Rachel's boyfriend's wife is found murdered. Rachel is the first to find the body but she doesn't call the police right away. Rachel has secrets that the author reveals by seamlessly jumping back in time to when Rachel was a 19 year old nanny in America.
This was an amazing book.! Just the right amount of characters, a well developed plot that kept me guessing and I loved the two settings of America and England.

While walking her dog, in the woods behind her house, Rachel stumbles across a body. Most people would call the police but Rachel knows what she has to do...run. The body is identified as the estranged wife of the man she has been seeing and once again Rachel finds herself as the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Twenty years prior, Rachel went by the name of Casey, a young nanny from the UK hoping to make it as an actress in LA. When the family she was working for is brutally murdered, Casey is accused of the crime narrowly escaping the death sentence with an appeal. Someone knows who Rachel really is, mounting evidence points to her, and she is running out of time to find the real killer.

I Know You is a new crime thriller/mystery in which a woman's suspicious behavior at a murder scene suggest she is the killer. The story follows Rachel (present day) and Casey (Rachel 20 years prior) as she navigates through two murder investigations in which she is the prime suspect. This novel was what I consider to be a perfect weekend read. It wasn't too complex but offered just enough mystery and intrigue to not want to put it down. This was a quick read in which the main character makes poor choices and ends up in wrong place at the wrong time…coincidence or part of a killer’s devious plan.

I had to stay up to finish this one. A quick read and mystery within a mystery which is not always something I love. This was done well. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 10/19/21

Rachel is shocked to stumble upon a body in the woods, but instead of calling the police she runs... because she has been through this before and ended up being put on death row. As she finds out she knows the victim, it seems she is again the prime suspect of a murder... Determined not to be wrongly convicted again, she must find out who the killer is and why they are setting her up for the murder...

A thrilling and tense story that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns, this book really does keep you guessing. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

This was the first book by this author that I have read and it was a fun read. It hooked me right from the beginning, and even though it was kind of obvious what was going on I still enjoyed it.

Rachel used to be Casey aka the Mary Poppins killer. She was nannying in LA when the family was murdered and she was charged with their deaths and put on death row. Only she was released on appeal and now is trying to live a quiet life back home in the UK. She doesn't want anyone to know who she really is, she has a boyfriend and a volunteer position at an animal shelter and things are good. Until she comes across another dead body and runs. The police track her down and it looks like someone is trying to set her up but who? And why?

Now our main character was a bit...at one point she says you should use Occam's razor to figure this all out...only she definitely doesn't. She jumps to some odd conclusions at times, especially after finding out certain things. Even though I thought it was obvious, Rachel couldn't put 2 and 2 together...but I still enjoyed it. Normally I might find that annoying, but the way she was written and the writing in general I didn't mind. It all comes out in the end. I enjoyed that she had previously been incarcerated for murder and so she has that driving some of her actions. She reacts a bit differently at times than someone who doesn't know how the system can wrong you. That doesn't have that first-hand experience. This was a fun read and I would definitely read more from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This is the third novel I've read by Claire McGowan and I was drawn to it by the synopsis. This is a dual timeline novel which starts in the present day with Rachel discovering a dead body in the woods in Cumbria. We discover that this is not the first time this has happened to Rachel. Twenty years earlier she was Casey and while nannying for a family in LA discovered the bodies of 3 of the family members. I love a dual timeline novel and this did not disappoint. I preferred the earlier time line and found I could really empathise with nineteen year old Casey and the situation she found herself in while in LA. Overall, a gripping plot and a novel I'd recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Read through netgalley
This is the story about 19 year old Casey, who while working as a nanny becomes embroiled in murder and is sent to deathrow - then later (after her release and change of name) she finds the body of her boyfriends wife dead. Instead of being sensible, she pegs it and there starts the dramas. It’s a little obvious at the end but I still enjoyed this and the book is full of little twists to keep it interesting. I liked the characters and the story did make me want to find out what happened so would recommend.
4 stars because only my absolute favours books get 5 but it was still a great thriller.

Claire McGowan, I Know You, Thomas & Mercer, Seattle, 2021

Thank you, NetGalley for this uncorrected advance proof for review.

I Know you has a large amount of wonderfully poignant material, a little bit of dross, some good plotting, characterisation and social commentary, and a story line that works reasonably well. I found I Know You a good read, although I have some reservations.

First to those reservations, which centre mainly around the main character. I found the almost constant reiteration of Casey’s plea that she was young, naïve, small, unable to cope somewhat tedious, even while I sympathised with her situation. Rachel’s misunderstanding the reason for Anna’s stress and demands was also difficult to believe and did not sit well with the way in which her character had been developed in the earlier part of her life.

Those concerns aside, I Know You is extremely good social commentary on women’s roles, the way in which mothers can influence for good or bad, the impact of men on those mothers and the questions raised about guilt and punishment. Casey is encouraged by her mother to seek a future in Hollywood, building upon her own past very minor success. Another failed actress mother, English but now in Hollywood, does the same to her five-year-old daughter, imposing unreasonable and life-threatening demands upon her. In the background is a stepfather and biological father, each of whom has his negative impact on the women and children in their lives. A professional woman, on death row for murdering her children, completes the mother motif. Would it have been any different for these women if post-natal depression, fear of failure and need for an understudy to compete for fame, or just human kindness been an influence in their lives?

Portrayal of the American legal and prison system is perhaps harsh – but where the death penalty remains, and is enacted, it is certainly arguable that this is deserved. Prison cells, prison, interaction with police officers in America and the UK, and contact with prisoners on death row is strongly realised – and in turn, frustrating, frightening, and horrific. Casey and Rachel excite sympathy. What might initially appear to be irrational behaviour is challenged by explanations that ring true.

The novel moves between Casey and Rachel’s stories, one set in LA, the other in the quiet pleasant environment of England’s Lake District. One features the distraught and imposed upon nanny from England; the other, the carefully confected character who volunteers at a dog care facility. When the two characters collide after a murder, and Rachel can no longer hide her past, the pursuit for the person or people who committed the murder, publicised Rachel’s past and jeopardises her future draws the story back into the legal system, apprehension, and private investigation.

Ends are tied up, perhaps not as happily as some readers might like, reasonably but realistically. Together with the other positive features of the novel, this makes for a satisfying read. Although not as clever as The Fall, the first of Claire McGowan’s work I read, shall be happy to read more.

Not a huge stand out, but really on the top side of not bad. The main character had a couple of weird blind spots, but watching her unravel this thing on her own was worth sitting through her occasional short sightedness.

Rachel has finally hit her stride in life- she has a nice boyfriend, a job which makes her happy, and she is free. Twenty years ago, Rachel was Casey, a nanny for a family who ended up murdered, with Casey as the prime suspect.

So when Rachel finds a body in the woods near her home, she doesn’t report it, and she goes directly home. Except she will end up as the prime suspect in this case as well.

Is Rachel/Casey a murderer? Or is she being framed?

I loved I Know You and couldn’t put it down. Rachel’s character was well written and the plot moved quickly and was well-developed. It’s a unique story. I can’t wait to read more from Ms. McGowan.

If you have been wrongly convicted of murder, you react very different to seeing a dead body than most people would! Rachel finds herself in this predicament and once again is involved in a murder investigation. This was a good story and keeps you guessing!

A contender for my book of the year! I Know You is a brilliant duel timeline psychological thriller that reminded me of the Louise Woodward murder case from a few years ago. Casey, a teenager from the UK goes to LA to become a nanny for an all American family but it isn’t the perfect Hollywood lifestyle she is expecting….
I absolutely loved the twists and turns thrown up by the past when in the present day a murder takes place and a very obvious suspect is the one to find the body. This book is so perfectly crafted to keep the reader engaged in each of the timelines, desperately seeking answers to two murder cases set years apart but knowing there must be a connection…but what or who is it?
A brilliant pageturner from start to finish and one of the best books I’ve read in 2021.

Rachel finds a body in the woods and runs. Last time she was found guilty of murder! But then acquitted. The problem is the body is her boyfriends estranged wife, and all the evidence seems to be pointing to her. The more digging Rachel seems to do, the more the police see it as evidence that she did it, after all shes,done it before. Loved this novel did keep you guessing as to who was trying to frame Rachel!

This is the first novel i have read from Claire McGowan but will definitely be looking for more in the future.Many thanks to Net galley for giving me the pleasure of reading this novel.

I Know You - Claire McGowan

My first time reading this author.

Told with a past and present narrative, twenty years ago naive English 19 year Casey is working as a Nanny for a California, present day and Rachel is living a quiet life in the Lake District, until she stumbles across a murdered body and runs from the scene.

I thought there was a strong story, good character development, some twists and nothing jarred. There are some good original elements throughout.

It ends strongly but overall I found it quite a slow read and perhaps a little long.

I honestly think if it were cut down a little I would have enjoyed it much more.

A real 3.5 stars for me, 3 would be a bit mean and I wouldn’t want to discourage others who might love it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer.

While I liked the dual timeline story, I still felt this was so implausible. I knew who the killers where early on so the rest of the story just seemed like fluff to me, I feel there could have been more suspense in the story to keep you guessing longer.

#IKnowYou #NetGalley
A good novel.
Rachel stumbles upon a body in the woods, she knows what she has to do: run. Get away. Do not be found at the scene. Last time, she didn’t know, and she ended up accused of murder. But when this victim is identified as her boyfriend’s estranged wife, Rachel realises she’s already the prime suspect.
With mounting evidence against her, Rachel’s only hope is to keep the truth about herself well hidden. Because twenty years ago she was someone else—Casey, a young nanny trying to make it as an actress in Los Angeles. When the family she worked for were brutally murdered, all the evidence pointed to her and she went to prison. Back then, she narrowly escaped the death penalty and managed to free herself on appeal. Now she’s fighting to save the life she’s spent years piecing back together. But with her behaviour raising suspicion and the police closing in, Rachel can’t help wondering: Was her discovery in the woods really just an awful coincidence, or is someone framing her for murder?
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me an advance copy.

What happens if you find a body? If you are a reader of thrillers, you probably have already imagined how you would act, what you would do. Now, what would you do if this wasn't the first body you had ever found?
Rachel lives a quiet lonely life in a small town. She stumbles upon a body in the woods and makes a decision that changes her life - what would you do?

I enjoyed this novel - very twisty, very interesting and fast moving. I liked the point of view of Casey much more than that of Rachel. I didn't guess the ending and it was very satisfying. If you like murder and mayhem and twisty domestic thrillers, than this is a book for you! #NetGalley #IKnowYou

3.5⭐️
This is my first book by this popular author. A psychological standalone thriller.
The main character has led a tumultuous life.
In her earlier years she was Casey a young nanny working in LA when her employers are murdered she is found guilty of the crime and sent to prison. She was released on appeal.
Now 20 years later with a new identity as Rachel she finds a body in the woods, this time her instinct is to run.
The book is told between the 2 time frames using the main characters 2 identities.
Rachel / Casey doesn’t come over as a likeable character but when we see what she’s been through it did make me feel sorry for the her, there are some emotional scenes, which are well written.
My favourite character is the doggedly determined Jeremy, although he was somewhat obsessive.

I found the pace slow, it felt like it dragged for much of the book.
There’s a fair bit of repetition. The basic premise of the plot is good.
I felt that the final section of the book is much stronger and more engaging with a good infusion of tension.
I think you would enjoy this book if you are happy with a slow burn concentrating on the characterisation.

✨BOOK REVIEW

Thank you to @netgalley and @amazonpubliahingg for my ARC of I Know You by Claire McGowen.

SYNOPSIS; When Rachel stumbles upon a dead body on her daily morning walk with her dog, she does not alert the police like a normal person. No, she runs home, goes about her morning as she normally would and pretends she never saw it. That is what you do when the last time you discovered a dead body you ended up wrongly convicted of murder. When the police come knocking on her door a few hours later, she learns that the body belongs to the wife - soon to be ex- of her lover, Alex. Before she knows it, evidence is piling up against her and she begins to search for the victims killer, realizing she is only person who is going to get her out of this mess…

- [ ] This novel follows two mysteries, the brutal murders of the family that Casey / Rachel nannied for twenty years ago in America, and the present day murder of Anna, Casey / Rachel’s lover’s wife.
- [ ] The dual timeline POV was interesting and suspenseful, keeping my engaged throughout. As a true crime fan, I particularly enjoyed the past storyline and the homage to the Casey Anthony case.
- [ ] While I really enjoyed reading this novel and found the story fresh, I did feel as though the ending was a bit predictable; I successfully guessed how the past murder went down, and saw as one of the major “twists” coming from very early on. Still, I enjoyed this story and appreciated how it high lighted how screwed up the American justice system can be and the repercussions being falsely convicted can have on someone’s life.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Wow, what a terrific psychological thriller this is, I couldn't wait to get back to it, to the point of ignoring most of my chores.
Rachel is walking her dog in the early morning as usual, when she finds a body in the woods. At least she thinks it is, wasn't there a hand sticking out? As fast as she can, she runs away, back to her house, terrified. Unfortunately, the victim is her boyfriend's soon to be ex-wife and she becomes the main suspect.
A nightmare come true, because 20 years ago she was a nanny in LA, a 19-year old innocent trying to cope with a dysfunctional family in a strange country and an unfriendly city. The family was killed, except for the baby who was with her hiding in a closet and Casey, as Rachel was then, ended up in jail for the murders. When released she went back to the UK, changed her name and location and started a new life, all the while terrified she would be discovered. That's why she ran ... a big mistake.
I really loved the book, loved Rachel and was fascinated by the descriptions of LA and death row prison life (horrifying!). A must-read, highly entertaining and recommended!