The storyline is, sadly, very realistic and domestic abuse and gas lighting happens daily. I, myself have been in several abusive relationships as have several of my friends and know from first hand experience how easy it is to question yourself if your the one who has done wrong. Karen King has really got it perfect in this book, whether from experience or from research I don't know but either way it was written perfectly. Great descriptions throughout the book really putting the reader in the story and getting a good feel of what is going on.

The characters were very realistic and well rounded and again their personalities reflected the storyline and how they would act, etc perfectly. The narration gave a really good in depth view of Freya and Phil's relationship. It is very thought provoking and makes the reader question what they would do in that situation.

I am looking forward to reading more psychological thrillers by this very talented author. Going from romances to psychological thrillers cannot have been an easy feat but you absolutely smashed it!!

Overall a page turning addictive psychological thriller that will have your heart racing.

Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Noir Fiction, Psychological Thriller amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl' and anyone looking for an excellent solid read.

295 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Let’s Get to Know Karen King

Karen King is a multi-published bestselling author of fiction for both adults and children. She has also written several short stories for women’s magazines.

Currently published by Bookouture and Headline. Karen has recently signed a two-book deal with Bookouture to write psychological thrillers. The first one will be out in November, and the second one in 2021. She is also contracted to write three romance novels for Headline, which will be out in 2021 and 2022

Stay up to date with Karen’s work by visiting her website and looking her on this social media accounts.

http://www.karenking.net/

https://m.facebook.com/KarenKingAuthor/

https://mobile.twitter.com/karen_king

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The Stranger in My Bed is a simple and enjoyable read with no complicated twists and turns. I’ve read some reviews that complained about the lack of a big twist but I felt that the story was compelling enough without one. However, I do have to admit that it wasn’t very difficult to guess some aspects of the story and that might frustrate some people.

It was easy for me to become engrossed in this psychological thriller. I enjoyed the fact that it left me wondering which of the characters are actually telling the truth. I’m a sucker for an unreliable narrator. The narration jumps between Freya and Phil meaning the reader gets a good insight into both personalities.

I liked Freya as a character. Phil was more complicated for me depending on what point of the plot I was at. Sometimes he could be nothing more than a dangerous man, while at other times I felt I was being manipulated into thinking he was all bad. I appreciated how the author was able to make me continually change my mind regarding the outcome of the story, despite me knowing that this was a toxic relationship regardless.

I flew through The Stranger in My Bed and it is a book I would recommend to others. For myself, I need to discover what else Karen King has to offer.

This is an entertaining, easy read with lots of twists and turns. Recommended for someone looking for a quick holiday novel

Freya and Phil have been married two years. What started as a fairy-tale marriage has turned into something quite different. Phil definitely needs anger management .... he has emotionally and physically abused Freya. And she has done the last thing she'd ever thought she would ... her bags are packed and in the car.

She's interrupted when police show at her door. Seems like Phil's been involved in a terrible auto accident and is in a coma in the hospital. She stays by his side until he wakes from his coma ... he remembers nothing after the honeymoon.

Freya knows giving him another chance could be dangerous. But now he’s the one who needs her, it’s a chance to turn the tables, and to change the outcome of their relationship once and for all. After all, he will only know what she chooses to tell him…

What really happened during those two years of marriage? Who's lying .. who's telling the truth? Who's safe ... and who isn't? And who is leaving Phil threatening notes?

This is a well written look at domestic abuse and the challenges of making the right decisions at the right time. I have to confess ... I did not like Phil one iota. I felt sympathy for Freya who's torn between trying to save her marriage and running like crazy and getting away as fast as she can. Twists and turns make this a real page-turner. Suspense starts on the very first page and only increases until the unexpected, surprising conclusion.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.