In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

Emilia is a tired author ready for a new start after a bestselling series about a detective solving crime. She writes a story that kills off her main character, hoping that will pave the way for future stories. But when the events of her books start happening to her, she wonders if she’s about to befall the same fate as her character…
The storyline was good. I like the main idea Douglas portrays. I also appreciated the twisty who-done-it moves that came in the final quarter of the novel.
That being said, I struggled with getting into the story. Moving back and forth and matching between Emilia’s life and parts of Emilia’s. Overall. It was just okay for me. This was a bit slow, but intriguing enough to have kept my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and the immensely talented Claire Douglas for an ARC of this book!

Suspenseful and complex plot, realistic and likeable main character, and great writing style all made this book a good read!

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of this authors books and have loved every single one so I knew this one was about to be a treat. it far exceeded my expectations! there are so many twists and turn and you truly never know how the book was going to end. I loved the idea of taking plots from the main characters famous novels and using them to taunt the FMC. you meet a wide array of characters and it was a lot of fun trying to guess at who could possibly be responsible.

The book itself was a fast, thrilling, and immersive read. I throughly enjoyed it. Claire Douglas has hit the mail on the head with this one.

I really enjoyed this book. It was quick and had me turning pages! The characters were like able. I’m grateful to have had the chance to read this. Thank you for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 ⭐️ I love this author and couldn’t wait to read her latest book. It was released in the UK in 2023 but a year later in 2024

So I had the US arc eBook and the UK audiobook - yay! I was so excited and expected to love it but found the main character Emilia rather dull. She didn’t have any quirks or unique characteristics and she spent most of the time hiding a secret that wasn’t really a big deal imo

The book alternates POV with an inspector who’s tracking down a serial killer and she’s kind of dull too. I love a serial killer thriller but this was so dry

I think and I hope I’m in the minority because this author is smashing, but this book just fell flat for me. It was so convoluted with way too many coincidences and dull characters. But reviews say the complete opposite so I recommend reading it and letting me know why I’m wrong 😅

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for access to this ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review

Claire Douglas’s best yet! Cleverly plotted, engaging, page-turner. The twist mid-book was a real shocker and so well executed. I’ll definitely continue reading this author.

This book was slow in the beginning but I liked the idea of it so I continued with it. When it hit 25% it picked up and I finished it within 24 hours! So many twists & turns!

WOW ! What a wild ride, I could not stop reading until 2 am last night. I was still guessing about the killer until the very end. I love Claire Douglas's writing style ! I read a lot of thrillers and this one was different than anything I have read recently. I highly recommend this thriller, it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial Paperbacks for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars. Definitely took me awhile to read this book. I just couldn’t seem to get into it. The ending was okay.

Hooked me from the beginning. 3 different point of views which did confuse me at first but then I started to put it together. Really loved the story within a story. Great thriller. Definitely recommend! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This was a satisfying thriller! I felt a bit confused by the varying points of view through the first part of the book but once I figure that out it all fell into place. I found some of the twists predictable but love that all points were wrapped up and explained. Will definitely read more of Claire Douglas’ books! 3.5 stars!

“The woman that lied”….boy, did she! Unfortunately, that wasn’t all she did. Warning: whiplash inducing twists ahead! Wow, don’t think you’ve got this mystery solved. Any of them, that is. “The Woman…” is so well plotted. I thought I had what was going on with Emilia figured out then I’d realize I’m not sure I know exactly who she is. Perhaps an unreliable protagonist?? Hmm. Wonderfully twisty with well developed characters. Excellence again, Ms Douglas!!

I’ll be honest, I thought this book had a slow start and was going to end up on the “eh” side of reviews. I was pleasantly surprised toward the end when I felt the same way the main character did: OMG IS EVERYONE GUILTY?! This book definitely redeemed itself, for me! I’d give it a solid 3.5 ⭐️ rating

I have enjoyed some of Claire Douglas' other books and with a great synopsis I expected to be all in on this one as well; unfortunately this just didn't hit with me. I couldn't connect with the characters, possibly because of the third person/first person narrative and I just couldn't get into it.

The idea of a crime author's books beginning to mirror her own life is such a great premise. Even more so how does someone know what's going to happen in a book she hasn't yet had published? It could be anyone in her inner circle.

I wanted to enjoy this and maybe that just added to my disappointment. I will keep looking to Claire Douglas' for other enjoyable reads but in my opinion this wasn't her best.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

I really did enjoy the plot about it being about an author and how her book “came to life.” I feel like it did deserve the 3 stars. However, I wasn’t really wanting to pick it back up because the beginning felt pretty slow and drawn out. The most wild thing to me at the start was that she was an author that seemed known, she has several people in her circle whom are working for the police in some capacity, and she still doesn’t seem like there is any urgency to take precautions of any kind; even though she has 2 children and a stalker. It seemed like all the threats to her family could be prevented or they knew the cause of and yet she was still ..surprised? For example, the skylights were opened and she was baffled, but later it comes out that someone could hack the system and it’s just shrugged off it seemed. She has a stalker but still wasn’t locking the back doors. Her father in law was always reminding her to lock them at night? I may have a poor interpretation or it may be related to safety in different areas of the world but it just brought up a lot more questions for me that took away from the book.
Towards the middle it started to pick up and get exciting but I felt like I had an idea who it was going to be. Some of it was presented in confusing ways or over elaborated on, and then some was just briefly touched upon so it felt like there wasn’t a balance allowing it to flow. I didn’t like how she was flip flopping constantly pointing fingers at everyone in her circle lol but I really did love the whole idea of the book.
Lastly, one other thing I did find is that there was a lot of “telling” rather than showing us with descriptive writing. The hooks at the end of the chapters to grip us and keep us interested basically was a one-liner here and there telling us exactly what to think, which makes it less suspenseful and more juvenile like it’s “trying” too hard to influence the reader. The plot was great and there was plenty of chapters with suspenseful endings that there didn’t need to be ones like that.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Harper Perennial for my DRC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love Claire Douglas' books and this one was no exception. This book is a combination of two stories wrapped into one. It grabs your attention quickly and keeps you hooked right to the last page. This is a wonderfully gripping thriller that is full of twists and turns guaranteed to keep you entertained.
The author beautifully combines the different storylines and delivers a fantastic gripping tale. While experiencing events from Emilia’s perspective, you also enjoy extracts from her book and a police investigation into a serial killer. These different elements make this an interesting read that keeps you curious. When everything is tied up you are left in awe as it all falls into place. This book is clever and creative.
Emilia Ward is excited about the book she just finished writing. She has already published nine books in the series and she is happy that the new book is the last in the series. But when strange things start happening, she realizes that she might have a stalker, someone is re-creating scenes from her books. However, when something is taken from her unpublished manuscript, she immediately knows that whoever is behind the pranks is someone close to her. Who would want to terrorize her, and who could be capable of murder?
I loved the different sides to this story and the extracts from Emilia’s book left me feeling as if I was reading two stories at the same time. This book was clever and it kept me curious right to the end.
The women in this book were a good mix and there is sure to be someone everyone would like. Emilia has everything she has ever wanted until her world starts falling apart and she is left suspicious of everyone around her. The turmoil was fantastic – there was never any doubt about Emilia’s emotions which the author managed to bring to life. I found myself racing from page to page doubting everyone in Emilia’s life.
This book is another addition to my loved list for 2023. The book is gripping, creative and hugely entertaining from start to end. I cannot find anything I did not enjoy about this story. Why have I not read more of this author’s work?
If you are looking for a creative, gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat then you want to add this title to your TBR. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s a fantastic read!

I don't know exactly why but I never could connect with this story... The "author's books coming true" trope is not a new one in murder mysteries, and that's not necessarily a problem - but what is, is when there doesn't seem to be a new, fresh, or compelling twist to the concept, and unfortunately I didn't find any of those elements present here. I couldn't connect to the characters and the writing just didn't draw me in. I may have simply read too many versions of this type of story, but this one didn't work for me and I couldn't finish it.

This was a bit slow, but intriguing enough to have kept my attention. I skimmed some things but thoroughly enjoyed most of this story. A decent read.

This book is a complete novel of twists turns and unexpected results. The author truly keeps you engaged. I kept making guesses about the ending but man was I so far off. Great character building and I loved reading everything happening in the story.