This was my first Una Mannion book and I loved it. Not so much a thriller as an emotional family drama/ tragedy . Beautifully told from a few different pov with warts and all characters who could delight and disappoint in equal measure.
The ending was exactly right and perfectly in keeping with the rest of the story.

This one was a slow burn but having read and really enjoyed Una Mannion's previous novel , I stuck with it and I am glad I did as found the second half stronger than the first.

Deena disappeared in 2004 in Philadelphia. Nessa knows Deena's husband is responsible, her belief that he is responsible has never wavered. Nessa also lost her niece Ruby when Deena vanished. Ruby was taken away to rural Vermont by her father and he raised here there. The book is told from Ruby and Nessa's perspective switching back and forth in time . Both of their lives have been shaped by Deena's disappearance and as the years pass, they both are refusing to let the past lie.

There is some really gorgeous writing in this and I loved the Vermont setting but the switch between the two perspectives was also quite jarring and the pace was just a little too slow for me to really enjoy this one, it felt a little disjointed at times but the ending made up for some of the meandering along the way.

A solid 3 star read.

A family mystery written over multiple timelines and character points of view. Although beautifully written, I did struggle with the pace of the.narrative.

"Thriller" is a genre that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, and this definitely delivers. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, making it difficult to put the book down. The characters are well-developed and the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who is hiding something.

The pacing is spot-on, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. The writing style is gripping and evocative, making it easy to visualise the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters. The author's attention to detail and ability to create a believable world adds to the overall experience of the book.

Overall, this is an excellent example of the thriller genre. It's a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end and is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspenseful read.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Who is Ruby's mom? Why isn't Lucas telling the truth? What is he hiding from his own daughter?

Nessa is Deena's sister. After five years of living with Molly, Deena moves in with Lucas. They don't digest it. He is older than Deena. They wonder what she sees in him. They're worried about her. Lucas uses domestic violence. What happened to Deena?

The book consists of four chapters. The beginning was boring, the middle was better, and the ending was the best. I've been wanting to put this e-book away for a while. But I managed to read it and I don't regret it.
If you like psychological thrillers like me, you can read the book "Tell me what I am". Don't be put off by the beginning. It should be better next time. Of course, not everyone will like it, but maybe you will find something for yourself here.
In short, "Tell me what I am" is an average psychological thriller in which you will find violence, a search for a missing person and a fight for the truth.

A family drama told over multiple time lines which I found quite confusing at first.
Deena is part of a close knit family until she meets Lucas, who is a controlling boyfriend, then husband and father. Deena's family recognise the bully in Lucas and try to intervene. Deena disappears and the family is torn apart with Lucas moving away with his daughter Ruby.
Nessa, Deena's sister and Ruby's Aunt makes it her life's purpose to re-establish connection with Ruby, as described over the time-lines.
The characters are well developed and interesting. The story and what happens is drip fed to the reader cleverly with the time period moving backwards and forwards. As a reader, I became very invested in all the characters.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Una Mannion/Faber & Faber Ltd for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

A dysfunctional family suffering the post traumatic stress of an unexplained disappearance. A sister damaged by love and loss, intent on solving the mystery, finding the truth amongst the lies, seeking revenge and regaining a relationship with her niece. A father, complicated and controlling who has no intention of giving up custody or the stranglehold he exerts over his motherless child. Ruby, with little recollection of her mother who has been missing for fourteen years is starting to remember long lost memories that do not always match those of her father. A psychological thriller that gains pace and depth before reaching a conclusion that leaves the reader hungry for more. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A simply beautiful book. Full of yearning and balanced with immense courage and spirit. I adored the characters and the setting. This is a truly stunning novel thanks.

Tell Me What I Am was a really enjoyable story that I became fully immersed in, I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the writing style and am so glad I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for my ARC.

This is a multi POV , multi timeline novel by a new author for me. The disappearance of Donna devastates her daughter and sister. Both live in the shadow of her loss. This is well written with good, strong characters but I don’t think I’m the only one tired of stories of women abused and manipulated by men. I realise that these situations do exist but are not experienced by most women. I prefer realistic stories hence the 3 star review.

Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannion is a book that despite the seeming simplicity of its plot packs a real emotional punch.
Deena Garvey disappeared one night in 2004, leaving behind her young daughter Ruby, and a sister, Nessa, who has never given up on finding out what happened to her, even when it seems like the rest of the family and the police have given up after having her declared dead. Nessa is convinced that Ruby's father :ucas is responsible for Deena's disappearance. The couple parted ways because of his controlling behaviour and physical and psychological abuse and once Deena vanished he took Ruby, moved to a remote area of the countryside with his mother and banned Nessa and her family from contacting them. Nessa however does not give up easily and does whatever she can to look out for Ruby.
Meanwhile Ruby is growing up , She loves her Dad but he is very strict and authoritarian, which means that sometimes living with him can be very difficult and she has a lot of rules that must be followed to the letter if she does not want to be punished. As she gets older she notices some discrepancies in the stories she has been told about her childhood and the few memories that she has of her mother, She starts to investigate , and slowly, despite the distance between them the two women start to figure out the truth of what really happened that fateful night.
This was a really emotional read with a clever structure that made the reader care more about the characters as the story unfolded. The characters are complex and well crafted. Lucas is clearly a despicable man who is cruel and violent, but there are moments in the book that show how much he loved his daughter. Nessa is determined and strong willed, but also short sighted about how her focus on her sister's disappearance tore apart her relationship with her partner and caused distance with her brother and parents. The way the story unfolds creates tension for the reader , and I found the writing to be propulsive, I wanted to keep reading, I wanted to see Lucas get what he deserved and I wanted Ruby and Nessa to be able to reunite and keep the memory of Deena alive.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Two women, wrenched apart by a terrible crime, must find a way back to each other
When Deena Garvey disappears in 2004, she leaves behind a daughter and a sister.
Deena's daughter grows up in the country. She learns how to hunt, when to seed the garden, how to avoid making her father angry. Never to ask about her absent mother.
Deena's sister stays stuck in the city, getting desperate. She knows the man responsible for her sister's disappearance, but she can't prove it. Not yet.

Firstly, this is a terrific story well written. I loved the characters and although the point of view changes frequently it’s easy to follow. It’s one of those books that makes you race through to discover what happens next but then be disappointed to finish. A great read and well done.

What a lovely written book. The book is set in Philadelphia and Vermont and Deena has had a little girl Ruby. Deena lives with her partner Lucas. Deena goes missing and Ruby ends up living with her dad.

The book goes back and forth with the dates and the different characters. It’s very well written and very descriptive. It’s slow to start with, but turns into a great psychological family drama. The last few chapters pull the whole book together.

Suspense, family drama.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

A powerful story, a mix of thriller and family saga. Heartwrenching, intriguing and gripping.
A well written story that I couldn't put down.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

When I was offered the opportunity to read Tell Me What I Am, having enjoyed the author's previous novel, I was delighted. The author's first novel was one of my top reads of 2021, and so I had high expectations. This book met those expectations and more.

This book is a dual voice, dual timeline which was executed very effectively and built tension as the story of Deena, Nessa's missing sister unfolds. It's clear that Deena's disappearance has had a profound effect on both Nessa and Deena's daughter Ruby, being raised by her father hundreds of miles away. Fourteen years after Deena's disappearance, the two women are both trying to uncover the truth and the book slowly reveals more about the characters and the impact of Deena's disappearance as the truth starts to emerge. Whilst for the most part, this is a satisfying slow burn, with beautiful writing, and highly developed characters, it is the last quarter of the book where the tension explodes into a faster paced, tense finale.

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable book, with two fascinating, and engaging characters. I found the book compelling and it kept me wanting to read on.. Ultimately this was a powerful, emotive, and empowering read and highly recommended. Thanks to Faber Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read.

I really enjoyed this story, particularly the intriguing style of writing. My heart was ring throughout as the author drops little nuggets of infortmtion throughout, A very ever and though compelling story.

This is a chilling and gripping psychological drama of one man's control affecting three generations of women.

Set in Philadelphia and Vermont. Deena Garvey doesn't turn up to collect her 4 year old daughter, Ruby after a custody visit with her father, Lucas, who then refuses to hand Ruby over to Nessa, Deena's sister. This is a sad and tragic story of a sister's love and determination to stay connected to her niece and find out what happened to Deena.

⚠️ Trigger warning for domestic abuse survivors - there are some harrowing scenes - 'vividly real' as described on the cover. But also talks to the strength of women, female friendships and the love and support of family.

Thanks to #netgalley and @faberbooks for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5-4⭐️

A powerful read whilst being totally engrossing. It is written over several timelines and involves Rub, the main character, who we follow from childhood, through the teenage years to being a young adult. We hear Ruby's story and, running alongside, her Aunt's, Nessa. Whilst it becomes obvious overtime what is going on behind the scenes and the reader will have their suspicions, there are other plenty of other themes throughout to detract. Brilliantly written, moving and heartbreaking at times with believably depicted characters. A definite yes.

Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to read an ARC of this book.

This story starts in Vermont 2018 with Ruby who is the daughter of Deena , it’s so mysterious I could tell after a few pages this book was going consume me and be incredibly good, Ruby is doing her chores and out of the blue gets a phone call from a woman called Nessa who says she’s her Aunt.

The second chapter is Nessa’s story in Philadelphia 2004, it follows the day that Deena went missing ( Deena is Nessa’s sister & Ruby’s Mum), I really enjoyed this chapter it was heartbreaking but also intriguing.

From that point on the story is all set in the past showing Ruby and Nessa’s life until they get to 2018 and Ruby’s first chapter.

I was so moved by this book. It was absolutely beautiful, so poignant, full of life, sadness and also regrets. I can’t really give this book enough justice in my review but I can honestly say it will stay with me for a long time.

Do you know one of those things/ possessions that you’ve got that you love but you don’t want to use?. This is how I felt about this book, I knew it was was going to be incredible so I didn’t want to carry on reading because then it would be over.

Deen Garvey is in an abusive relationship with a man, Lucas, who exerts coercive control over her and seems to Deena's family to be downright dangerous. The couple have a small daughter and when Deena goes missing he gets sole custody and moves away from the city to a small coastal town with his mother and daughter. Deena's sister, Nessa, is sure Lucas has killed her sister as she knows Deena would never have abandoned her daughter Ruby and she spends all her free time and money trying to find ways to trace and intervene in Ruby's life for the better despite Lucas obtaining a restraining order against her, such as having Lucas' home schooling set up inspected and also hiring PI's to track Ruby's progress and home life and continue the search for Deena's body.

I loved Crooked Tree by this author and felt that this was also a well written and observed book. However, the pacing was slightly off for me and it felt a bit bloated with characters whose story arcs lead nowhere. I still enjoyed the book and think Una Mannion tells stories well worth reading.