Didn’t wow me but was pretty good. Enjoyed Dan’s character the most and the mental health aspects of the story.

I had such a hard tie getting through this one. It was a little bit slow and predictable for me unfortunately.

This book is amazing. I could not put it down. I didn't realise it was part of a series but you don't need to have read the other books in the series to follow this one ..I will however be buying the others. The book s fast paced, and the characters well developed. When a young woman is attacked and nearly killed by what appears to a serial killers she is obviously traumatised. Working with Detective Dan she tries to regain memories of the night she was attacked before the killer can attack again.
Lots of twists and a killer ending!!
.

Book starts off strong with woman being attacked and left for dead. The attack has wept her memory, and she has to rely on her friends, and colleagues to remember what happened. This means she doesn't know who to trust or not. Recommended for anyone who loves a good read.

I didn’t realise this was part of a series until the end of the book, but it made no difference at all.
When two young women are brutally murdered, with roses left by the bodies, Detective Dan Riley is on the case.
Daisey is then attacked and left for dead in her own home, she could hold the key to all of the answers if she could just remember the night of the incident.
This is a cleverly written read, the story unravels slowly, sometimes frustratingly so, but there are some fabulous twists along the way.
Definitely intending to read the rest in the series.

This book was great, it was full of twists and suspense and drama and kept me gripped from the start! I loved the characters and the writing style was on point

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙖-𝙇𝙤𝙪 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙮

Okay, this book was INCREDIBLE. This was the first book I’ve read by Weatherely and I’ll definitely be reading some more! Creepy, full of twists and well developed characters. I was gripped right from the start and I literally could not put this down. I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF for figuring out super quickly what I thought was a pretty complex twist— I’d written down the idea when I thought of it and thought this is far-fetched yet somehow also obvious but I definitely think it’s this person. This strangely did not ruin the book for me at all, just made me incredibly excited as the plot unfolded as I’d anticipated.

I didn’t realise this was part of a series but I found it easy to follow the characters and would say it can definitely also be read as a stand alone. We alternate between the POV’s of Daisey and Detective Dan Riley in the present day, and back to the 80’s/90’s to the mother of twins and some disturbing stories of the past. I do think the alternating chapters could have benefitted from a wee title of who’s POV we were reading as I found myself having to read a paragraph before realising who was writing.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 + 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂!

DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

Thank you netgalley and publisher for opportunity to read and review this ARC with my honest feedback.

This was a really well-written solid read. I didn't realize this was part of a series before I started it, but didn't feel like I was lost or missed out by reading this one before the others. The story was fast paced and interesting. Will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Although I have only read two others in this series - "The Stranger's Wife" and "The Night of the Party" - both of which I loved, it is fast becoming one of my favourite series. I love the fact that you don't need to read each book or in any particular order - as you can see, I read Book 3 and 5 before backtracking to this one, book 4 and I wasn't lost in any way. I think because Anna-Lou Weatherley focuses on the story itself rather than the team of detectives and their personal lives, we are able to follow each book no matter what order we read them. Although we do get a little of Dan's personal life, it's just an inkling and it never overshadows the main focus of the story.

The title, THE WOMAN INSIDE is a little ambiguous in which that it can have a double meaning. I won't say much more as to do so would reveal a major spoiler. But rest assured, this is an addictive tale that will that will have you promising yourself "just one more chapter"...

The story begins with Daisey Garrett at an after-work party thing that she really isn't enjoying and would much rather be curled up on the couch at home binge watching something more appealing on Netflix. She gets a little inebriated in the wake of her ex-fiance having run off with a younger woman, a former student of his no less. But that of course didn't stop Luke from coming around earlier for a little stroll down memory lane across the kitchen table. A couple of her colleagues are talking about the Rose Petal Ripper's latest victim, a former employee of the department store in which they all work, Fern Lever who was found dead, naked and with her throat slashed.

Having heard enough, Daisey heads outside for a cigarette to calm her anxious mind when a Good Samaritan offers her a light. She's not sure who this person is but she gets a strange vibe from him and finishes her cigarette quickly to escape him. It didn't occur to her till later that he addressed her by name. Does she know him? Does he work at Warwick's too?

A little more than tipsy, Daisey decides to head home early when the flirtatious Tommy White, with quite a reputation, insists on escorting her home...especially with a killer out there. Daisey thinks Tommy only wants one thing and she doesn't intend on relinquishing that for him. After ensuring she is safe home, Tommy leaves but when the doorbell rings soon after, Daisey thinks he has returned, thinking he's going to get lucky.

It isn't him.

All at once, Daisey sees the figure in front of her before she sees the hammer he's wielding...and then everything goes black.

Detective Dan Riley was called out from leave to head up the investigation into the Rose Petal Ripper and after two killings he gets the call that there has now been a third. As soon as he sees the scene, he knows it's the same killer. Daisey lays naked on her bed, arms folded across her chest with her throat cut. And with her is his calling card - a single pink rose with a scattering of petals around her. But there is something different about this scene, Dan assesses, and is shocked to discover that Daisey is still alive...though how or why is anyone's guess.

The next thing Daisey knows is waking in a hospital bed with a raspy sore throat from the breathing tube that had kept her in a medically induced coma until she was well enough to wake. Dan is at her side almost immediately. But any hopes he has of a description of her attacker and details of what happened are dashed when he is informed that she has traumatic amnesia. Daisey remembers nothing of the day or night of the attack. She may recover her memories...but then again she may not. But it's up to Dan to solve this case with or without those memories. Not just for Daisey, but for the other women he's killed also.

I really love Dan. He is a good hardworking decent copper, even if doesn't always go by the book, relying on his intuition which has never failed him yet. His boss, Superintendent Gwen Archer, isn't one for cutting corners so is not at all impressed by his incessant need to act on this "infamous intuition" of his when what they need are cold hard facts. Although I don't know his team all that well they each have their parts to play and they do it well, without question or angst.

The story unfolds primarily through Daisey and Dan's eyes, though the chapters are not titled as such but you do end up realising whose narrative it is soon enough. Daisey's is in the third person whilst Dan remains in the first person. There are a few flashback chapters beginning in 1987 with an excited couple preparing for the birth of their twin girls and the progression of the family and their troubles throughout the years until September 1997. Coupled with these flashbacks and the clues I picked up along the way, I managed to work out the killer and a major plot twist very early on - about 20 to 25% in. But that never spoils my enjoyment of a good book.

The plot twist is so seemingly far fetched almost that to pick it is pure guesswork, genius or the workings of a detective's mind. It's that far off course. But when you see it, you realise how much sense it makes. I did feel the ending dragged out a little bit once the reveal came, but maybe that's because I had already figured it out...I'm not sure.

THE WOMAN INSIDE is indeed an engaging thriller that moves along at a steady pace. It's not my favourite out of the three I've read, but it is still as thrilling and addictive that keeps you turning the pages until the end. It is also a very different tale in the way it sympathises with both sides of the coin and provides plenty of food for thought.

Although it is the fourth book in the series, THE WOMAN INSIDE can be read as a standalone easily enough without getting lost. I love how each of the author's books explore the villain and their victims as well a little of the investigation without bogging readers down in the procedural aspect. Perfect for fans of crime thrillers that don't focus solely on the investigation.

I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #Netgalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWomanInside in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Wowser! This is one seriously good book, ok replace good with whatever your preferred superlative is that means omg wow and you may get to where I am currently.

I didn't see it coming, it was set up though incredibly well, and is rather clever and completely unexpected.

I kind of had suspicions but as to which characters felt a bit off to me, but not anywhere near to the extent that events were revealed.

And what a rather apt title, so incredibly clever, especially if you think about it after reading the whole book. So well done to whoever came up with the title!

And the story drew me in from the start and had me rather hooked. There are so many elements, multiple viewpoints, including sections that are designed to just slightly unsettle you, and have you wondering how they all fit in.

And then there is Daisy, the one who lived, but now has a form of amnesia so can't recall the day of the attack, but does know what she ends up agreeing to lie for her ex-fiancee which adds doubts to her credibility.

It has been what feels like a long while since I read the other books in this series, so I can safely say this works well as a standalone, as I had forgotten the recurring character details completely but didn't feel lost at all when focusing on the detective.

This is one incredibly impressive psychological thriller!

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

It's a bit hard to share why I was so disappointed without giving too much away, I did find the plot and mystery a bit obvious to unravel and I was a little disappointed there wasn't a deeper connection with the main character and the killer. I also found the dual narratives vastly different and didn't really care for Dan's POV, seeing as this is his series I think it's safe to say I will be skipping any future stories from DI Dan Riley. I do like the cover and the title.

This book is the fourth instalment in the Dan Riley series and I am shocked I haven't picked one up before!

I loved how the story was told from the perspectives of Dan and Daisey and also how the story jolts back to 1987 to fill the reader in with the missing information to widen our understanding!

The plot was strong. I loved the fact that there were parts of the book that sent a right chill down my spine, it helped to keep me extremely hooked and constantly wanting more. Yes, there are some indications of where the plot is going to head and it is predictable in parts but none of the enjoyment was taken away from the story because of it.

The characters were quite likeable, especially Dan. He is developed well and is portrayed a very likeable person who will do all he can to achieve what he is set out to achieve, follows his guy instinct and doesn't back down.

Overall this was an enjoyable read and I am now going to look up the other books in this series to add to be tbr!

Thank you to NatGalley and Bookoture for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review!

Well written thriller that keeps the reader engaged throughout.
I'm not the biggest fan of thrillers as i find them pretty similar but I definitely engaged with this one more than others.
Kept me guessing from start to finish

This book was so tense, lots of secrets. Its book number 4 in the series. It was an enjoyable read with lots of suspense and twists. This book can still be read as a standalone.

I looooved this juicy thriller!! I was worried because I had not read other books in this series but that didn’t matter. This story was chilling!!!!

Thank you NetGalley for this awesome book. My review is unbiased and my own.

Daisey wakes up with no memory of being attacked in her own home, but is considered a surviving victim of The Rose Petal Killer. She does her best to return to her normal day-to-day while trying to recover her memories. She lives alone, after her boyfriend left her for another woman, so when coworker Iris is looking for a place to stay, Daisey is glad for the company. As memories start coming back to her, Daisey is forced to look closely at those around her to figure but who it was -- figuring it out quickly is crucial, as the killer continues to strike and police feel that Daisey is still on their list.

This story was a mixture of Daisey's current day and someone's past. As the story unfolds, we're able to reconcile the two, but it was interesting to try to figure it out along the way. While I guessed the ending and felt unsettled when it was revealed, this is definitely one that sticks out to me when thinking about twisty books I've read lately!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book!

First off.. this is the 4th installment in the Detective Riley Series and this is the first one I have read!

Even though I hadn't read the previous installments I found this storyline to be really cleverly plotted, extremely well thought out and once I got my head around the characters, a really good read.

As long as you are willing to take everything in it can definitely be read as a stand alone but there are a few mentions of the past that would make more sense if the whole series has been read.

Slightly predictable in places (for me) but that certainly doesn't take away from the creepiness of this thriller.

As for the ending all I can say is.. perfect!

3.5*

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

OMG...this book!!! I was gripped from the first page! Daisey wakes up from a horrific ordeal (it was so creepy and ominous, I had to turn my lights on, lol) without any memory of what actually happened during her attack. Her ex-fiance is a real jerk and I didn't like him from the beginning. I LOVED Detective Riley, and was happy to see that this was a book in a series of Dan Riley detective books, so I am absolutely moving on to the author's other books next. The writing was chilling, disturbing, suspenseful....the perfect THRILLER!

5 out of 5 stars for The Woman Inside by Anna-Lou Weatherley. A HUGE thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book....all opinions are completely my own.

Wow this is such a good book. Extremely well written and I was hooked from the beginning. Just what I needed (a psychological thriller) however I hadn't realized it was a series and not the first. It still read just fine as a standalone tho. I was really drawn in by the characters.

You'll keep turning the pages intrigued by all the mystery and suspense.