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linzreadz13's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this thriller.
Just like many other thriller lovers, I'm obsessed with true crime podcasts. After reading the synopsis of this book, I knew I needed to pick it up.
Hannah's husband was murdered ten years ago, in their bed, while she was in the house with their young daughter. Fast forward to the present, things are going well for Hannah. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a stable job, her teenage daughter is doing well, and her late husband's killer is in jail. When Conviction, a popular true crime podcast, takes a look at the case, questions are brought up, and every clue and bit of evidence points to Hannah.
While reading, I was hooked on the drama. There were secrets, twists, intrigue, and of course murder. It kept me guessing and changing how I felt about everything I thought I knew about the characters and story.
If you like true crime podcasts, I recommend you give this one a try!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
Just like many other thriller lovers, I'm obsessed with true crime podcasts. After reading the synopsis of this book, I knew I needed to pick it up.
Hannah's husband was murdered ten years ago, in their bed, while she was in the house with their young daughter. Fast forward to the present, things are going well for Hannah. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a stable job, her teenage daughter is doing well, and her late husband's killer is in jail. When Conviction, a popular true crime podcast, takes a look at the case, questions are brought up, and every clue and bit of evidence points to Hannah.
While reading, I was hooked on the drama. There were secrets, twists, intrigue, and of course murder. It kept me guessing and changing how I felt about everything I thought I knew about the characters and story.
If you like true crime podcasts, I recommend you give this one a try!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
jolene13's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what a great read. Pulls you in right from the beginning and gives you a great psychological thriller full of twists and turns. Definitely recommend for all readers of thrillers, suspense and mystery.
maeclair's review against another edition
3.0
Ten years ago, Hannah’s husband was knifed in their bed. Hannah was questioned but was unable to recall anything about the night of Graham’s death. Someone else was charged with his murder and sentenced to life in prison. Now, ten years later, Hannah is living with her boyfriend, Dan, and her teenage daughter, Evie. A true crime podcast with a reputation for overturning wrongful convictions begins to pick Hannah’s story apart, determined to get to the bottom of what really happened ten years ago.
Talk about a compelling plot! The premise of this book immediately intrigued me. Hannah’s life begins to unravel when she’s judged in the court of public opinion, one sensationalized podcast episode at a time. This is a slow-burn suspense read with several elements that play exceptionally well, including Hannah’s spotty memory. Did she or didn’t she? Even she doesn’t know if she’s a killer. That keeps the reader wondering, too—right up until the end.
Another thread involves the ruins of a Gothic insane asylum where Hannah’s grandmother was incarcerated for killing her husband and daughter. Hannah is drawn there when she learns someone is interested in renovating the property. The scenes in shell of the old building are some of my favorite, played heavily for atmosphere.
There are numerous snaking plot lines that weave together at the end. Kudos to the author for juggling so many intricate puzzle pieces. I thought the ending was brilliant.
What I didn’t like, and found implausible, is that Hannah—a professional psychiatrist—would be such a doormat for her husband and her ex-boss. Her behavior, especially in the past, didn’t ring true. Though most of the book takes place in the present, there are numerous scenes where the reader is treated to Hannah’s married life with Graham. The more I was exposed to her past, the more annoyed I became. In the present, some of the actions of the police left me scratching my head. I had some other issues as well, but it’s hard to say more without giving away spoilers.
The overall tone of the book is dark. I honestly found it depressing. This is one novel that will come down to a matter of personal taste. If you like dark, twisty reads, this is well-written and well-plotted though it does moves slowly. For me, it didn’t quite work.
Talk about a compelling plot! The premise of this book immediately intrigued me. Hannah’s life begins to unravel when she’s judged in the court of public opinion, one sensationalized podcast episode at a time. This is a slow-burn suspense read with several elements that play exceptionally well, including Hannah’s spotty memory. Did she or didn’t she? Even she doesn’t know if she’s a killer. That keeps the reader wondering, too—right up until the end.
Another thread involves the ruins of a Gothic insane asylum where Hannah’s grandmother was incarcerated for killing her husband and daughter. Hannah is drawn there when she learns someone is interested in renovating the property. The scenes in shell of the old building are some of my favorite, played heavily for atmosphere.
There are numerous snaking plot lines that weave together at the end. Kudos to the author for juggling so many intricate puzzle pieces. I thought the ending was brilliant.
What I didn’t like, and found implausible, is that Hannah—a professional psychiatrist—would be such a doormat for her husband and her ex-boss. Her behavior, especially in the past, didn’t ring true. Though most of the book takes place in the present, there are numerous scenes where the reader is treated to Hannah’s married life with Graham. The more I was exposed to her past, the more annoyed I became. In the present, some of the actions of the police left me scratching my head. I had some other issues as well, but it’s hard to say more without giving away spoilers.
The overall tone of the book is dark. I honestly found it depressing. This is one novel that will come down to a matter of personal taste. If you like dark, twisty reads, this is well-written and well-plotted though it does moves slowly. For me, it didn’t quite work.
the_lawyer_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
I love books that include podcast multi-media, as I am a huge fan of true crime podcasts, and this one did not disappoint. From the first line: ‘It’s the sound of my husband’s blood on the floorboards that wakes me’, I was on the edge of my seat and desperate to find out what happens next. Hannah is a really interesting character and she seems isolated even with people around her that care about her. You find yourself second guessing each clue and trying to guess where the story is going. The podcast episodes are cleverly weaved into the text and it’s interesting to get Hannah’s POV as she listens to these. Unreliable narrators, compelling clues and a character whose life is slowly coming apart – I really enjoyed this one! Thank you to @harpercollinsuk for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
natalier3's review against another edition
3.0
This book is also marketed as 'Possession' in the US.
This is another mixed one for me.
The plot drew me in straight away. I was hooked. But then the pace slowed massively and dragged at at times. I know I have a high standard for what I call pow-pow-pow thrillers and this didn't deliver on this for me.
The introduction of the true crime podcast Conviction was a great tool, but for me didn't have enough involvement. I am a huge fan of true crime podcasts and I loved the idea as a way of adding up the clues as the story progressed, but I found it didn't really all work together until the finale, and could have been executed a little better.
The main character Hannah was mostly likeable, but the book definitely delivered on the intrigue and the 'is she an unreliable narrator' scenario.
I'm unsure if this book will be memorable for me, as I feel it could have had better execution, and was rather disappointing.
This is another mixed one for me.
The plot drew me in straight away. I was hooked. But then the pace slowed massively and dragged at at times. I know I have a high standard for what I call pow-pow-pow thrillers and this didn't deliver on this for me.
The introduction of the true crime podcast Conviction was a great tool, but for me didn't have enough involvement. I am a huge fan of true crime podcasts and I loved the idea as a way of adding up the clues as the story progressed, but I found it didn't really all work together until the finale, and could have been executed a little better.
The main character Hannah was mostly likeable, but the book definitely delivered on the intrigue and the 'is she an unreliable narrator' scenario.
I'm unsure if this book will be memorable for me, as I feel it could have had better execution, and was rather disappointing.
sarahreadsinin's review against another edition
4.0
I thought that Possession was a very intense thriller with an intriguing storyline. Hannah’s first husband was murdered 10 years ago. Hannah has moved away from the memories, but a true-crime podcast is about to bring all of those memories back. Hannah is an unreliable narrator, and I loved how throughout the whole book, I got a sense of her holding back information or being cagey. The book kept and caught my attention early.
kalinicole's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book and flew through it! I went into it a bit wary as a lot of reviews said it was predictable. Either they were wrong or I'm really off my game, because I was legitimately shocked at the main twist near the end.
I love a good unreliable narrator like Hannah. She was someone who I didn't necessarily feel a connection to, didn't necessarily like, and didn't believe 99% of the time yet I rooted for her until the very last page.
The podcast premise also earned the book brownie points because I'm a true crime podcast addict.
Was the book perfect? Not at all. Did it keep me on the edge of my seat cussing under my breath? Absolutely.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!
3.5/5 stars
I love a good unreliable narrator like Hannah. She was someone who I didn't necessarily feel a connection to, didn't necessarily like, and didn't believe 99% of the time yet I rooted for her until the very last page.
The podcast premise also earned the book brownie points because I'm a true crime podcast addict.
Was the book perfect? Not at all. Did it keep me on the edge of my seat cussing under my breath? Absolutely.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!
3.5/5 stars
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
2.0
Didn’t like.
I do not like psychological thrillers where the main character appears to be psychotic, delusional, and paranoid. In this one, the main character Hannah lost her husband 10 years prior when he was killed in his sleep. A man was convicted, but a new podcast thinks he was wrongly convicted and suspects Hannah did it. Of course, Hannah can’t remember what happened and even suspects herself. Much of the story you don’t know whether Hannah is having a breakdown or if someone is framing her.
If you enjoy that kind of story, then you’ll probably like this one.
Hannah is a psychiatrist. With all of her issues, one would think she shouldn’t be practicing.
I do not like psychological thrillers where the main character appears to be psychotic, delusional, and paranoid. In this one, the main character Hannah lost her husband 10 years prior when he was killed in his sleep. A man was convicted, but a new podcast thinks he was wrongly convicted and suspects Hannah did it. Of course, Hannah can’t remember what happened and even suspects herself. Much of the story you don’t know whether Hannah is having a breakdown or if someone is framing her.
If you enjoy that kind of story, then you’ll probably like this one.
Hannah is a psychiatrist. With all of her issues, one would think she shouldn’t be practicing.