Reading Between the Wines book review #46/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 ½ 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Destroy Me
Author: Karen Cole
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: Have you ever done something that you are ashamed of and would be in so much trouble if revealed? Would you cover it up or deal with the consequences? Cat is dealing with the ramifications of the former. Someone has found out what she did years ago and is committed to making her pay. I enjoyed finding out who was trying to destroy Cat and what lengths they went to do it.

Cheers and thank you to @MobiusBooks and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @DestroyMe.

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This was such a good book. I read it in one sitting. It keep me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to know how it was going to end. I would definitely recommend this book.

This is a novel that will quickly hook you and keep you glued to the pages as the story slowly unfolds. This book has very quick pacing so you won’t be able to look away. It’s a very quick read because of the quick plotting. The premise sounds so bizarre, why did a witness place Cat at the scene of a murder? Cat is a normal British mum who is still reeling from her recent separation from her husband and finding herself suddenly a single mother of a five year old son. Who could think she’s a murderer? Suddenly she’s faced with this hanging over her head and the realization of what it could mean. This is not a perfect novel but I do think its flaws, like for me I didn’t care about her ex-husband and even Cat was not all that compelling, are made up for by it’s quick pacing and believable plotting. It all makes sense and is not one of those novels that tries to be tricky without making sense. The best novels for me are the ones that hold my interest and this very much succeeded. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book hooked me from the first page! What a great, suspenseful mystery. Loved the plot twists and didn’t see them coming at all!

This title is on point because this book destroyed me! Specifically, destroyed my productivity and household chores, because I. COULD.NOT.PUT.IT.DOWN.
😱

What is the last book you devoured, that had you neglecting life?

{Book Review}: Destroy Me by Karen Cole
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
4 stars
8/10

Short, snappy chapters suck you right in to Cat’s troubles, both current and past. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I really felt for the characters. The plot was fresh, the story twisty and it will keep you guessing until the end. The only reason it wasn’t 5 stars was because it reminded me a tad bit of another book (that I won’t say because don’t want to give away.) I thoroughly enjoyed the ride though and still recommend.

Thank you @netgalley, @mobius_books and Karen Cole for the gifted copy! It was the perfect first read for September.

Oooh so good.love the mystery and intrigue. I'd read this again and again. Left me wanting more. I didn't guess the ending, suspenseful.

This book was a twisted ride for sure. It was entertaining and full of suspense. The story was so well done you didn’t want to stop reading. You wanted to go on till you had finished the whole thing.

I read this quickly and it wasn’t bad or unenjoyable, but it didn’t totally work for me. I think it just didn’t stand out from other thrillers I’ve read. The reveals weren’t bad, and there were perfectly good red herrings to mislead you, but I was never shocked and the ultimate reveal is just … fine. It doesn’t really pack a punch. I did generally like reading from the narrator’s perspective, although the focus on her wanting to lose weight and being in Weight Watchers I could’ve done without.

Ultimately this wasn’t a bad read. I actually read it quickly and I wasn’t uninterested. I just don’t think this one will stick with me.

DESTROY ME.. **Cat Bayntun is recently separated from her husband and figuring out how to raise her 5 year old son while being civil with her cheating ex. As if things weren’t bad enough, Cat is implicated in the murder of her childhood BFF via photo fit drawing. As Cat is working to prove her innocence, she is made to confront some dark secrets from her past.** This was my first Karen Cole novel and I am confident that it will not be my last. I loved her writing and the constant cliffhangers that kept me on the edge of my seat. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a suspenseful read, full of little clues that will keep you guessing until the end! Cat is a newly single mother of a 5 year old son named Dylan who finds herself the target of a police investigation. Her photo matches the photo of a suspect in the murder of her childhood friend. Cat has not seen or spoken to her friend in 17 years. A bad mistake that leads to threats and police questioning, she sets off to prove herself innocent and find out who is framing her and why.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend!

3.5 Stars

This book is about Cat and a secret from the past that she is keeping from everyone. Cat has been placed under suspicion of the murder of an old highschool friend, the friend she is keeping the secret with. Cat's life starts to fall apart so she decides she must investigate...just who is trying to throw her under the bus!?

This moved at an okay pace and there were plenty of suspects so red herrings abound. I didn't figure out the big reveal and really liked that Cat wasn't gonna take this lying down. What I didn't like was all the different back stories and little extras thrown in. It seemed to slow down the pace a little. The plot wasn't entirely believable but I liked how the author ending the book and the epilogue was absolutely awesome...I don't say that very often.

Catherine, a newly single mother, is exhausted. Not only is she raising a five year old son, Dylan, five days a week, but she is also dealing with the recent end to her marriage. She's mulling over her ex's infidelity and how she largely believes her weight was the problem when her son calls her attention to the television, telling her he's just seen her on the screen. Sure enough, there's a photofit of her, released by the police who are attempting to find the person who murdered a woman named Charlotte. As luck would have it, Charlie is an estranged friend of Cat's whom she has not spoken to or seen in seventeen years. Before Cat can ever get a handle on how she's become involved as a primary suspect, she begins receiving ominous photographs from a random man who lives in a completely different country. Cat must prove she is innocent to the police, as well as her entire town who have all seen the photofit and reached their own conclusion, all the while trying to find out how her past has come to play a huge role in Charlie's death, and her torment.

<i>Destroy Me<i/> by Karen Cole is a thrilling tale of a mother trying to return her life to normal, while it seems someone is hellbent on serving her a heaping plate of "karma". Cole does an excellent job of keeping readers intrigued, of crafting the character Catherine to be relatable and understandable while ensure the reader never guesses the actual culprit. In the end, I hadn't guessed who could have been involved so overall the mystery was never broken, though I will advise readers that there can be lulls in interest as the novel tends to slow as the discussion begins to focus on Cat's destroyed love life (which is still interesting, but the pacing feels a bit rushed in their separation and his leap to start a new life).

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy realistic mystery thrillers, who enjoy identifying with characters all the while still being surprised by the overall outcome of said character's tale.

Wow, what a suspenseful read!! I was on the edge of my seat, and was kept guessing til the very end! Cat is a newly single mom who's world gets turned upside down when she sees her picture on the news as someone who's wanted for murder, the murder of a high school friend she hasn't seen in 17 years. Now she will stop at nothing to try and clear her name, and find the real killer, but at what cost?
This author was new to me, and I will definitely be reading more of her books!!

Destroy Me by Karen Cole

Cat, recently divorced, sees herself on the news one day! She’s a suspect in a murder investigation, of her old high school best friend, Charlie.

The police arrive at her house the next day! She hasn’t spoken to or seen Charlie in years. She’s innocent! Determined to find the real killer, Cat does some investigating.

Could the secrets of their past finally be coming back to haunt her?

Karen Cole has become one of my favorite authors! She never disappoints!! A good suspenseful, quick read. Karen has a great way of writing to create suspense and keeping you think who the possible murderer is.

Thank you Karen Cole, Mobius Books and NetGalley for the advance copy to read in return for my honest review!

**** Minor spoiler at the end of this review.


Cat is a recently divorced mother, who sees herself on the TV on day in the news. She is the suspect in the murder investigation of her old high school friend, and has few friends now who she can turn to. The police don't believe her, her mother wants to pretend it's not happening, her ex-husband isn't exactly helpful, and the parents at her son's school are very suspicious of her.

Cat decides to investigate by herself to find some answers, as a stranger in Facebook sends her pictures of places from an event in the past she wants to forgot. Who is this stranger? How does he know what happened that night? And can Cat find the real killer before something happens to her or her son?

I rated this book 4/5 stars. The beginning was a tad slow for me and it took a while for the story to build. About half way through I became invested and needed to find out what would happen to Cat and her family.

Thank you to NetGalley and and author for giving me the chance to read and review this book.





** Spolier - if you are anything like me, I like to know ahead of time about pet deaths. The dog, Delilah, is killed in the last 1/4 of the book. It's not overly upsetting/emotional, but it does happen.

<b>Note:</b> I received an advanced copy of this book from Mobius Books via NetGalley.

3.5 Stars

Cat panics when she sees a photofit of a murder suspect flash up on the news. It looks exactly like her, and to make matters worse, the victim is her childhood best friend, Charlie. The following day, the police arrive at her doorstep to question her. She hadn't seen or spoken to Charlie in years, but could the secrets of their past finally be coming back to haunt her? Desperate to find out who gave the police her description and to protect her five-year-old son, Cat investigates. She knows she is innocent and will stop at nothing to prove it. But some secrets are best left buried...

I liked figuring out what the background mystery was with Cat and how she knew Charlie. I was a little disappointed in the ending, it felt forced. There was all this build-up and then it just fell flat.

3.5 stars

I've never read anything by this author in the past, but I'm likely to look into future books.

This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that hooked me early on. The characters were well-crafted, and there were enough twists to keep me guessing and engaged until the surprise reveal (which I hadn't anticipated!). It was a quick read, as I wanted to keep going to find out who was responsible. There were some lose ends related to Cat and her actions from years prior, and I would've liked an epilogue to have seen that addressed. It felt like justice wasn't truly served, but other than that, I enjoyed this one.

Catherine Bayntun is in a bad place. She's separated from her husband, raising her 5-year-old son while still trying to being amicable with her cheating ex, and dealing with increased anxiety and body issues. As bad as things are for her currently, they're about to get even worse. When she sees the photo of a murder suspect on the news, her life takes an even darker turn. Because the suspect looks exactly like Catherine and the victim is an estranged friend of hers. But her and Charlie haven't spoken in years...not after the dark secrets that tore their friendship apart. As she is questioned by the police and everyone starts turning on her, Catherine starts to also questions herself. Could she really be capable of murder? That's crazy! But the alternative is equally as crazy. If she didn't do it, that means someone is out to frame her and destroy her life. But who would have the motive to do something like this to her? And why was Charlie also targeted?

I've read all of Karen Cole's book and enjoyed them, so I was really excited about this book. The premise sounds so unique and intriguing. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver. Catherine isn't a very likable character and her constant complaints about her weight and appearance became grating. The book was fast paced and interesting enough until the big secret of what Catherine and Charlie has done all those years ago was revealed. After the big reveal, I lost any trace of sympathy I had for Catherine. Not only was their actions despicable, but justice wasn't served in the end. I hated the ending so much! It was frustrating, disgusting and I'm left angry after finishing this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast read! I was eager to learn what the outcome would be. Catherine (Cat) is watching the evening news and finds herself staring at her own face as a suspect in a murder case. The murder occurred close to her house AND she knew the victim. But Cat is innocent! After being questioned by the police and feeling that they just aren't doing enough to find the real killer, she begins to dig into the murder. But maybe things should have been left alone. Cat and the murder victim share a dark secret. Does Cat really want to open up the past?
Cat is a soon to be divorced mother of a 5 year old. Her son is just beginning school in a school with a good reputation. Since her photo has been linked to this recent murder, Cat is apprehensive to be seen in public. When another mother befriends her, she is unsure of her intentions. While at her house for a play date, Cat meets her husband, Luke. Cat already knows Luke......how does he fit into this murder investigation?
Once Cat sees her photo on the news, her decision making seems to become extremely poor! Although I enjoyed the book and couldn't wait to see what would happen, Cat makes some really stupid decisions. She isn't a very likeable main character. The secret from her past, also made me dislike her. I didn't find her to have many redeeming characteristics. I would have preferred an alternate ending, where Cat has to pay for her past.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Karen Cole for the opportunity to read this book prior to its release.

What can I say about this book? On the surface the story seems intriguing, a separated mother, Catherine Bayntun sees a sketch of herself on the news in relation to a recent murder. She realizes she knows the victim, a school friend, Charlie, whom she hasn't seen in over 17 years. She starts receiving photos of a time when her and Charlie were close. But soon a deep dark secret will be reveled and her life will never be the same.

This story was suspenseful from start to finish and the book was hard to put down. I enjoyed the story for the most part. There were a few things I could have done without like the use of the word "mansplaining" because god forbid a man ever try to tell you anything about something you know nothing about. The trope that all men are cheaters and losers was another thing I could have done without.

By the time I reached the last chapter, I was left feeling like it was unresolved. I even went back a few pages to see if Id missed something. The main character is not held accountable for her actions and literally got away with murder.

I'm not sure if Ill read anything else by this author. Ill have to just play it by ear.