What an addictive and darkly twisted book this is. When the synopsis mentions Megan being released from prison and the line "Let the games begin" follows, well that is intriguing enough. After reading the book I now appreciate how important that line is!

Megan is part of a group of students that are top of their class. They are a small but compact group and they spend a lot of time in each others company. After a game of dare goes wrong it is Megan that takes the blame. The full reasons as to why are told later in the story. But as the synopsis says, the rest of the group now owe her a favour.

This was a brilliant story and one that I found myself getting hooked on pretty quickly. Starting the story when the friends were younger. At uni, they excel in their classes and do the usual evening partying.

When Megan is released after serving her sentence the author began to expand on her story. She manages to portray anxiety from the rest of the group as they are left to wonder what Megan will ask of each of them. On the whole, they are successful, they work, have nice houses and they all have a lot to lose.

I adored the way the author very subtle builds up tension, it starts early on and then as the stake get higher she then builds it up more openly. Wondering what will happen and if the group will agree to terms or demands is great. But, there is something else going on, it is dark and it caught me out.

I loved the tense psychological aspect of this story, it kept me on my toes and the story is so addictive. If you have read any of this author's books before then you know you get amazing reads from her. This one is no exception it is a mix of crime, mystery and thriller with a brilliant psychological edge to it. It is one I would definitely recommend.

We first meet the six friends whilst they are at school, just finished their GCSE’s, on the verge of collectintheir results and heading off to their collective university choices to embark upon the world – its currently their oyster, they are all young, clever and gifted.

Amber, Felix, Daniel, Talitha, Megan and Xavier – friends since childhood, now all 17, nearly 18 – technically adults in the eyes of the world. They find themselves facing a moral and life changing dilemma, after a night of drinking, a silly risky dare goes terribly wrong and a woman and her children all perish, at the friends hands. They were all there, all involved, all to blame, all as responsible as the other. But the driver isn’t willing or able to take control of the situation and one of them steps up to take the blame for all of them. But at what cost.

Promises are made, The Pact signed, sealed and hidden. All of them as guilty as the other. Police and parents, solicitors and the remaining 5 fear what will happen, the ‘guilty’ one that takes the blame and takes responsibility faces jail. The parents tell the children to separate, to not be seen together, to carry on with their Uni plans and let the guilty take the blame, do their time in jail and it will all be fine. So, they do…… but 20 years on, time served, the guilty one is back and wants what was promised, whats theirs to claim.

The very nature of the requests, it seems is nothing is too much to ask. But some are simple, a job, some financial help, but would you, after 20 years, knowing that you made this pact as an individual, they now have lives, families, jobs. Between them they must chose, what is possible and how they can help, none of them are willing to give anything being asked of them, so what now?

I loved the characters, appearance is everything to them now, but underneath so devious and unrelenting. With so much to lose, will any of them keep to The Pact they made? The pace of the book raced along and kept the story going. I live near Oxford so know lots of these areas and street names and this always adds to a book for me, when the areas are real and you can identify with them, it really brings it to life for me and adds such a sense of place. I really enjoyed The Pact, and I know you will too.

It’s the night before A-level results and a group of six friends have gathered together as they’ve done most nights of this gorgeous summer, to make the most of these last weeks they’ll all be together before going off to their various Universities. They’re confident they’ll get the results they need for they’re the cleverest group in their expensive, academically-renowned school. A privileged childhood lies behind them and now they have a golden future to look forward to. But drink and drugs and youth are a dangerous combination, and they all agree to one last mad escapade that results in the death of a woman and her two young children. Panicked, they flee the scene, but they’re sure the police will soon trace the car they were in. And then Megan, the quiet one, the outsider, offers to take the rap for them all. She knows she’ll likely go to jail, but she’s willing to do that on one condition – that the other five promise that when she gets out, they’ll each do her one favour, whatever she asks. The others grab this lifeline and agree. Fast forward twenty years… Megan is back, and she’s ready to call in the debt…

Goodness, when Bolton’s on form there’s no one to touch her for truly thrilling thrillers! This one grabbed me right from the start as I watched these six kids – selfish, yes, but also programmed to be high achievers by pushy parents and ambitious schools – do one stupid thing and then follow it up with another, even stupider. Even though the blurb reveals this early part of the plot, the tension that Bolton creates is irresistible, the definition of page-turning.

It slows down a little in the middle as we learn what our five remaining golden people have achieved in their twenty years. Tal has followed her father into the legal profession and now runs his well respected law firm. Xav is a successful investment manager. Amber has gone into politics and is being spoken about as a probable Cabinet Minister of the future. Felix has used his chemical expertise to set up his own business, from which he’s made a fortune. Dan is the least successful – he’s “only” become Master of the school the group once attended. But as we get to know them, we discover that beneath the glittering exterior of their lives, the memory of that night has affected them all to one degree or another. And now that Megan is back, all the feelings of guilt and fear are also back at full strength – maybe even more so now that they each have so much more to lose. And they don’t even know yet what favours she’s going demand in return for her silence.

After that slightly slower section it ramps up to full speed again, and never lets up till the end. I don’t want to say any more about the plot, since most of the fun comes from not having a clue what will happen next. So I’ll limit myself to saying that although Bolton dragged me far over the credibility line, it’s such a relentless ride I didn’t have time to worry about that at the time – nor even to really notice it. I believed in the characters and in their actions as they were happening and didn’t stop to analyse too deeply (and this of course is why thrillers work best when they are fast-paced).

Other things I loved, that made this work for me when so many other contemporary thrillers don’t (including one or two of Bolton’s own). Third person, past tense throughout, allowing Bolton to let us into the characters’ minds or keep us out as she chooses – and she uses that brilliantly to lead us on and misdirect us. It’s also much easier to put up with unlikeable characters when you’re seeing them from the outside. No “that day” nonsense – Bolton starts by telling us exactly what happened on that day back then before she brings us into the present, and what a difference that makes. She builds suspense on the basis of what might happen in the future, not by refusing to tell the reader what has already happened in the past. Similarly, no dual timeline – Bolton tells us about the past and then about the present, rather than jumping back and forward between them. And although the characters are all pretty unlikeable, they all feel believable – self-absorbed and selfish, yes, but their instinct for self-preservation is understandable even if it’s not particularly admirable.

I loved this one and raced through it, and the climax had all the thrills it needed and then a couple more. I wish all thrillers were written like this! Highly recommended.

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Orion via NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the arc of The Pact by Sharon Bolton.

5 stars- Its A- Level results day, all quite drunks, there is a dark dare to the pact and then a tragedy strikes.... one person takes the fall/blame for it all.. it is told between two timelines then and 20 years later..

A great, thrilling rollercoaster ride of mystery! I love this book so much. Highly, highly recommend 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Pact is one of those books that, once you start, you find yourself struggling to put down because it’s just so readable.

As is clear from the synopsis, the story follows a group of teenagers who accidentally kill a mother and her children as part of a stupid dare. Megan, one of the group, offers to take the blame if they all promise to ‘owe’ her a favour – any favour that Megan chooses – in the future. Fast forward many years later, and Megan is out of prison and seemingly after revenge…

I really enjoyed this novel because it’s easy to read but has plenty of atmosphere. Now don’t get me wrong: the characters are, on the whole, pretty vile, so they’re certainly not likeable! They make some very stupid decisions as teenagers which I suppose you can’t blame them completely as adults for, but they all seem pretty horrible people. And this just makes what happens in the ensuing pages even more entertaining. You never quite know who to trust, and the narrative swaps between the main characters so you get an insight into their minds.

The Pact is really unputdownable. I raced through it in a day and, although there are twists and surprises along the way, it didn’t feel over the top of ridiculous. I really enjoyed this thrilling read, and am excited to read more from Sharon Bolton!

This story examines the relationship dynamics of a group of young people with bright futures ahead marred by a terrible error of judgement. All are culpable, but one takes the blame in return for support and unquestioned favours when her debt is paid.

It's indicative that the one who accepts the blame is from an unprivileged background but the most intelligent with the most to lose. The fallout of the incident is unexpected and damages them all despite their material success. Twenty years later, the friend, who took the blame, is free but unrecognisable. Will the others honour their debt?

This is a twisted thriller exploring what people will do to survive. It's an addictive chilling read.

I received a copy of this book from Orion via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A close knit group of friends celebrating the end of their A Levels – something that so many with which can identify and it’s the premise for Sharon’s cracking read. The friends are so certain that life, that’s treated them very well to date, will only continue to do so. But when a dare goes wrong (dare sounds like a tiny word for the repercussions) and three people are killed, one of the group offers to stand by her friends and take the blame. But of course, it’s not as simple as that: in return, she wants a non-negotiable favour… Two decades later, the remaining five have indeed enjoyed all the benefits that life could offer, and that event 20 years ago almost seems like it didn’t happen (unless you scratch the surface, where the real hurt lies). But when their former friend comes calling, and is intent on them keeping their promises, you can predict a fallout. Perhaps they weren’t such friends for life after all…

Thank you Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this. Finished today and loved it, another great piece of fiction by Sharon. Now I can watch the series which was on TV - always like to read the book first!

I am a huge fan of Sharon Bolton, and The Pact is another huge feather in her cap.

It is an original take on the psychological thriller, with a fresh premise and some real morality questions. You cannot possibly predict what is going to happen: it is not like a straight whodunit or police procedural, and lines between the good and the bad become increasingly blurred.

The Pact has a small cast of largely unlikable, flawed characters, although some come across better than others, and Megan herself is complex and paradoxical. It is an excellent representation of shifting loyalties, crumbling friendships and the insidious impact of guilt.

The story is compelling and full of tension, and a creeping sense of dread. I did not guess where the story was going and I do think you should simply jump into The Pact without knowing too much about it. I very much look forward to seeing what is next from Sharon Bolton.

Thank you to the publisher and Tracy Fenton for my copy of the book.

I'm just going to come out and say it - I didn't like this one and I was bored. The story was ridiculous and I'm glad to have finished it.

When I started reading this novel I had to double check the blurb just to make sure that I hadn't stumbled upon a YA novel by mistake. The novel was marketed as an adult thriller, but it didn't feel very adult at all. The early chapters where we meet the 6 friends just seemed very YA to me. The ages of the characters, their dialogue, their actions, the plot, all of it didn't seem very "adult" at all. As the story progressed, it became clear that this was indeed an adult thriller, and that those early chapters were necessary to set up the plot, but still, something just didn't sit right with me. The novel never completely lost it's YA feel. Even as adults, I found some of the dialogue and the actions of the characters fairly immature.

I also realised as the story progressed that I didn't like any of the characters, nor did I bond with any of them, meaning that I really didn't care what happened to them. The actions of the characters also didn't always work for me. As an example, a certain character rejoins the group when they are adults and this person's behaviour is nothing short of weird. One minute the person is vindictive, creepy and clearly out for revenge, and then does a 180 degree turn and becomes the complete opposite. It was very unbelievable. And all of these characters had super high powered jobs as adults, but yet their behaviour and the things that they said, just made me go, what? A politician with her eye on cabinet acting like a little girl, and a high powered lawyer and law firm partner who never came across as anything other than a bossy teenage "leader of the pack". It was just off.

Lastly, I didn't like the ending and I didn't really understand it. The big reveal was so out of left field that I was left scratching my head. Why that person? What had happened to them to make them this way? What in the story led to that ending? None of this was explained. Everything just became totally over the top and very unlikely, and to be honest, the ending didn't seem to tie up to anything that had happened in the early stages of the book.

I'm normally a big fan of Sharon Bolton's work, but this one missed the mark for me. I didn't enjoy this one, so much so that when I was about 70% of the way through, I totally lost interest and didn't pick it up for 3 days. I had to force myself to finish it. Unfortunately, that's never a good sign.

This is a really exciting book, that I just could not put down. Six friends are on the brink of getting their A levels and going to premier universities, when a stupid decision is made, resulting in the death of a woman and two children. One of the friends, Megan, agrees to take the punishment for what she thinks will be a fairly minor crime, in return for a favour from each of them on her return. However, events conspire to keep her in prison much longer than anticipated, and on her release her 'friends' are no longer quite so keen to honour the pact. However, Megan is not to be fobbed off, and a series of events begin with dire consequences for them all.

What is surprising is how unrelentingly selfish all the main characters are. Not one of them shows much remorse for some reprehensible behaviour.

A good pacy read, I can't say more without spoilers, but while there are a few holes in the plot, its such a page turner it doesn't really matter. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Trapeze for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Pact by Sharon Bolton

Six young students have just finished their A Levels at Oxford’s All Souls School. Each is remarkable, clever and attractive and each is predicted to have a glittering career ahead. But their lives are too safe, they dare each other and play dangerous games. One night it all goes horrifically wrong and it is then that they make the pact. 18-year-old Megan agrees to take the blame. That way they won’t all have their lives destroyed. But it comes as a great shock when Megan is given a sentence of 20 years and she serves every one of them. When she comes out, she is not the same. That is when the five friends, each successful with a great deal to lose, start to become very afraid indeed.

Sharon Bolton is, in my opinion, one of the very best writers of psychological thrillers and we’re lucky to have her. Time after time, she comes up with the most brilliant ideas and leads her readers down such a twisty path and at a rate of knots, too. The Pact is no different. It has a fantastic premise. We’ve had thrillers about groups of old friends before but not like this one. In my opinion, these people are all morally reprehensible and the majority of them know it. Arguably, what matters most to them is being caught, not doing the crime itself. Some may wriggle, and you can’t look away while they do, it’s so compelling, but they cannot escape the judgement of what they’ve done.

I loved the character of Megan. She is genuinely intriguing and odd. She makes each of her friends promise to do a big favour for her on her release from prison. These favours are not at all what you’d expect and add such an element of shock to the novel.

But, as you’d expect from a Sharon Bolton novel, there’s far more to it than that! It’s an engrossing and surprising read. I had a few small doubts about the ending but it still had a great impact on me. One of the things that I really enjoyed is the Oxford setting! This is my town and I recognised so many places, including the snug in one of my favourite north Oxford pubs. This is an Oxford that the author actually knows, which isn’t always the case, and it really adds to the mood of the novel, helping to make the six friends feel real, privileged, sinning and around us, excelling in their jobs (often in the public eye), hiding secrets. It all seems so timely….

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A twisty psychological thriller that is fast paced and entertaining. A group of young adults have one last night of fun and games before they get their A level results. The fun goes way to far and people end up dead. One of the girls takes the blame but with conditions for the rest of the group, years later she is released and her conditions are set! This is definitely a book to read if you want escapism, it is far from realistic and that’s why it’s enjoyable as a thriller

THE PACT is a twisty, and twisted, thriller about a careless, thoughtless crime and its long-lasting impact on the lives of those who perpetrate it. It takes a really talented author to produce a novel as enthralling and entertaining as this one with protagonists so thoroughly unlikeable. The teenagers, whose late night thrill ride the wrong way down the A40 ends in the deaths of a young family, are spoiled and entitled; the adults they become twenty years later are, despite the apparent successes they have made of their lives, just as nasty. The exception, at least in terms of her success, is Megan, who for some reason takes full responsibility for the crash that has the potential to ruin all their lives; she is however no more likeable than the others.

That Sharon Bolton not only keeps these people interesting but makes the reader care about what happens to them is astounding. The novel rattles along at a fast pace, told from the viewpoints of each of the group, so willing to accept Megan’s offer yet so anxious to avoid the consequences of the pact they agree to. The real pleasure is in watching the relationships unravel as the group start to become suspicious each other. It is frantic and fun.

I really enjoyed this book, fast paced and a unique storyline.
Yes it was a little far fetched and the ending didn't wow me.
But overall a really good book that would make a great tv show. I would recommend.

Wow! A fantastic psychological thriller. The story jumps right in there from a groups of gifted, gorgeous teens waiting on A level results about to have the summer of their lives to a disturbing event that changes all their lives forever. Twenty years later the group are all reunited with some promises to be kept. A really fast paced book which has you flipping your thoughts wildly about each character. Some incredible storylines and twist along the way.

It's the summer after A-level exams, the time when teenagers have the last few weeks of freedom between school & university, when a dare goes wrong. A woman & 2 children are killed and the 6 teenagers are facing losing everything they know. When Megan, the outsider of the group, offers to take the blame for what happened in exchange for a favour from each of her friends upon her release from prison.
Twenty years later Megan is released from prison, and she wants to redeem that promise of a favour from the friends who she considers to have abandoned her – they never visited, never wrote & their worlds could not look more different. In the intervening 20 years, the other 5 have forged successful careers as a lawyer, businessman, investment banker, headteacher & politician, however they never quite managed shake off the guilt and fear that Megan could destroy everything. Megan just wants them to play fair & help her out in return for what she did for them – but she has the power to ruin them all … and they all know it!
Although I didn’t really like the premise of the story, it was just too far-fetched for me, I did want to keep reading to find out what happened at end. I didn’t foresee the twist that came right near the end and the final chapter or two were completely unexpected. The Oxford setting is great – anyone who knows the city can picture where the action happens

Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#ThePact #NetGalley

The Pact by Sharon Bolton is a unique and riveting book. It’s the story of six friends, who on a drunken night decided to play a game. The game ended up deadly and all of their lives will forever be changed.

This book started out a little slow for me, but about 1/3 of the way through it picked up. After Megan is freed from prison, after taking the blame for a crime she didn’t commit, I was anxious with anticipation on what her five friends were going to face. By the end of the book I was at the edge of my seat.

Part of what made this book intriguing was the realism. I’m sure many adults can identify…having a group of close knit friends, about to go off to college, spending the time hanging out and doing somewhat idiotic things. But what happens when an innocent game turns bad? Who takes the blame? All of their lives could have been ruined, their futures destroyed. Yet, the one brave friend stands up and decides to take the heat. However, while thinking she would only spend a couple of years in prison actually turned in to 20 years.

All of the characters were likable and had both good qualities laced with flaws. I found it interesting on how each of their lives turned out. Some a little predicable, yet others surprisingly so. Their bonds never quavered, throughout the 20 years their friend was locked away.

As mentioned earlier, the best part of the book was the end. The dramatic conclusion was superbly written. Just when I thought I had the ending figured out, the author threw a dagger in the plot that had me questioning all of my previous thoughts.

A great book, a equally fast read, sure to keep you guessing until the very end.

Wow, The Pact is a crazy ride for sure. 6 friends on the brink of a golden future. A summer of partying before University. Until one night they push their luck with the last in a series of reckless dares. Leaving three people dead.

One member offers to take the blame. On condition the others agree to do her any favours she requests when she is released.

Cut to twenty years later and Megan is out of prison. Now begin the games. Bluffs, double bluffs and more psychological twists than you can shake a stick at. You'll be kept guessing until the last chapter and as far fetched as the plot may be at times, it's still an enjoyable read, fast paced and deliciously dark.

This is easily one of my favourite thrillers of the year so far.

It has to be said that this book provides a total masterclass in how to write an incredible hook, starting with one of the most gripping openings I’ve ever read. As six of Oxfordshire’s brightest young students drink the night away in anticipation of the next day’s A Level results, one of them suggests a continuation of an extraordinarily dangerous game they had been playing over previous months. Though most seem reluctant, the game goes ahead, with devastating consequences.

Megan, a scholarship student with arguably the least to lose, agrees to take the blame in return for a favour, any favour in fact, from each of the others upon her release from jail. Fast forward 20 years and here she is, ready to cash in on those promises. But what will her demands be, and will the others allow her to disrupt their perfectly constructed lives..?

The Pact has everything I’m looking for in a books of this genre. It’s pacy, twisty, and has some jaw-droppingly horrifying moments. The pervading sense of sinister, creeping dread, is at times interrupted by action-packed adrenaline-fuelled passages, which certainly kept me guessing and frantically turning those pages.

On a personal level, having lived and worked in central Oxford for a long time, I thought the author’s evocation of place, and the privilege that often goes hand in hand with that, was outstanding. Her examination of the luxuries and political advantage afforded to the wealthy, contrasted with Megan’s relative naivety and isolation, was really well-written and thought-provoking.

After reading and loving The Split last year, The Pact has cemented Sharon Bolton as an absolute auto-buy author for me. With thanks to Trapeze for gifting me a digital copy to review.