I don't like the author's writing style or voice. The characterisation is poor, particularly of the female characters. I find the writing style quite amateurish, with a "tell not show" feel to it. Things happen that don't quite ring true and stretch believability - even if a book is meant to be shocking, it has to feel like it could potentially happen.

I really enjoy Cole Baxter's writing because it is fast paced and makes you feel empathy for characters you might not initially feel it for. I really liked how he brought some personal trauma into the characters at the end to make them more complex and relatable to the readers. I did eventually figure out who was behind the murders RIGHT before it was revealed to us but enjoyed trying to figure it out throughout the book. I really enjoyed the community aspect to this and thought Erin was a really great character, albeit a bit naive. Dominic was a complex character but really interesting to try and figure out. Overall, I think the characters really made this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE BETRAYAL
Erin is determined to begin a new chapter in her life. Having freed herself from her violent and abusive ex, she’s starting over on a remote island where she can lead a peaceful, quiet life.
A good read. Little slow. 4*.

"The Betrayal" by Cole Baxter is a spine-tingling rollercoaster of twists and turns that will have you feeling betrayed in the best way. With Baxter's knack for suspense and surprise, it's impossible not to be captivated by the intrigue. This book is like a trust fall with a surprise ending!

Keep your enemies close, but your friends closer. Erin is running away from her past but soon the past catches up with her. Recommended for anyone who loves a thrilling read.

A dark story of a woman trying to stay safe from dangerous men. It goes to deep, dark places. A tough read at times and it sags a bit in parts but an interesting premise.

I was not as gripped by this book as I wanted to be from reading the blurb.
It was in parts very dramatic but also a little predictable and I did not like the tone or connotations in some of the writing.
Sadly this was quite disappointing

Wow what a fantastic book with twists and turns all over the place such a good book I would definitely recommend it

WOW, this was my first Cole Baxter read and wont be my last. This book was clever, propulsive and kept me turning pages as fast as I could !!!!!! 4.5 stars from me!

I thought this book was a brilliant read , got you hooked from the beginning by revealing things then going onto something else which made you just want to read it all in one go , I couldn’t leave it down but still finishing with everything explained but leaving you shocked to the end.

Thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Betrayal by Cole Baxter is a domestic thriller that will appeal to fans of B.A. Paris or Kiersten Modglin. The story revolves around Erin, who is currently living on a remote island after escaping from her violent and abusive ex-boyfriend, Mark. She still suffers from PTSD from their relationship. What will she do when one of her closest friends is murdered? Could it have been Mark, who was recently released from prison? Will Erin put herself in danger to find out who the killer is?

Here is a gripping excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Heart pounding and covered in sweat, Erin woke up with a start. Through sheer panic she noted she was sleeping in a strange bed, in an unknown room that looked pretty shabby. It was a motel room.
Before her panic could escalate any further, she firmly closed her eyes again and tried to take a couple of deep breaths.
You are free.
You are safe.
They can't hurt you now.
She repeated this simple mantra to herself, patiently waiting for her heart to return to normal."

Overall, The Betrayal is a domestic thriller with an intriguing premise, but there are better books in this genre out there. One highlight of this book is how the main character is dealing with PTSD from an abusive relationship. I felt that the portrayal was realistic and shed light on a common problem. I took off 2 stars, because some elements of the plot felt anti-women. In particular, there is a Don Juan-like character who multiple women fawn over, and they get into catfights over him. The ending of the book did nothing to alleviate this simplistic view of women. I took off another star because the middle of the book felt more like a drama than a domestic thriller. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of domestic thrillers in general, you can check out this book, which is available now!

Erin is rebuilding her life after escaping her abusive ex-husband who tried to kill her and is now in prison for it. She moves to a new town with her dog for a fresh start. A lot starts to go wrong for her after her move. The plot is a slow burn but it also keeps your attention. Overall it was a really good book and I plan on reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Brilliant read. Loved the description of the characters. Could not put this book down and would definitely read more from this author. I was guessing who was the killer or the way through and did work it out towards the end but still a great spin.

This novel was not quite what I was expecting but it was still a good read! I would consider it more of a cozy mystery than a psychological thriller and it was a little repetitive. Erin moves to a small town where no one knows who she is except her dog Fenix! She is escaping quite the past and is trying to start over with the money she received from her recent divorce. Once Erin has gotten settled in and started making friends, her friends start being murdered. Is it her abusive ex or someone on the island?

Great psychological thriller. Fantastic plot to get your teeth into. Lots of twists and turns. The book is well written. The book was a bit slow in parts. Where I prefer a fast paced book. But good all the same

The Betrayal by Cole Baxter offered an interesting premise but, for me, it fell just a little bit short of the mark.

Erin is looking for a fresh start after escaping an abusive ex. Setting up her own business in an island community Erin soon meets the locals, including Dominic, who immediately starts making advances toward her and will not take no for an answer. When it transpires that there is a killer loose on the island, Erin's fear is compounded by the fact that her ex has recently been released from prison. Suddenly, her fresh start is more terrifying than anything she has left behind.

This was a quick read, though I found that I was not fully engaged nor invested in the narrative. 3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.

The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in. Atmospheric, haunting and superbly plotted.

Meh - this was an okay book but the story just didn’t grip me. The ending was pretty obvious and then main character was pretty one dimensional. The author didn’t fully capture the possibilities of one of the main themes and just sort of tied it up without much thought at the end.

Really enjoyed the Betrayal. Kept me interested all the way to the end. Can’t wait to read more of his books!

Love a tense mystery, this one doesn't disappoint? You will be turning pages until the end, then be wowed for a while after. Complex mystery where the past and present are clashing head on, history repeating itself but it has to stop. No spoilers, just read it.