'What She Did' by Carla Kovach is a psychological thriller that is one hell of a read. I have been a fan of Carla Kovach for a long time now. Her Gina Harte series is so good that I wondered how 'What She Did' would measure up against it, I soon found out.
Marissa Baxter’s mother was murdered twenty three years previously. Just before she was killed she made Marissa hide. Marissa has suffered ever since and to make it worse the killer was never discovered. She was left in the care of her aunt and uncle who,instead of caring for her, neglected and abused her. She is now in her twenties, working as a financial advisor and has her own flat now too. Two murders of people known to her, bring her memories flooding back. She begins to fall apart and wonders if she could be involved in some way.
Carla Kovach has done it again. I was gripped to this book from beginning to end. With characters that are relatable and so well developed that you feel you are with them. I could picture Marissa and really felt for her the further she crumbled as her world fell apart. I was really invested in her and it tugged at my heartstrings. This is a fabulous skill of Carla Kovach, to create characters that are so unique with their own strengths and weaknesses.
A story that has enough red herrings along with the twists and turns to ensure I had no idea throughout the book. I did think it was someone different and a great book is one when you can't guess the ending if you try.
A truly addictive, shocking and actually brilliant read that I recommend if you love a psychological thriller.
Thanks to Bookouture and Carla Kovach for the copy of the book and my place on the tour.

In a total contrast to what I expected! I didn’t like the frailties of the main character. I was hoping that as the book went on she would take control and become a stronger person. I know we can’t all be strong but I just wanted to give Marissa a good hard shake and tell her to snap out of it.
That said I really enjoyed reading about her past and current relationships and how each of the people criss crossed in her life.
Carla Kovach has a wonderful writing style that draws you into the story and immerses you within the pages . I rarely find myself shouting at characters within a book but this one had me stomping and throwing my hands up in the air!!!

The beginning of this book is very graphic. However - the more I read it became duller.

Our main character Marrisa lives in constant fear. The feeling is brought by a very hard childhood, when at a very young age, she has witnessed the murder of her mother, and later experience years of abuse by her uncle and aunt. Finally, when the time came to leave the foster home - by pure accident she ran into a woman, who became like a mother to her, and most importantly - gave Marissa her future. Fast forward to the present. After years of peace, Marrisa's life is turned upside down. Out of nowhere peculiar incidents began to happen, each bringing a dead body with it.

The plot was predictable. Marrisa's character was not likable. I was surprised how quickly I've finished the book, I just wanted to get over the story and move on. But I must say - it was a good idea for the novel, I wish there were more captivating twists and the plot was stronger. I see the potential and will give this author another try with a new novel. Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

Like father, like daughter? In the end, this is the question ? has to answer for herself. I liked the book, but found Marissa's character to be a mess, confusing and annoying. But that’s a good thing in a book, getting all the feels!

Marissa lost her mother as a young child. She was murdered and little Marissa was hiding under the bed when she saw the killer. Marissa went to stay with her Aunt Caroline and Uncle Simon, who weren’t very nice to her. Simon sexually abused her and used his power over her whenever he needed to keep her quiet. Marissa left as soon as she could.

When she had managed to set herself up in running a business from her flat in Stratford-upon-Avon, she had dreams to own the cottage where she had lived with her mum one day. Every so often she used to visit the cottage to look at it. One day she got a shock when she realised she knew who the latest person to own the cottage was, she couldn’t believe it!

At about the same time, she had a new neighbour move in the flat opposite, a man with two sons. He started being rowdy pretty much as soon as he moved in. She had just seen a note about attending a residents meeting so she decided to attend, she might need some help. That night she went to her friend, Justine’s, for a drink and chatted but ended up sleeping on the couch till she woke. She then decided to walk home where she found Dan’s party in full swing.

When she goes to the residents meeting it is only her and Glenn, the guy who organised it. Marissa explains the problems she has been experiencing and Glenn says they can draw up a plan to sort Dan out and tells her what she needs to do. After just one drink, Marissa feels woozy and unsteady on her feet, she can’t understand why. She wakes up outside later, with a crushed blue bauble in her hand and a scratch on her arm. She is shivering. She has started sleepwalking again.

The next morning she hears about the murder at the cottage. She was stunned, she couldn’t have done it. She was asleep. She was sure of it. She didn’t kill her Uncle Simon and it won’t be long before the police come to see her as his next of kin!

This standalone thriller hooked me from the start and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It was so full of tension and it never let me out of its grasp. I never saw the ending coming but it was brilliantly written. Marissa was a great character, I felt a whole range of emotions for. This is a ‘now’ and ‘then’ book which I totally love reading as it can add so much more to a storyline.

This is a good read and despite the unlikeable and unreliable narration of our main protagonist Marissa it is a read that will have you wanting to turn the pages to see what will happen next.

Marissa watched from under the bed at age 5 as her mother was murdered by an unknown man. Thrown into life with her abusive aunt and uncle she dreamed of getting away. She pretends to her social worker all is well. Twenty years later Marissa is living in her own apartment and with the help of a friend has a career. Struggling with sleepwalking and fearing she is being watched she believes she may have been responsible for two murders; one of which is her uncle and the other her loud and arrogant neighbour.

As a character Marissa is unlikeable but is a well thought out and written account of an adult still struggling with a trauma that still has a profound effect on her in her adult life. The plot was interesting and convoluted which kept me guessing and the end was unexpected. I dropped a star as I felt that this last chapter did not gel together well with the rest of the book. Definitely one I would recommend, although with the caveat that there are some parts of the book covering child abuse that are hard to read. Although dealt with in a sensitive way I would want to know that this is a feature of the storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was thrilling! I think its everyones worst fear the thought of being a sleepwalker and not knowing where you went or what you did while sleeping.
The descriptions of Marissas heartbreaking past, erratic behaviour and what she experienced after waking up was so well written it makes you believe Marissa is losing her mind. This actually was one thing I struggled with I found the book a bit 'heavy' and unsettling at times.
I guessed some of the twist but it was all still very unexpected when it all came togther. I really loved the ending for Marissa, it made me so happy for her, for someone so damaged I was pleased to see her have a happy ending.
I dont normally do trigger warnings but I feel with this book I need too, there are topics such as domestic abuse, sexual abuse and mental health issues discussed.
Definitely worth a read and would recommend

I absolutely love the Detective Gina Harte Series, so I was excited to read this. Unfortunately, it ended up being just OK and would give it 2.5 stars. I hated that I didn't love it like the author's previous books. I didn't love any of the characters, even Marissa. Marissa did the exact opposite of sane person. She knew how crazy and aggressive Dan was, so she kept antagonizing him instead of reporting the behavior to the police. What was the coincidence of Marissa having a link to Dan? I know that Marissa suffered from sleepwalking, but have the times her episodes seemed more like she was drugged. I felt like the sleepwalking was glossed over. We just read about Marissa waking up in strange places and couldn't remember anything. It wasn't too hard to figure out who had to be behind everything. So I wasn't too shocked with the ending.

Definitely give the book a try, it just wasn't for me. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When she was five Marissa Baxter witnessed her mother's murder. Afterwards she was brought up by her aunt and uncle. Instead of a warm supportive family, she was subjected to abuse and neglect. As the story begins she is now in her twenties, a financial advisor with her own flat in Stratford on Avon. But two murders unleash memories from the past and gradually self doubt intrudes into her life. With both victims known to her, is she in some way responsible for their deaths?
This is a dark tale with a huge number of twists and turns as the writer leads the reader on a journey where nothing is what is seems. It's difficult to like Marissa's character but she is a victim of all she has experienced, which in some way explains her thoughts and the way she reacts to situations.

An edge of the seat read with an unexpected twist.

My thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Carla Kovach for an ARC of What She Did in exchange for an honest review

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘What She Did’ by Carla Kovach in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a huge fan of Carla Kovach’s DI Gina Hart series of police procedurals. While there is a police presence, ‘What She Did’ is a standalone psychological thriller. I will only give brief details as I feel that thrillers are best read without too much awareness of the plot in advance.

Twenty-three years ago Marissa Baxter’s mother was murdered. Before the fatal attack, she had urged 5-year old Marissa to hide. The murderer was never caught and Marissa deeply traumatised. After a difficult life she now lives alone in a small flat and works from home as an independent financial advisor. Yet she is very nervous and in addition is experiencing blackouts and sleepwalking.

Then there are murders and for spoilery reasons Marissa is in the police’s spotlight. Given her blackouts, she’s uncertain whether she was involved and feels that there is no one she can trust aside from herself to establish her innocence, if indeed she is innocent. …

At first, I was a little dubious about ‘What She Did’ as I found Marissa with her timidity and often erratic behaviour difficult to relate to. Still, it wasn’t long until I was completely hooked and ended up zooming through it and enjoying its twists and turns.

Definitely a gripping read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This was a great read and well written. Twists, turns, deceit and mystery grabbed me from the beginning and kept me hooked to the end. Will be seeking out more books by this author!

I am a big fan of Carla Kovach’s Gina Harte series so when I heard that she’d written her first standalone thriller, I was excited to read it. As much as I love a series I always enjoy getting to know fresh characters in a standalone and I was interested to see if this would have the same vibe as the series or feel totally different.

What She Did is a taut, tense and gripping thriller that centres around a young woman named Marissa who has a tragic backstory full of loss, heartache and trauma. When she was just five-years-old she witnessed her mother’s murder while hiding under the bed. The killer was never caught and she is still haunted by that night and lives in fear that the killer will one day come back for her too. Sadly, that night was just the beginning of her nightmare, and when she went to live with her aunt and uncle she found not solace, but cruelty and abuse. These events, and other secrets she is hiding, still linger and have left her isolated, fearful and scared to trust.

Now twenty-eight and living in an apartment and working towards her dream of owning the cottage that was special to her and her mother, Marissa’s life spirals out of control after her uncle is murdered. She can’t remember where she was or what she did the night it happened and, plagued by sleepwalking since childhood, she can’t trust her memory of events. Could she have killed him? When the neighbour she has been arguing with is also found dead just a few days later after a similar blackout, Marissa really begins to question what’s going on. She is sure she didn’t kill them. But how can she prove it when she can’t remember? And why does it seem like someone is out to frame her?

Carla Kovach has proven with this book that she can write any thriller and knock it out of the park. As much as I love the Gina Harte series and her team, this novel shows us that even with all new characters and a totally different storyline, she can keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story moves seamlessly between dual timelines using flashbacks to significant events in Marissa’s life. This was a vital tool in helping us to understand her paranoid and skittish behaviour, inability to trust and why she has almost no friends or family. I just wanted to reach into the book, put my arms around her, and comfort her, especially in the scenes when she is a young child; I wanted to protect her from witnessing her mother’s murder or rescue her from her vile aunt and uncle’s clutches. Her pain was palpable and my heart broke for her.

But Marissa is also an unreliable narrator and we are never quite sure what is true and what is paranoia. While I was rooting for her and wanted her to be innocent, part of me was never quite sure, and I really enjoyed that. I think it’s a talent to make a reader like a character while also making it possible that they have committed awful crimes, and Ms. Kovach pulled it off expertly. This unreliability also meant that we were never sure if she really is being followed or set up, so it made it hard to know what to make of some of the other characters and know if things were red herrings. I loved the tension this added and how it kept me on my toes. And when the truth was revealed I was totally blindsided by a scenario that I had never even contemplated. Bravo, Ms. Kovach. Bravo.

Captivating and twisty, What She Did is a first-rate psychological thriller from one of my favourite writers in the genre. Definitely one not to be missed.

Marissa lives alone in her flat, trying to get on with her life after witnessing a traumatic incident when she was a young child. One day she finds out that her only remaining relative has been killed, which brings everything in her past flooding back. Marissa is also worried as someone believes they've seen her car outside her uncle's house, but she's sure she wasn't there. When Marissa's new neighbour is found dead next having been stabbed, Marissa realises that the police believe her to be the killer. Is someone setting her up?

I'm a huge fan of Carla Kovach's Detective Gina Harte series so I was delighted for the opportunity to read this standalone tale and I loved it. Moving between past and present this thrilling and tense story keeps the reader turning the pages and guessing. Filled with suspense, friendship, murder, family, deceit, mystery, drama and lies there was a mixed bag of rather dubious characters, and some neat, clever twists. An absolutely gripping, addictive, shocking and undoubtedly good read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'What She Did' by Carla Kovach.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Carla Kovach, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 20th September 2021.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'Their Silent Graves' , 'The Broken Ones' and 'One Left Behind' which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, Teresa Driscoll and Lisa Jewell, What She Did is a dark and twisty crime thriller that will keep you up all night! .' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and C.L Taylor so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Carla and if this is half as good as 'One Left Brhind', 'The Broken Ones' and 'Their Silent Graves' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists 54 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. The fact that this book is based in England is even better as I have been on holiday in England many times so may even recognise some places Carla has set the book around.


This book is written in first person perspective with the main protagonist is Marissa. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.

'What She Did' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Carla discusses/includes mental health, stalking and domestic abuse.

WOW!! Where to even start?!? Firstly I must say yet again I was NOT disappointed by the very talented Carla Kovach !!! I started reading this book this morning and finished it in a day.

It is extremely well written as is every book I have read by Carla with vivid descriptions that really put you in the storyline. The blurb and cover work perfectly with the storyline. Every single time I told myself I'd finish the chapter and then put it down and every single time I was left with a sort of cliff hanger refusing to allow me to put it down. If your planning on reading this I would recommend clearing your schedule!!! I was a bit dubious to start as this is the first standalone I have read by Carla but it was just as fabulous as her series'.

Absolutely gripping storyline which I got completely sucked into. A great unputdownable page turner filled with suspense, friendship, murder, family, deceit, mystery, love and lies. I loved the storyline, especially the shocking plots that I would never have seen coming! Not just one either!! There's nothing worse than when you have worked everything out and your not even half way through a book so a massive well done for that!! I definitely did not even have the person involved in my suspect list AT ALL, wasn't even close to working out what was going on, soooo many red herrings. I haven't been that shocked in a book in a while so WELL DONE Carla! I really had my head set on a certain person, I can't say as I don't want to spoil it but I'm sure many other readers will feel the same. I really could not compliment this book any more it is an absolutely gripping, addictive and shocking page turner.


It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The characters were all well rounded and realistic with their own personality traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was very interesting watching how the bonds strengthened and weakened between characters throughout the storyline. I really felt for Marissa as her world came crumbling down around her. I really connected with and became invested in her and my heart felt torn every time something was going wrong with her life. She had done absolutely nothing wrong and just wanted to be a kind neighbour and make friends. It must be absolutely awful to suffer with sleepwalking not knowing where you had been and if anything had happened to you or even if you had been the one to do something and I'm glad Carla brought this topic up as it isn't mentioned much in books and I do believe the problems associated with sleepwalking need to be highlighted more so another huge well done Carla for doing this. I also loved Reggie and was absolutely brilliant heartbroken by what happened, such a full of life happy character that really changed Marissa's for the better and for no reason without anything to gain just out of the kindness of her heart. I Loved the last chapter, something I love with Carla is that she always seems to leave the last chapter in a way that really makes you want to see what happens next and several times I've been left hoping and wondering if that storyline will be carried on.

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Carla Kovach for another absolutely fantastic success!! I cannot wait to read more of your amazing work!! I really would love to see your books on the big screen one day, I can guarantee they will be a success if they are even half as good as the books you write!!!

Overall a page turning, epic psychological thriller that will keep you thinking about it long after you have finished. I would love to see this turned into a film.


Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction and Psychological Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us, CL Taylor, Lisa Jewell and of course Carla Kovach and just anyone looking for an epic read with a twist. What are you waiting for?? Go grab your copy now!!!


256 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

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Marissa Baxter's mother was murdered in front of her when she was five. She went to live with her aunt, Caroline, and uncle Simon. She was abused in their care. These events have shaped her life and left her with many issues and prone to sleepwalking. Out on her own people are dying around her and she feels as if she is being set up for the blame. Trying to find the truth and remembering what she has blocked out as a child, Marissa has a lot to overcome in order to break free of the past.

Marissa’s mother was murdered in front of her when she was just 5-years-old. She learned that it was her father who killed her mother. Afterward, she went to live with her aunt and uncle. They treated her very badly. Her aunt died and Marissa finally got away from her abusive uncle. Now, she works from home in the financial insurance business.

Marissa lives alone in a small apartment. Angry men scare her. So, when a nasty man moves into the flat across the hall from her, she becomes frightened.

She always wanted to be able to save enough to buy the little cottage she and her mother lived in, but now she sees that her evil uncle has bought it and is living there. This ups her anxiety and her sleepwalking begins to escalate.

Marissa comes across as a fragile woman with a lot of mental problems. She had a good friend and mentor, Reggie, who helped her get into the field of work that she wanted. Another friend is Justine who has become a great support. When the noise problem increases with the man across the hall, she decides to attend a residents' meeting held by another resident named Glen. Unfortunately, they are the only two to show up. He becomes a friend and assures her that he can help her with her problems.

All of these characters are carefully intertwined and I applaud the author for being able to do that and to keep up with each of them. The connection was never obvious to me. The story was frustratingly slow in its buildup which meant the ending was a creshendo. An all round good plot but I did raise my eyebrows as the author borrowed from Dexter for her story. A last comment is that I liked Marissa’s love for cats as I do too.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

MY REVIEW:
Witness to her mother's murder as a child,Marissa certainly hadn't had it easy. Shipped off to live with her Aunt and Uncle was no picnic either,2 people who no more wanted children,just the benefit.
Surviving her childhood her troubles aren't done just yet.
When the police inform her of the death of her relative she's perplexed at why they think she was at the scene. But when you can't trust your memory can you be guilty of things not remember?
As always I think I have things figured out and then there's a twist...
Another enjoyable read from Carla Kovach.
With thanks to Carla,netgalley and the team at Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

MY RATING: 📘📘📘📘

Marissa has had a hard life filled with trauma. First, she witnesses her mother's murder. Then she is subjected to abuse at the hands of her family who take her in. She is a fragile adult. Scarred from the memories, she thinks she has found a safe place in a quiet little cottage tucked away from the world. But that hope is soon destroyed by an obnoxiously aggressive neighbor. When both he and her abusive uncle are found dead - stabbed in the same manner - Marissa is an obvious suspect. The problem is she does not remember the nights of the murders. Did she do it? Marissa herself doesn't even know. She could have just as easily committed these crimes while sleepwalking as having been blacked out from her excessive drinking. Certainly no one will believe her account.

What She Did is the perfect whodunit for people who like unreliable narrators. Every word and everyone is suspect.

After witnessing her mother's murder at a young age, Marissa is sent to live with her aunt and uncle. Now an adult she hasn't dealt with all the trauma she went through as a child. She doesn't trust easily and is fearful of everything. After meeting a new client in person who gives her the creeps, she begins to feel like she's being watched and followed. Her paranoia increases after an unfriendly encounter with the new neighbor and his teen sons. Hang ups and unpleasant notes are being left in her post box and as her anxiety builds up she can't remember things that have happened the night before. When she's linked to two murders, she has to figure out what's happening before the police do.

I thought this was a good read with Marissa's story told in the past and present. I couldn't really connect with her because she was so fragile, nervous and scared of every little noise, questioning and thinking over all the conversations and interactions she has with people. I found odd at the end she is suddenly courageous, standing up for herself and no longer afraid of anyone or anything. There were other characters introduced in the story and the twists kept coming in the end. Though at times slow-paced for me, overall an interesting read.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

I just love this author. She does a great job writing a thriller that builds suspense as you read. Told in a dual timeline from when Marissa was a child and the present day. Marissa's mother was killed when she was a child and she led a rough life with her aunt. In the present, she is mistrusting of everyone and has a lot of paranoia. I like how you didn't know how much to chalk up to her paranoia and how much was that she was in danger. Between Marissa's thoughts and the intensity, I was on edge as I read the book.

I recommend this for those that like psychological thrillers where you don't know who to trust.