And So It Begins: A brilliant psychological thriller that twists and turns (Stephanie King Book 1)

by Rachel Abbott

WHO WILL BELIEVE YOUR STORY IF THE ONLY WITNESS IS DEAD?

'What a storyteller Rachel Abbott is... I was hooked from the start' CARA HUNTER

'A truly compelling, twisty, enthralling and satisfying read... Absolutely AMAZING!' ANGELA MARSONS

Cleo knows she should be happy for her brother Mark. He's managed to find someone new after the sudden death of his first wife - but something about Evie just doesn't feel right...

When Evie starts having accidents at home, her friends grow concerned. Could Mark be causing her injuries? Called out to their cliff-top house one night, Sergeant Stephanie King finds two bodies entangled on blood-drenched sheets.

Where does murder begin? When the knife is raised to strike, or before, at the first thought of violence? As the accused stands trial, the jury is forced to consider - is there ever a proper defence for murder?

More praise for AND SO IT BEGINS:

'I raced through this compelling, twisty novel. Loved it' Laura Marshall

'Brilliant... The twists came so quickly I almost got whiplash' Jenny Blackhurst

'An unnerving, twisting tale that you won't be able to put down' Caroline Mitchell

'Rachael Abbott has delivered another intricately plotted thriller that never falters on tension or pace ... the suspense doesn't let up until the very last page' Michelle Davies

'A breathless tour-de-force that left me hungry for more... Psychological crime writing at its very best' Kate Rhodes

'The definition of addictive - Rachel Abbott's best book yet. Kept me up until the small hours - and you won't see the ending coming' Phoebe Morgan

'Really gripping and menacing - compulsive reading' Harriet Tyce

• ISBN10: 1472254899
• ISBN13: 9781472254894
• Publish Date: 15 November 2018 (first published 11 October 2018)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 25 May 2022
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
• Imprint: Wildfire
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[zooloo1983]

I am going to be completely frank and honest here and say from the outset that no words I have will do this book any justice. I mean wow what a book! When I read this I had three different theories going on in my head and I thought I was winning and then Ms Abbott just pulled the rug from out under me and I hit my head hard. That will teach me.

This book is definitely, big time even, at fault for the one more chapter malarky! Why, because the chapters are so short and snappy before you know it you have read 100 pages! So then I looked at the clock and it was nearly midnight…and then the dreaded voice in my ear says… go on, one more chapter! By gosh am I glad I did (ok bit tired today but was so worth it!).

I cannot tell you anything about the plot bar what the blurb says, Evie and Mark and their whirlwind romance, but is everything that it seems? Who has been murdered? Seriously the number of times that “OMG” and “shocking” left my mouth was unreal. This book is just so compelling, it is refreshing and it is also damn right terrifying! Most of all I LOVED it!

Evie seems off from the get-go, but then with the writing so is Mark and so is his sister Cleo. They all seem to have something to hide…but do they? Is it a red herring? You are misdirected so many times, it is like a sat nav on a bad day. But it made it so fascinating (unlike a sat nav!) because I did not feel any loyalty to the characters as I could not see any redeeming qualities, so I sat back and watched everything unravel at a lightning speed.

The events unfold from mainly Cleo and Evie’s point of view, but also Sergeant Stephanie King. With Stephanie, we learn a bit about her but also her thoughts and views of the case. Occasionally, we get other characters points of view, I love this and you always knew who was talking.


I loved that the story begins with the said murder, floats back to the past to build you to the current predicament, and then my all time favourite the courtroom drama, the trial and the fallout from it all. I was tied up in so many knots with the writing, trying to figure out how it would end, and then the ending. I breathed out and closed the book and tried to relax…not sure I can now! There was so much tension in this book, so much deceit, drama and chills, it has it all.

I think I have repeated myself a lot in this review but I am just in awe of this book and the author. This is one book I definitely recommend to everyone. Ms Abbott’s writing just flows through the pages, enthralling you, drawing you in deeper and deeper before throwing your world upside down and inside out.