Member Reviews

When Heather goes to see an author at a book-store. She doesn’t expect her bag to be taken and with a note asking for her to call to get her bag back….

Things only take a turn from there, she meets Felicity Dixon who tells her, that her old best friend “Amanda” is in prison for a crime she didn’t commit!

Heather and Amanda, old school pals, fell out when Amanda was dating Heathers physco ex! Amanda, assuming Heather was jealous, ignored Heathers warning and fell out with her friend.

Months later Amber is arrested for attempted murder on said ex! Heather happy enough to be away from the drama doesn’t give them a second glance until Felicty Dixon shows up in Heathers life!

Felicity says Amanda is innocent and her and her brother can do prove it. If Heather gets back with her physco ex!

Will Heather be able to go through with the plan?
What are Felicity Dixon and her brothers motives ? What are they hiding?

A gripping thriller, with twists and turns. You can’t stop reading but you don’t want it to end. A must read!

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Copy received from Publisher and Rachel's Random Resources.
I loved this one!
I loved Jackie Kabler's previous book, The Vanishing of Class 2B, and when I saw the title of this, I knew it would be right up my street too, and it was!
It was compulsive, consuming and so addictive.
The sense of tension and danger was so high through the entire book, and I couldn't wait to read more every day until I had finished.
It was well thought and wonderfully paced. I kept reading late into the night, and my attention never wavered once. That is no mean feat when it comes to my attention span lately!
Thoroughly enjoyed it, and I highly recommend it.

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Amber Ryan has been sent to prison for a crime she didn't do. She says she has been framed by an ex-boyfriend Jack, and the only person who can help her prove her innocence is her ex-best friend, Heather. Heather and Jack also used to be a couple, and she knows what he is capable of, so she agrees to get back together with him to see if she can find proof of what he has done.

This is the first book I've read by this author for some time. I enjoyed it although it was a little far fetched for me in parts. I liked Heather's character and felt a bit sorry for her initially, having to go back with Jack to help save her friend. As her story moved on it did feel like she enjoyed some parts of their relationship a little too much though! Jack was a very odd character - he didn't like going out in the daylight so did all his business during the night and slept during the daylight hours. He very much like a vampire and I half expected him to turn out to be one!

The storyline was good, although it was a little slow in parts. Heather had to keep Jack on her good side so she could get any evidence against him and when she was in Jack's house, whilst it was very nice and modern, it was filled with cameras watching every move she made, which did make me feel uncomfortable! Poor Amber in prison was a strange storyline though! It was a bit of an extreme sentence of life imprisonment for what she had done, so I did in a way feel sorry for her!

I did enjoy the book, it had some good tense moments and left you wondering where it was going. There were a lot of strange parts though which I wasn't quite sure of. I would recommend it though as it did hold my interest.

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The life sentence by Jackie Caidler in the summary it says it is about Amber Ryan but it is mainly focused on Heather and her relationship with Jack. He is a billionaire who never goes out during the day and stays up all night and expects her to do the same despite she has a full-time job. They once dated but she left him and he was also the reason her and Amber stop being friends because she started dating him and the next thing Heather knew Amber was arrested for attempted murder Jack head injuries from an attack and Amber was sentenced to life in prison despite the fact she couldn’t remember hardly anything about the event.
Not wanting to give anything away I will just say Heather starts dating him again with an aim to helping out her friend Amber in that first it goes according to plan but then it doesn’t and when it doesn’t more people will die but will Jack ever get his comeuppance? There is so much I am leaving out so as not to give spoilers but just know this book is way more good than it is not good. I really enjoyed this Book. I thought the ending having to do with Jack ended very abrupt but as I said it is still a good book in one I definitely recommend it is tension filled stress inducing well written in a great thriller. I have read books by Jackie Kadler before and thought I would love this one as much as I did those and not that I didn’t enjoy reading the book I just liked her other books better… I think? Not to take anything away from The Life Sentence I just really loved Class 3B it was so good! I want to thank Harper Collins UK for my free art copy via NetGalley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

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My first venture in to the world of Ms Kabler and what a lovely, surprising trip it was.

A really tense psychological thriller with characters who delighted and yet were unusual and slightly devious. At times it was also 'come on girl, you are being played' as the twisty tory developed.

The book had chapters from the POV of Jack, Heather & Amber, but far be it from me to say who was the hero or villain. Suffice it to say Amber was Heather’s best friend., but was in prison. But was Amber guilty?

Well written, easy to read, building up nicely to an excellent finish. Hopefully, Amazon has plenty of her other books to delve in to.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for the chance to read and review.

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Heather Harris works in a bookshop, a job that brings her a lot of joy. One day, she attends a book event where a strange, nervous-looking woman sits next to her.

When the event finishes, Heather realises that her handbag was swapped, and inside she finds a note with a phone number, urging her to call.

Desperate to get her belongings back, Heather does that, and she recognises the culprit – it’s the woman from the book event. She tells Heather that her name is Felicity and that she needs her help to clear Amber Ryan’s name.

Amber used to be best friends with Heather, until she started dating her ex-boyfriend, Jack Shannon. Heather tried to warn Amber off him, as she felt there was something off about him, but Amber wouldn’t listen.

Now, Amber is serving a life sentence for a crime that didn’t even happen. Felicity is adamant that Jack Shannon framed Amber and that he’s a very dangerous man.

Heather needs to rekindle her flame with Jack and collect the evidence. Can she do it?

How I loved this psychological thriller from start to finish!

I adore Jackie Kabler; her books are always full of suspense, and you can expect a twist or two to pop up along the way.

This book certainly didn’t disappoint.

I liked how it was written from the points of view of different people. Jack was such a strange character; there was definitely an element of a psychopath in him. I didn’t understand how someone could have a nocturnal lifestyle like he did; he was almost like a vampire, although I’m sure that vampires are nicer than him!

I know that some people felt that the plot was a bit far-fetched, but I paid no mind to that. I enjoyed it, and it offered me a bit of escapism when I needed it the most.

Thanks to One More Chapter for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.

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My thanks to Harper Collins Uk and NetGalley for a copy of “ The Life Sentence “ for an honest review.

I’ve read , and really enjoyed, several psychological thrillers by Jackie Kabler and this one didn’t disappoint!
I liked the way the story progresses through different points of view , and this raised the suspense levels At times , because of Jack’s strange behaviour , I was reminded of “ Christian Grey” and I think the characters were really well written
.I thought the storyline was going in several different directions , but I was proved wrong with all of them !
Thoroughly enjoyable

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I was drawn to The Life Sentence by the premise. Being framed for not only a crime you didn’t commit, but a crime that wasn’t committed.

Heather Harris has her dream job, working in a book shop, happily attending author talks for pleasure. Many readers, including myself, would envy her this; but what happens to her next, nobody would covet.
A strange encounter draws her in to a clandestine plan to clear Amber, her childhood friend, who is currently serving a life sentence. As much as Heather wants to help her friend, she is concerned about revisiting a chapter of her life she had hoped was firmly closed.

I’m afraid I struggled with elements of the book. In my mind, a life sentence being given for this crime didn’t sit well with me. It also seemed to stretch plausibility for Heather to believe and trust two complete strangers, who manufactured such a bizarre encounter. While I appreciate I am reading fiction, I do need a book to feel credible.

I felt the book was paced too slowly, there was too much build up, and quite a lot of repetitious behaviour from the characters. I understand this was written to build tension, but I’m afraid it didn’t have that effect on me. I needed something to happen. I struggled to keep my attention focused in the pages.

It’s just 3.5⭐️ from me, though I know many other readers have thoroughly enjoyed the book.

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‘The Life Sentence’ is a fast-paced psychological thriller that is a real page-turner! This is the second stand-alone thriller of the authors that I have read and I flew through it in one day. Do you have to suspend disbelief at times, maybe? You do end up screaming at some of the characters ‘why’ at the top of your internal voice but it's an entertaining read packed full of interesting characters and fast-paced right up to the end!

Heather works as a bookseller in London and is approached by a young woman at a book launch one afternoon. The woman, Felicity, claims that Heather’s ex-best friend, Amber, has been framed for a crime, a crime that didn't even take place. Amber is currently in prison and Felicity is claiming that Heather’s ex, Jack is the mastermind behind it all. Amber was dating Jack at the time it all happened. The only way to prove that Jack is the bad guy is for Heather to pretend to be interested in Jack again and find the evidence to get Amber out of jail!

This is a psychological thriller that examines the effects of emotional manipulation in a relationship and how dangerous they can end up being. There were times though that there were flashes of empathy towards Jack, with his phobia of not being able to tolerate the daylight. Glimpses, though, as he still is the bad guy!

Overall, this was an entertaining read, let me know if you pick it up!

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Imagine be in by in prison for a crime you didn’t commit, no imagine being in there for a crime that never actually happened in the first place! Amber finds her self in this exact situation after being charged and imprisoned for robbery and grievous bodily harm, yet she is adamant she didn’t not only do it but that the whole thing didn’t actually happen in the first place and she needs the help of her old friend.

Heather and Amber used to be the best of friends but it turned a bit sour when Amber started dating John, Heather’s ex, whom she tried to warn her of what he is really like. Obviously this didn’t go down well and resulted in them falling out, fast forward a few years and Amber is behind bars and Heather gets roped into proving Ambers innocence with help of Felicity and her brother Nathan. This means that she as to get involved with John once again!

I enjoyed the idea of the story, though the life sentence that Amber gets for her crime didn't quite sit well with me, it seemed excessive at best. There were a few pretty far fetched moments and some long winded dialog but it held my attention.

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Heather is approached by two strangers to help a former friend who is in prison unjustly.

You will have to be able to suspend belief to really enjoy this one. Although not realistic is spots it is a great read. I don't mind unrealistic as long as it is written well. This one is.

The characters were well portrayed. Some I had sympathy for, some I liked and one made my skin crawl.

Dripping with tension through most of the book. I couldn't read fast enough.

The little tidbit at the end is perfect.

Thanks to netgalley and One More Chapter for the arc.

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Interesting plot, but the pacing and writing of this book were a bit stale. Overall enjoyable, but wish some of the twists were more unpredictable.

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Heather's former friend has been convicted and imprisoned for attempted muder and is serving a life sentence. The victim was also Heather's ex and she is persuaded that her friend is innocent so needs to get close to Jack to prove he framed an innocent woman...
The Life Sentence is a psychological and crime thriller about a possible miscarriage of justice.
Heather is contacted by a random stranger who believes that Amber was framed for stabbing her lover. The details of the crime are a little foggy and I found I had to suspend my disbelief. The evidence against Amber's conviction is minimal and I saw no reason for Heather to act as she does, especially at the behest of strangers.
The book is written mainly from Heather's first person perspective as we see her try to prove Amber's innocence. She bravely rekindles her relationship with the despicable Jack in order to search his house and find evidence of his lies. There are other chapters that show Amber in jail and some that show Jack's perspective. I found Jack's chapters sinister and increased the tension as he reveals his suspicions about Heather and forces her to prove herself.
The plot was entertaining and I enjoyed the drama and danger that Heather faces. It was perhaps a little repetitive as she searches every room, covering cameras etc. This slowed down the pace a bit. The tension was maintained until the final chapter and the ending had a surprise twist.
The Life Sentence is an entertaining and dramatic book.

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The Life Sentence by Jackie Kabler is a suspense filled psychological thriller that has plenty of twists and turns that will keep you on your toes throughout.

Heather used to be best friends with Amber until something happened that tore them apart. Now Amber is in prison serving a life sentence for a crime she claims she did not commit. And it seems as though Heather is the only one that can prove that she is innocent. But in order to do that Heather needs to go back. Back to the dark place where it all began…

What follows is a dark and at times shocking psychological thriller that builds the tension slowly. And as Heather sets out to unearth the truth, she begins to uncover far more than she could ever have expected to, leading to a denouement I can honestly say I did not see coming.

Although I would say that some suspension of disbelief is needed as the story moves forward, The Life Sentence is nevertheless a book that really does keep you guessing and is an entertaining psychological thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. 3.5 stars.

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Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Having read previous books by Jackie Kabler, I was intrigued to read this one. A life sentence for a crime that didn't occur? It kind of pulls on the fact that the justice system isn't always correct, however I found that the scenario was a bit far fetched, a life sentence for a crime that wasn't murder?

Regardless of this there is plenty of action, twists and red herrings along the way; the build up to certain events kept you intrigued and on the edge of your seat. It is a fast paced read and easy to follow. A good read, even if a bit far fetched at times. 4/5 stars.

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What a cracker of a book!
I love the way Jackie writes her stories with lots of details and information on the area. Character, sounds, smells etc to really show you the best atmosphere possible.
Her books always have you on the edge of your seat and this one was no different.
Lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Many times I was convinced I had worked out the plot and the baddies. Only to find I was wrong!
Really enjoyed this book, reading it in two sittings.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

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Amber was sent to jail from a crime she didn’t commit… sounds like the opening gambit from an 80s TV show. Only for Amber, the crime never happened. Heather, with the help of two strangers, is going to prove it. No pressure Heather!!

Heather’s task ain’t an easy one. She’s going into the lion’s den (aka Jack’s world) and trying to get the evidence to exonerate Amber. OMG Jack is a horrible human being. He makes my skin crawl at just the thought of him. He doesn’t just give me the ick – it’s like a million times the ick. He should come with a warning sign. Smooth, gorgeous, rich but keep well away!!

I’ve never read any of Kabler’s thrillers despite owning three others but I giving myself a severe reprimand. I’ve heard so many great things about her writing, hence the purchases but never got them to the top of the reading pile. This needs to be amended.

The Life Sentence is a sensational read. If you love your crime thrillers tense and in fear for your lead character, this book is for you. My chest was tight as Heather did her thing to help Amber. Loved this book!!

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A psychological thriller full of twists and turns .
Heather works in a book shop, her ex best friend Amber is in prison serving a life sentence .
A woman takes Heather’s bags and key at a book event she is attending , when meeting the woman so she can return her property she finds that this was an orchestrated move and they have a lot in common that being Jack Shannon .
Shannon is Heather’s ex and also Amber’s ex and the reason she is in prison .
This meeting is a catalyst to bring Jack Shannon down , he isn’t who he says he is and he’s a very dangerous man .
Can Heather really bring Jack to justice and keep herself safe ?
This book leaves you on the edge of your seat .
Fantastic story and well developed characters.
It left me turning pages long in to the night and savouring every page .
A fantastic read!
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK.

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I have read a few Jackie Kabler now and as always this was a fast paced, twisty thriller that I couldn’t read fast enough. I was gripped from the very start needing to know how the unique story would play out, I genuinely wouldn’t have expected that that ending and I don’t think you will either. I loved that were characters and their stories were so well developed as they were easy to connect to. The multiple twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you like a fast paced twisty thriller I highly recommend this is top of your list.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Life Sentence' by Jackie Kabler.

Well, Well, Well I did NOT expect that bombshell of an ending!!! Absolutely LOVED THIS compelling, gripping and addictive page turner!!!

Wow!!! What a rollercoaster ride of a read!!! Fantastically written with vivid descriptions throughout making me feel like I was in the storyline. The synopsis, title and cover suited the plot perfectly.

I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting!!! It is one of those books that each and every time I said one more chapter and then bed something happened so there was no chance I could put it down so I ended up walking around with my kindle glued to my hands until I had devoured it in one go!! . The storyline was absolutely gripping and kept me up until the early hours of the morning as I just could not put it down!! I absolutely love how intriguing, complex and multi-layered the storyline is with so much going on!!! I was sitting on the edge of my seat with a pounding heart and my jaw dropping as Jackie takes us on a psychological ride of suspense and tension!!! I was absolutely gobsmacked with ending and absolutely explosive twists throughout which I was not expecting!!! A HUGE congratulations to Jackie on that as it is definitely getting harder and harder to shock me but you most definitely did that!!! There were points where my heart was in my throat and I was on the edge of my seat, and then the edge of my bed as I was not putting this book down until I finished!!! It is rammed with bombshells, revenge, deceit, heartache, friendship, twists, lies, and absolutely everything you could ask for in an explosive psychological thriller! I was absolutely mind blown by some of the secrets that were coming out and just when I thought they had all been told BOOM another shocker!!! The ending was definitely the biggest twist and I would not have seen that one coming in a million years!! This book would make a fantastic movie!!

Clear your schedules before glancing into this absolutely addictive and explosive psychological thriller as once your hooked there's no letting go until the very end!!

The characters were all strong, realistic and very well developed. I was completely invested in each and every one of their stories. They all had such unique personalities and I felt different about each of them, liking them or not trusting them for different reasons. It is hard to say much about any of them really without giving anything away so I will go by how I felt before certain announcements were made. Jackie brings each of the characters to life with her fantastic writing skills and between the characters and the plot you will be left absolutely gobsmacked!! I genuinely felt like I was next to the characters on this rollercoaster ride feeling everything and seeing everything that each of them are seeing and feeling ensuring my heart was pounding throughout!! Regardless of whether you love or hated the characters they all worked perfectly well to make this a page turning psychological thriller!!

I absolutely loved your book Jackie and congratulations on yet another HUGE success . I cannot wait to read more of what promises to be heart stopping reads. This is the reason you are one on my top 5 favourite female psychological thriller author list and Here's to your next success 🥂.

Overall a heart pounding, page turning, edge of your seat psychological thriller filled with explosive twists that will keep you up late at night.

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