The Victim by new to me author Gillian Jackson introduces the reader to Caron Rivers after she has stabbed her husband to death. What follows is a tale of an emotionally damaged woman who tells the authorities of the torture and abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband before she stabbed him in self-defense. Victims of domestic violence may find this story triggering.

The twisty bits of this story come as the investigation begins to uncover more questions as to the validity of Caron’s claims of abuse. As I listened, I felt an increasing sense of anticipation of whether or not she was the victim or the villain. My opinion of her changed just as rapidly as more layers of the story were revealed and more layers of this character’s personality are peeled back.

The story moves at a brisk pace without burying the listener under mountains of details. I really enjoyed the author’s plotting and look forward to more of her work. The narration by Hannah Curtis was expertly performed and gives the reader a clear picture of the nature of the characters in this story.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a compelling story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book to fans of suspense, thriller and mystery genres. Readers who like having twisty details that pull the rug out from under them will also enjoy this one.

Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, who provided an advance reader copy of this audiobook via NetGalley.

The call from Caron Rivers comes in one morning. She reports that her husband is dead and that she has killed him. Police arrive to find a kitchen full of broken dishes and Bill Rivers lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Under interrogation back at the station, Caron reports that she is a victim of domestic abuse and she has a long record of black eyes and cuts plus burn marks on her arm to back up her allegation. It was a case of self defense.

Bill, the owner of a computer security software company, is much older than Caron and very rich. She reports that he had all the classic actions of an abuser. He didn't want her going out during the day without him. She had no money of her own, rather an allowance for food. He picked and bought her clothes. He had isolated her from her friends and family. It seems like an open and shut case but DI Jack Priestly informs his team that they will investigate like any other death.

Gillian Jackson is an English author known for her domestic crime novels. She worked in a victim support role in a prior career which gave her insight into what goes on in homes that may appear perfect. I listened to this novel and the narrator with her English accent took me right into the story. There are some twists but I realized the biggest one before the police did. Others were complete surprises to me and overall the reader will enjoy this book which is recommended for mystery readers.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.
Unfortunately, the book was archived without me being able to read it, I had about a day when I had request it and then it was archived. Then I picked it up at the library and dfn because it wasn't convincing me.

A young wife admits to killing her husband. She tells the police that she feared for her life after her husband repeatedly abused her. She has the bruises and burns as evidence; her doctor and counselor have seen the signs of abuse and back up her story. But things are not necessarily as they seem. While I enjoyed the novel, I was able to predict most of the things that occurred.
I was given an ARC of The Victim by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#thevictim
#netgalley
#gillianjackson

"The Victim" is an extraordinary and deeply impactful novel that leaves an indelible mark on the reader's heart and mind. With exquisite storytelling and profound emotional depth, the author takes us on a journey of resilience, compassion, and the pursuit of justice. The characters are vividly portrayed, their struggles and triumphs beautifully depicted, and their stories woven together with masterful precision. The exploration of themes such as trauma, forgiveness, and the complexity of human nature is done with sensitivity and insight, evoking a range of emotions in the reader. "The Victim" is a triumph of literary brilliance, a poignant reminder of the power of empathy and the capacity for healing. It is a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, reminding you of the profound impact a single story can have on your soul.

Caron Rivers appeared to have it all. Lovely home. Loving spouse. Happy marriage. But behind closed doors, things were not what they seemed.

Why did Caron snap and kill Bill? Now she finds herself at the police station, facing questions about exactly what happened and what led to the shocking event. With Bill dead, she is free to tell her story.

Gillian did a nice job with this one and the narrator was an added bonus. I enjoyed the depth of the characters stories, the police procedures, and the overall ending. It was a little drawn out at times which seems impossible in an under 300 page book but I think it would packed a better punch at 250. Sometimes when you have great story, just get there fast. Overall, it was engaging and enjoyable. I'm hoping 2023 has less domestic abuse storylines though.

Thank you to Netgalley, Gillian Jackson, and the publisher for this advanced copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good domestic thriller novel and this one was just that. Full of shocks and twists that will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

Gillian Jackson is back with a captivating "why done it" that that was masterfully written. I found it hard to pull myself away from this book for even a few minutes, so if you enjoy provocative psychological thrillers, won't be disappointed as Jackson weaves a mystery where the crime has already happened (a woman killed her spouse) and the intriguing question is why. This author is a master and I am grateful for the eARC from Netgalley (getting this advance novel introduced me to Gillian Jackson's novels, and I was thrilled to discover such a captivating author (since receiving this ARC, I returned and read all of Ms. Jackson's offerings in the psychological / domestic thriller genre, and I am never disappointed - she is a top caliber author in her arena as she seems to carefully construct each sentence for the most impact.

The good- the plot starts out strong. Also, the narrarator on the audiobook does a great job.
The bad- this story line seems to be done before. The book kept me interested but there was nothing exciting about it.

TW: Domestic violence, sexual violence

Caron Rivers has killed her husband in self-defense. What follows is the police investigation into the case and what events led up to the killing.

This book kind of gave me Gone Girl vibes. I promise I’m not one of those people who thinks that every book that’s a domestic thriller is ‘the new Gone Girl’. I actually hate when that gets said because Gone Girl, whether you loved or hated it, was a completely new way of looking at the genre. Some of the same techniques used in that book were used in The Victim and I really liked it.

If you’re looking for a shocking twist, you won’t find it here. This is the kind of book that slowly reveals it’s secrets and brings you along for the whole ride.

I’m pretty sure this is the first book I’ve read by Gillian Jackson but I definitely want to read more.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Gillian Jackson for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was she the victim or wasn't she? That's the question and the ride to getting to the final answer was a good one! This was well written and narrated and kept the suspense alive! Lots of characters to love and hate in this one! A good read for sure and will definitely be looking for more of her books.

#TheVictim
#NetGalley

Caron kills her husband and turns herself in to the police and lays down a story of self defense and abuse. Its a pretty open close case of self defense. But the more the police start digging into things and talking to family and other people connected to the family the story isn't adding up.

I'm not going to say more than that but honestly from the beginning I just knew how the story was going to play out and I just wasnt swayed any other way. For me this story was to predictable and there was guessing so this wasn't for me.

The Audio narration was fantastic.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media this audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a chance to review this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The narration was well done. It kept me interested to see it through to the end. Although I did feel like it was a little predictable, I still enjoyed listening to it.

Caron Rivers is married to wealthy Bill Rivers until one night she has to kill him in self-defense. As the investigation progresses, years of abuse are uncovered through journals, interviews with health professionals, and from Caron's testimony - not to mention the scars covering her body. But everyone who knew Caron has a different perspective of her, and the police have to use their skills to determine who the real victim is in this domestic thriller.
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This book reminded me of Gone Girl! While I had a general idea where this story was headed, it was still enjoyable to read. The characters were well-developed, and the book was a quick listen. I would recommend this book!
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Thank you to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. #TheVictim #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to listen to it early.

4 out of 5 stars


I have been listening to a lot of audio books and I really have to say that this was a really good listen. The narrator Hannah Curtis was really good. I love it when a good narrator is able to pull you in so deep that you feel like you are there and Hannah Curtis did just that.

I will say that though I really enjoyed the mystery I did figure out the twist almost halfway through. However, that did not ruin the novel for me at all because it was so well written and narrated and I really enjoyed the ride. I feel like you will have a good time listening to it.

The Victim
By Gillian Jackson


Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of this audiobook in turn for my honest review.

Caron Rivers has everything she ever wanted, except for the water painted husband. Caron finds herself one morning with a knife in her hand and her husbands blood all over her.
Caron has told Fiona, her therapist, that she is a battered wife who came from a battered home as a child. Some of what Caron is telling Fiona perhaps is not adding up though.
What is the real story here? Is Caron the victim? It certainly appears to be.

I really enjoyed listening to this story. It starts off with a bang so it grips you & keeps your attention. Gillian Jackson has written yet another great story.

A pretty straightforward detective story. I found it a little predictable but still had me listening. The narrator was great. I was able to differentiate between the characters with her voice work. I just wish the story had been a little more twisty.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. Story was okay. Just not very engaging. To me the plot was really slow. The narrator did a good job.

⭐️⭐️💫

Sadly, I did not like this one at all. It was annoying, repetitive and glaringly predictable.

The story starts when a woman kills her husband. She claims it was self-defense and that she has been abused for years. As the police investigate, the picture becomes clear….

This was intense. Quite intense good very good but intense. I actually put it down a couple times and I have a pretty high tolerance.