Paige, Richard, and Harry were the best of friends in high school and then Harry went away to college and never came back. When Paige gets a message to Harry that Richard has been arrested for murder, Harry goes back to help. Then the police start asking questions about a dead body that Harry and Richard found in the woods back when they were in high school. Could Richard have killed before? I enjoyed this as a good slow burn mystery.

The Blame by Kerry Wilkinson is one of them books that will leave you feeling a bit creeped out. He always writes an addictive and creepy bokk but, be warnes this is his scariest up till now.
A trio of schoolfriends, Harry, Richard and Paige make a decision that will return to haunt them many years later. They decide to take a short cut walking home from school one day and come across the dead body of a school friend. They all decide to never say anything and make a pact never to speak of what they saw. This works until twenty years later when their secret comes back in ways they wouldn't ever expect.
The three friends have got on with their lives and have done their utmost to put that terrible secret away and try to forget it. When Richard finds himself arrested in connection with that same body, Harry and Paige realise they have to face the very thing they have spent trying to escape. They all three come to the realisation that the truth is the best way to go, but in clearing one friend another one may be incriminated. The friends find out that someone else knows what happened and they are just waiting in the wings for the right moment to make them all pay.
Wow! A tense and very creepy read. Kerry Wilkinson really has excelled with 'The Blame'. Although I must say every book he publishes is an excellent read it just seems that with this one he has created such an excellently plottes story. The menace and danger runs through this book and it has the power to scare you silly. There are twists on almost every page. He never lets up, just ramping the tension up so much you just cannot put this book away! No! Not even to sleep! Well that may be me but you need to find that out for yourself!
What a read! Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this fabulous scary read for my review.

2.5 bumped up for writing

I slogged through this. It took me forever to finish and now that I did I’m a bit underwhelmed. I have read other things by this author and enjoyed them. I like the characters and writing style but this one was slow.

The beginning seemed to offer good promise but after Harry arrived home nothing happens for way too long. There is a lot of walking around in very cold weather. There are a lot of homeless addicts on these streets. There is a very strange relationship detailed between Harry and his sister Evie. And Paige makes multiple meet ups with her drug dealers (local thugs that graduated from grade school bullies to full blown criminals).

Still I persevered because I had to know the connection between Grahams death and Wilson, if there was one. This is where it becomes pretty depressing for me. I hated the ending. One additional death, the reason behind the reveal for Grahams death, and the tentative connection between the two murders are realistic, I suppose, but no less tragic and unfulfilling.

I would suggest trying this if you have the patience for a real slow burn and sad story. The writing is good and the characters are interesting. I would try more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

A childhood friend accused of murder draws Harry back to the small town he left years ago. The same town where Harry and his friend, Richard,were suspects in a murder while still in their teens. Returning home also brings Harry back to Paige, the third member of their little group and person who summoned Harry back home. There’s a lot going on beneath the surface of that little town ...

Featuring a compelling mystery, interesting characters and an ending sure to surprise, The Blame is an excellent read. Five stars.

My thanks to Net Galley, Bookouture and Mr. Wilkinson for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is really good. I raced right through it, enjoying every
minute. I thought I had it all figured out a couple of times, but
I was wrong. You don't want to miss out on this one.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, the writer, and publisher for
giving me the chance to read and review this amazing book!

Thought this was a great plot. It would make a good little movie too, or a TV drama. Well constructed story and characters. Some unexpected twists and turns, some slightly predictable twists and turns. Easy to read but hard to put down. Recommended.

I first read the first book in one of his series, I enjoyed it. Since then I have read several stand alones of his and I love them even more. The books including this one has this bleakness about it and they are filled with flawed somewhat frustrating characters. I love how the mystery unfolded in this one. I liked all the characters and what they uniquely added to the story, The ending completely surprised me and I cried. It was an excellent book and time well spent,

Harry arrives back home in Macklebury after being away for twenty years after receiving a call from Paige, that their friend Richard has been arrested. As soon as he is arrested he is released only to be rearrested for Keith Wilson's murder. The police seem to have a very weak case against Richard. There isn't any evidence that he killed Mr. Wilson. The police held back an important clue that could have been important to the friends had they know. I didn't love any of the characters. Paige is obviously suffering but is adamant that she doesn't need any help, but is obvious she needed the most help. and unknowingly holds the key to the murder.

Harry, Paige and Richard were inseparable childhood friends who each went their own way after discovering the dead body of a school mate . Twenty years later Harry, who lives in Canada, receives a phone call from Paige asking him for help as Richard has been accused of murdering a teacher from their old school. Harry finding it difficult to refuse his friend's cry for help returns home , but this could mean telling the truth about what really happened twenty years ago.

The Blame by Kerry Wilkinson is a fast paced, gripping psychological thriller. A little slow at first it picks up pace later on and with enough twists and turns makes for an interesting read.

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

The Blame is a very well written novel. Well crafted plot and characters. The author has written another winner.

What a terrific story. It kept me glued to the book from beginning to end. A part of this story was so sad, I wished a different ending for at least one of the main characters. This story was different. Three childhood friends reunite after a long time because one of them is accused of murder. I liked how good and loyal Paige was as a friend, even though she had such a sad, rough life since seems like, she was very young. I guess I see how her two best friends meant the world to her, she basically had nobody else that cared for her or loved her for who she was. Paige's character will stay with me for a long time. Thank you so much to NetGalley, publisher and author for allowing me to read this wonderful book.

I'm not really getting into the read of this book. it really hasn't grabbed me into it, thats about all I can say for this one,

Wonderful suspense whodunnit type of story!

Three childhood friends, Paige, Harry, and Richard have gone about their separate ways. One day out of the blue Paige calls Harry back to their childhood town to say that Richard is in trouble and is a suspect in the murder of their old teacher. Harry gets straight on the plane from Canada where he now lives to see what has happened to Richard and show his support. You see Richard and Harry have a special bond. They found the body of their friend when they were at school. Now it seems the police are back investigating this as well. The story is told via Harry's view. I really like this! He is a great character that leads us right through to the unexpected end!

Loved this! So good, so exciting, so gripping and great story. Can't wait to read more by this author - absolutely brilliant.

A slower start than I expected from a Kerry Wilkinson book but it developed into a good story with plenty of twists. Well worth a read

Harry, Richard and Paige are childhood friends who thought they’d always be together. But life happens, and Harry ends up moving away. Twenty years later Paige calls him, Richard has been arrested for murder. Harry is going through a rough patch with his marriage so decides to return to his
hometown to support his long-last friend. And to ensure his name is not dragged into the investigation because the discovery they made as teens could come back to haunt them. However, things are not as he has remembered. Paige has secrets. Richard and his family have secrets. Follow along the twisty and unpredictable road as Harry and Paige rush to help Richard.

This is a gripping thriller, attention grabbing and enjoyable to the end. The suspense keeps you engaged, and the mystery kept me guessing with an ending I did not see coming

In this book we meet Harry who out of the blue receives a phone call from an old school friend asking for help. He soon finds himself home after years away but he finds the past isn’t staying there and neither are old secrets.

Harry has moved on, he hasn’t been home in ages and has made a new life for himself in a new country. However his connection with his friends is strong and he finds himself pulled back home. There are plenty of secrets hidden in the pages of this book. Secrets from the past and also secrets between this trio of friends that were once close. The book highlights the bond that can be shared when children make an important connection. Showing that even though you may have moved on you only have to hear your friends voice and be transported back to those days.

In a way I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I first picked up this book. I will say that it didn’t necessarily go in the direction I was expecting. However it was interesting to see Harry and Paige’s back story revealed. I’m not sure I fully connected with them but to be honest the story probably worked a little better for it. As you are never quite sure about their motives or actions. The pace of the story was good for the most part although maybe a touch slower to begin with as the characters were introduced. There was a dark but quiet undercurrent running throughout which helped to keep my attention. The kind where you know something is coming but not quite sure exactly what. The Blame has a little bit of mystery and an even darker edge especially as the story reaches its conclusion!

I'm a great fan of Kerry as an author, and I found the premise interesting but the plot was just okay.
The plot moved along extremely slowly and it did take me a while to get into it, but towards the end, the pace did pick up. The main characters weren't exciting enough to make me want to relate to them.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Kerry Wilkinson puts pen to paper and comes up with a winner every time
Enjoyable read with plenty of suspense and tension

Thank you netgalley, Kerry Wilkinson and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this book

Have you ever been excited to reunite with a childhood friend only to realize they may not be the same person you thought they were?💁🏻‍♀️

Harry left his friends behind in the UK and moved across the globe to start over in Canada. Though life may not include the happy ending he had hoped for. Currently estranged from his wife, Harry is trying to decide what direction to take his life next.

Then comes the call from his childhood friend Paige....

Their friend Richard is in trouble. He was just arrested for murder. Harry quickly returns home only to find his childhood friends are... well... not as he remembered. Can he really trust them?
Or will he find himself caught up in an investigation that will have everyone pointing fingers in his direction.

Kerry Wilkinson continues to deliver twisty tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Though the pace may have been a bit slower to start than his previous thrillers, hold on because as the plot unfolds you will not be able to put this read down!

I have read most every stand alone thriller this author has released and am always looking forward to his next.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC to read and review.