Book review: While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Permalink

Interestingly, for some time, one of my most-read reviews on this blog was Kathryn Croft’s The Girl With No Past, which I reviewed in October 2015. I’ve subsequently also reviewed Croft’s The Girl You Lost earlier this year so having a chance to read her latest was a no-brainer.

Book review: While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn CroftWhile You Were Sleeping
by Kathryn Croft
Published by Bookouture
on November 16th 2016
Source: NetGalley
Genres: Thriller / Suspense, Psychological Thriller
ISBN: 9781786810946
Pages: 296
four-stars
Goodreads

Tara Logan lives a quiet life with her husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her peace is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour Lee’s bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them. And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara stays silent, fearing the truth will rip her family apart.

But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara soon realises that someone in her life knows what really happened to Lee. She must get to the truth before they do.

Firstly you need to know this book is as twisty as the blurb suggests.

It opens with Tara waking in bed (naked) beside her neighbour Lee, before jumping back a day to the events leading up to her arrival at her neighbour’s house; then returning to the point when Tara leaves the bloodied scene and retreats to her house.

We soon learn a bit about Tara’s life. She’s an aspiring painter – though that element felt a little irrelevant. I kept waiting for her painting to play a role in what was unfolding, but I was left hanging in that regard.

We also discover there’s been some tension between Tara and her husband Noah whose work required him to live overseas at some point. The couple are also struggling to deal with 17 year old Rosie who’s had some behavioural issues and is again acting out…. big-time.

Tara waits for the inevitable – the police to come knocking on her door – but when they do it’s for other members of her family who have fallen under suspicion.

As Tara’s life starts to unravel she becomes increasingly dependent on her carefree sister, hoping Lisa can help with Rosie. And as she becomes suspicious of those around her Tara realises she needs to know what happened to Lee. Even if it’s something she doesn’t want to hear.

I should mention there were a couple of plot holes (for me)… I was never quite sure why the police didn’t find Tara’s DNA in Lee’s bed and I didn’t understand what exactly happened to her memory but thankfully I wasn’t forced to belabour those points because Croft keeps us guessing in this well-paced and intricate psychological thriller.

While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft was published by Bookouture and is now available.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher for review purposes.

Do you love a good psychological thriller?

four-stars
8 Comments
  • Stormi D Johnson
    November 16, 2016

    This sounds like an interesting one. 🙂

    • Debbish
      November 16, 2016

      Yes, and very affordable Stormi! USD3 from Amazon!

  • Tea Time with Marce
    November 16, 2016

    I have downloaded this one and look forward to reading it, I actually think it may make the before the end of year list.

    • Debbish
      November 16, 2016

      Yay! I hope you enjoy it. It’s fairly short.

  • divabooknerd
    November 16, 2016

    Ooh, this sounds brilliant Deb! I love a well written thriller but I had the same concerns, how did they not find her DNA left behind especially if her entire family are suspects. That’s intrigued me even more so. And it’s super cheap on Amazon. I’m sold. Brilliant review Deb, so glad you enjoyed this one <3

  • Roberta
    November 21, 2016

    I agree that not finding her DNA would have been pretty unlikely, especially since she didn’t know how she got there, But the premise is intriguing.

    • Debbish
      November 21, 2016

      Oh yes, I loved it and it was twisty. I tend to pick up faults when analysing (or thinking about) a book later!

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