He Started It: The gripping Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling psychological thriller

by Samantha Downing

SOMEONE ALWAYS TAKES THINGS TOO FAR . . .

'So addictive it should come with a warning' Alice Feeney

***

No-one knows you better than your family.

They know the little things that make you smile. Your proudest achievements. Your darkest secrets.

Sure, you haven't always been best friends.

But if it seemed as though someone was after you, that you might be in danger, then you'd be on each other's side.

Right?

So gripping you won't stop reading.

So twisty that you won't know who to trust.

And so dark that you'll realise something truly chilling:

No-one is more dangerous than the ones who know you best.


'My Lovely Wife was one of my top books of 2019. He Started It is even better!' C.J. Tudor, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalk Man

'Whip-smart, lean, deliciously dark and addictive. One of the best thrillers I've read in a long time' Ali Land

'Wow! It's dark, it's twisted and it's going to be your new favourite book! 5***** reader review

'Chilling, thrilling, twisty, fast paced, riveting, tense, dark & scary... My favourite book this year' 5***** reader review


Have you discovered My Lovely Wife, the bestselling debut psychological thriller of last year?

A Sunday Times bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club pick

'The most gripping psychological thriller of 2019' Stylist

'Wow! My Lovely Wife is a stunner - full of twists, well-drawn characters, and riveting suspense' Harlan Coben, bestselling author of Don't Let Go

'The next Gone Girl' Marie Claire

Winner at the Dead Good Reader Awards

Shortlisted for an Edgar and ITW Thriller Award

• ISBN10: 0241417341
• ISBN13: 9780241417348
• Publish Date: 30 April 2020
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 4 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Imprint: Michael Joseph Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[zooloo1983]

I am not what I think about the book it was interesting and intriguing as the past bleeds into the present. But I am afraid I am going to be one of those people and say…. that ENDING!!! OMG, the ending alone is 5 stars! It was just so unexpected I loved it and that’s all I will say.

I had issues with my library app when listening as it kept jumping all over the place so I kept missing bits and so I had to keep trying to find it in my ebook to catch up what I had missed that was quite annoying but in a way, it meant I had a different reading experience to some and I think that some bits are missing for me, no amount of flicking in the Kindle helped me. I was listening to things I hadn’t heard or read yet, but the journey was still rather harrowing.

I am not sure how I feel about the book, I am not sure how I felt about the past story, when they were children and how that panned out. Some of it didn’t sit right with me and has left me with some questions. The road trip the Grandad takes them on didn’t make sense to me but that is probably more down to the fact my audiobook skipped. But for them to take the same road trip when they were adults just seem plain crazy, I get why they are doing the road trip but even so it just didn’t sit well with me. However, not only are we on this crazy road trip, it appears that someone is stalking them.

In the future, you can see how the past has affected the siblings on this road trip. They all seem slightly…unhinged in their own way! All with their secrets and their own stories.

I think the story just fell a bit flat for me, too much happens at once and it got a bit jumbled for me. However, I will stand by my comments with the ending. That ending blew it away for me and made the listening all that more worthwhile.

Beth, the narrator of the story says, it’s down to us to decide who is the hero/heroine of the story. They are all diabolical and with no redeemable qualities but you still find yourself rooting for one of them. But even in the end, can you decide who you think is the hero of the story? I know that I still can’t.

[kimbacaffeinate]

He Started It by Samantha Downing, narrated by Karissa Vacker introduces us to the Morgan siblings. Beth, Portia, and Eddie have been estranged for years. When their wealthy grandfather dies, a stipulation in the will has the siblings and their respective partners coming together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his last wish. They must complete the trip if they want to receive their inheritance. The estate is valued at around eight million dollars.

The road trip isn’t a new one. In fact, it is an exact duplicate of the trip they took one summer with their grandfather and their older sister. Told from the voice of Beth, Drowning pulled me in with quick facts and teasing tidbits. I knew I was in for one heck of a ride. Before it’s all over secrets will be revealed, and a murder will take place as it holds the listener spellbound.

Twisted and wholly original, I cannot say I liked any of the Morgans but I found them utterly fascinating. From their past trip to their current one, Downing had me listening intently, sometimes doubting our protagonist and sitting jaw-dropped as she recounted their first road trip.

Along the way we stop at iconic sites across the Mid-West. Some I’ve seen myself and others were new to me. The ending left me stunned.

Karissa Vacker narrates and the author’s writing lends itself to audiobook format from character conversations to suspenseful buildup. Vacker enhanced the story from her tones to character voices. Her pacing made listening a breeze allowing me to become swept up in the story. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer