I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinions. The One To Blame by S.E. Lynes is a total thriller that will grab you at page one and keep you locked in until you finish it. It kept me up way past my bedtime to find out what happened = it is THAT good! S.E. Lynes books are all fantastic and will always be on my list of must reads! Thanks for the chance to read and review early!

Isla is devised when she gets a phone call from her nephew to say her sister and her husband have been in a fire in their art studio.
When she arrives at their house the police inform her that both her sister and brother in law are dead.
The next day her nephew Calum is arrested for the murder of his mum.
Isla can’t believe this is true and is desperate to find out the truth.
An enjoyable read with and a twist that I guessed early on in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This came as a total surprise to me, since I enjoyed other books by this author, but got bored reading this one. What bothered me the most were flat characters and too long narration. Isla did not seem to be an interesting person, Callum acted like a freak, I could not connect with neither Daisy nor Jan. I did not even feel sorry for Annie. What does that say about a book? Just going through pages, waiting for some significant turn of events, trying not to fall asleep. I admit the synopsis was intriguing and the story kicked off nicely, but meanwhile I started losing interest . Thank You, NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this title, too bad it wasn't for me.

Wow! Another amazing read by this incredibly talented author.

A very clever story that kept me guessing until the reveal almost at the very end!
Fantastic!

I'm pleased to say that SE Lynes has done it again and written a beautiful, tense and fast paced book that had me gripped from the start and with a great plot twist that left me thinking!

After receiving the worst type of phone call from her nephew Callum, in the middle of the night, to say that her sister Annie and her brother in law Dominic are dead, Isla rushes down to Dorset to be with him. Callum is charged with the murder of his Mum but things just don't feel right to her and she begins to realise that she didn't know as much about her sister's life as she thought she did.

Annie looked like she had the idyllic life living in beautiful Dorset with her husband and painting from her garden studio but she wore a mask and hid her reality like so many women.

This is a story of sisters, secrets, relationships, lies, loneliness and so much more. It's also about how women are prepared to put up with the impact of not always making the right choices in their partner as it can be too shameful to admit you were wrong.

It also made me think about how many of us have regrets that we don't spend more time we those that we love and are more involved in their life. The pandemic has shown me that what matters most to me in life, is family and friends

"But loneliness is like shame, she thinks. If you hold your head high, no one can see it. No one can know it is there"

Great read! My second book by this author and I love it! She really keeps you entertained the whole book. Easy and fast read for me cause I wanted to see what was next on every page. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book!

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an incredible read. I like S.E. Lynes books But The One To Blame is one that will stay with me for a loooooong time. Fantastic, Intense, Gripping, Phenomenal!!!!!!! What a Great plot, characters, soooo many emotions throughout this novel. I Loved it. This is how good psychological books are written.

Excellent read as ever from one of my go to authors! Great character led story and the ending was magnificent! My minor criticism is too much soul searching from Isla, we heard a bit too much about her thoughts on what was happening which slowed the story down slightly. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Every time I start a new book by Susie Lynes I just know I am in for a real treat she just seems to have the knack of drawing you in to a story and all of her books (I have read them all) are completely different.
So this story is a slow burn, the tale of two sisters, a fire, a murder and so so many lies it really had me guessing till the very end. No rehashing of the plot it’s better to not knowing I think but just praise heaped upon praise at how brilliantly written this story is, I couldn’t put it down because I so needed to know what was going on!
I loved the characters I was suspecting all of them, they were so well crafted and believable and at times somehow quite creepy but I think that was because I never knew who to believe or quite sure of just what the motives of these people were.
It’s a twisty plot with one hell of a good finish, a real didn’t see that coming ending and for me that’s what makes me love reading.
So you did again Susie Lynes and produced another compelling and compulsive five star read completely blowing my mind and giving me hours of enjoyment a great big thank you for that and please keep the stories coming I’m eagerly waiting for the next.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm a bit sad that I didn't love this as much as I expected to. The story was pretty good but it was VERY slow. I feel like at least half of the book could have been cut without losing anything. It read as 'why use ten words to describe something when you can use one hundred.'

I thought the flashbacks to Annie and Dom's relationship were much more interesting than the present day storyline, and I think that's because they were more fleshed out as characters. Isla was a bit of a non-character and even with all the superfluous descriptions we never got to know her very well.

I did enjoy the courtroom bit as I love a courtroom drama, and the twist at the end was pretty good, but by the time all that came about I was a bit tired of the book and just wanted it to be over.

It wasn't a bad book by any means, but I can't honestly say I personally enjoyed it. Looking at the other reviews, I'm definitely in the minority so I would still recommend giving it a go yourself.

Just an editing note: In March 1996 Callum is fifteen, and in September 2004 he is twenty-two in the book whereas he should be twenty-three.

Annie and Isla are sisters living in Scotland. Annie is a young, single mother of Callum, and they meet a group of men who are on holiday. Annie is bowled over by Dom; she marries him, and she and Cal leave Scotland to live in Dorset. Annie and Dom have a beautiful home, a thriving holiday let business and – best of all – Dom has had a studio built in the garden for Annie to paint in.

Annie didn’t realise until it was too late that Dom wasn’t all he seemed. He stays out till all hours and Annie is left to take care of the household and run the business. Dom is also not entirely faithful, nor kind.

Isla didn’t know any of this, as Annie was good at covering things up and putting on a smile. Isla is working in London when she gets a panicky phone call from Cal; she can hardly work out what he’s saying because he’s so distraught. She heads to Dorset as soon as she can get a train, and is faced with the smoky ruins of Annie’s studio, and a house full of police.

I was totally gripped by this brilliant book. I knew that there was ‘something’ but I just couldn’t put my finger on it, so I was gripped the whole way through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

What if your sister is dead & the happy life you believed she lived, was a lie? What do you do?

The story of Isla and Annie is told in alternating POVs and flash between the past and the present. Sisters Annie and Isla share a very close bond as most sisters do. Isla lives in London and Annie lives in Scotland with husband Dominic and son Callum. Isla receives a call no one ever wants to get…Annie and Dominic are dead. Isla travels to Inveraray to uncover the truth of what happened to her sister. The story is told in such a way that I was clutching my chest at the emotion of it. I could feel Isla’s pain and anger as she grapples with finding out the truth. Her sisters truth. The truth of the life she was living. The book did start a little slow for me but once it got going, it was fast paced with a plot twist that left me…WOW. Definitely a book that leaves me thinking in the end.

I would advise there is a trigger warning for domestic physical and emotional abuse.

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m once again in the minority for my rating of this book.

I requested it from NetGalley based on the synopsis and high reader ratings. But it just wasn’t for me.

I felt like the story wasn’t big enough for a book of this length. After a very thorough description of events I couldn’t help feeling that each chapter was then fleshed out with reams of repetitive inner monologue from Isla. I found this slowed the book down. I also got a bit frustrated with the sheer quantity of inner monologue and skim read most of it to get to the actual events and dialogue.

I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters, Isla and Annie were very similar and at times could’ve been the same narrative. They’re portrayed as being close but also when they were young their personalities were much more apparent.

The parts that I felt gained real traction was where the relationship between Annie and Dominic started to breakdown. I also enjoyed part 2, the whole narrative took a turn and became a courtroom drama. The level of detail in this part and the tense atmosphere of the court was probably (for me) the most exciting part.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this book. S.E. Lynes is another master of her craft. Annie, Dom, Isla and Cal are such well-developed characters, surrounded by a perfectly placed supporting cast, that I found myself connected to and caring about their story. Yes, I was drawn into the whodunnit aspect of the murders, but the characters' story is what kept me reading and intrigued. I was invested, and wanted to know how they all turned out! I will continue to seek out this author's work. 4/5 stars, will absolutely recommend!

I devour every book by this author and this one was no different. I found myself really feeling what the two main characters were going through. I read this within 24 hours. Just brilliant

WOW!!! Get ready to read a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the final stunning ending!! Annie was murdered..but how? Did her son Callum really do it? or is there something else going on? This book has so many layers that as you pull them back you think you know what is going on and really the author makes sure you don't! To say I loved this book is an understatement ! This book is why I read thrillers! Kept me so captivated . Highly recommend reading. It is a stunner!

Yet another cleverly written book by one of my favourite authors who never fails to satisfy my reading needs! No clues from me as to the storyline, you can read the blurb but trust me you will not put it down until the very last page has been read. Brilliant plot, superb characters and a cracker of an ending, a huge 5* from me. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this fabulous book.

In September 2004, Isla Andrews gets a shocking phone call from nephew Callum to say that her sister Annie and husband Dominic are dead. Isla makes her way to the Swanage area in Dorset and what unravels rocks her world.

Right from the start where the first jolt rattles your core, this is compelling reading. The format of the book could have been a mess as it goes backwards and forwards in time to Isla and Annie growing up in Inveraray, Loch Fyne to today and from both perspectives. The fact it isn’t demonstrates the authors writing skill. It allows Isla to be reflective on the past, on her sister who is five years older than her, on her nephew and her brother in law. We witness her grief, her guilt, how she feels that she has betrayed her much loved older sister somehow. I especially love the little ‘thought bombs’ that Isla drops in with all the uncertainty of what led to the deaths, the doubts and a myriad of questions. I like the bond the sisters share which becomes even stronger when Annie falls pregnant aged 15 with Callum which in 1981 Scotland would have presented difficulties. The tempestuous and tricky marriage to Dominic is vividly portrayed too, as marriage to him is no picnic in the park. The character of Dominic is very strong, he can be charming but he’s a man child who wants his own way any which way he can. He’s not a pleasant man at all as Annie can testify to. However, we also get to understand that Annie sees Dominic as her ‘lifeboat’ out of Inveraray so has to accept her lot.

The final part of the book is a big surprise and one I don’t see coming, now that really is what you call a plot twist! It’s all a bit left field but I do like it and this is after all, fiction! My only negatives are that the format does lead to some repetition from the various viewpoints but it’s not a deal breaker!

Overall, another good, compelling read from S E Lynes. It has suspense, twists, it’s well written with strong characterisation and great settings in the Studland/Swanage/Purbeck area and in and around Loch Fyne.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Twists and turns and nothing is as it seems - this one will grab you until you finish! A great domestic murder mystery almost claustrophobic in its tight knit cast of characters. What seems obvious, is not, but is it? You only find out at the end. Definitely a recommended read

A twist filled and compelling story that I found difficult to leave down, right to the end I had no idea how the story would finish and I definitely didn’t see that outcome. I would definitely recommend reading this and more by the author as all her books have a way of dragging the reader into the story.