Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough @SarahPinborough @HarperCollinsUK #MustReads #Don’tTrustHerBooks,

Behind Her Eyes was one of my top reads of 2017, I also gave it my gold star award which I only give to books I’ve found to be an outstanding read. So as you can imagine I was really looking forward to reading Cross Her Heart the latest offering from Sarah Pinborough, did it live up to her previous book? Read on for my review, but firstly the book description

Book description

SOMEONE IS LIVING A LIE… BUT WHO?

Is it Lisa?

Haunted by a tragic past, all Lisa wants is a quiet life with her daughter, Ava. And when she meets a new man, things seem to be falling into place. But Lisa is hiding a secret so momentous it could shatter her entire world…

Is it Ava?

When sixteen-year-old Ava saves a young boy’s life, she becomes a local hero. But never in a million years could she have anticipated the fallout of her actions…

Is it Marilyn?

Marilyn has the perfect life. Her husband, her job, her house—she seems to have it all. But she could never admit to her best friend Lisa the lies she tells herself to get through the day…

One moment will change these three women’s lives forever. And the secrets they’ve been keeping could destroy them all.

I must admit I picked up Cross Her Heart with trepidation, I absolutely loved Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, you know the one I mean, it’s the one you probably saw all over social media with the #WTF hash tag. This one comes with the tag Don’t Trust Her Books, and never a truer word was written! I thought I pretty much had this book all worked by the first half, but then wham bam the author very deviously pulled the rug out from under me, not once but on several occasions. Brilliantly twisted, unsettling yet compelling this is a must read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Told in three parts the first third moves along at a slow paced, but don’t let this put you off as the author uses this time to introduce the three main characters Lisa a neurotic mum, who is haunted by a tragic past, Lisa’s sixteen-year-old Daughter Ava and Marilyn, Lisa’s best friend who appears to have the perfect life. Sarah Pinborough also uses this time to set the scene, and it’s this part of the book, that makes the second and third part so disturbing. As the reader reaches the second part of the book the pace kicks off and I must admit I had more than a few “OMG moments” which were superbly executed by the author.

Cross Her Heart is as much about the characters as it is about the plot, Lisa appears to be another over protective mother, Ava likes nothing better than spending hours on social media, and then you have Marilyn who appears to have it all, but nothing appears as it first seems the characters are complex with so many hidden issues, secrets and half truths and when Ava does a brave thing none of the characters are aware of the ramifications of one kindly deed. I loved the three main characters they were so well depicted, I couldn’t help but become emotionally involved in their plight.

Cross Her Heart turned about to be both a shocking and harrowing read, it was nigh on impossible to second guess where this book was heading. As psychological thrillers go this is one of the best ones I’ve read this year, and I’ve read plenty believe you me. Cross Your Heart will mess with your head and lead you a merry dance but it’s so worth it. One last thought I loved Behind Her Eyes, but if anything I loved this one more, in parts it’s credible, heartbreaking and very disturbing this book will definitely be one I’m adding to my top reads of 2018. Highly, highly recommend.

I’m sure it will come as no surprise to see I’m giving Cross Her Heart the very prestigious Gold Star Award Rating. It’s given to a book I feel is particularly outstanding, a book that covers every aspect of what I look for in a read, an original plot, great characters and a storyline that draws me in from the first page and keeps me in its grips until I reach the very last page.