I Know You

Another great book from Claire McGowan read this its brilliant ,highly recommended as usual . I loved this book thank you Claire !

Its a good book and not quite 5* worthy.

A very good read. It will keep you guessing throughout - I did however guess who certain people were when i was around 60% through the book, even so full motives and questions kept me hooked through to the end.So many questions which are explored and cleverly discussed through the protagonist's eyes and even book club questions at the end of the book to really help you delve deeper - excellent writing and very well put together... Great book overall.

Rating: 4.0/5When Rachel comes across a dead body in the woods she decides not to report it, but to run. Why? Because twenty years earlier she also came across a murder scene and reported it - but that resulted in her being accused and convicted of the crime. However, it isn't long before the police discover that she ran from the scene and the finger of suspicion starts to point in Rachel's direction once again. Was it pure chance that Rachel happened across this body in the woods, or is someone trying to frame her? Or perhaps it is Rachel, herself, who is being less than honest and who has something to hide.Prospective readers could be forgiven for thinking that the premise for this story is a little far-fetched and that it stretches credulity somewhat to think that one person could find herself in the same dramatic predicament on two separate occasions. Yet Claire McGowan manages to construct the scenario in such a way that this seemingly implausible set of circumstances becomes something that the reader is not only prepared to accept, but view as (almost) entirely credible.The storyline takes place across two time frames: the present day in Cumbria and approximately twenty years earlier in California. The novel is narrated throughout in the first person by Rachel, though in the earlier sections in California she is known as Casey. The choice of the first person narrative is very effective for this type of novel. The reader is regularly required to question how much they can rely on this person's version of events. Rachel's account is occasionally interspersed with newspaper reports and excerpts from online forums, which provide alternative perspectives and give the reader further food for thought - but are these accounts any more or less reliable than Rachel's?If you are the kind of person who likes their mystery thrillers to move along at a rip-roaring pace from the outset, then this is probably not the book for you. It certainly has its moments of suspense, tension and excitement, but it is constructed in a manner that builds towards its climax, with relevant background information being gradually drip-fed into the proceedings. Although there were occasions when the pace seemed a little becalmed for longer than I would have liked, on the whole this approach was clever, effective and well-handled.Overall, Claire McGowan has produced a captivating thriller that draws the reader in and delivers the kind of read that most avid readers of the genre should enjoy.

So much to love in this novel which keeps you guessing throughout - can someone ever escape their past? Should they try to hide it? Is it possible to move on from such a huge event as being convicted of murder?So many questions which are explored and cleverly discussed through the protagonist's eyes - excellent writing and very well put together... Great book overall

I quite liked this book, but have to say it was nothing like as good as her early books, and her last book, The Push, was really brilliant. I really didn’t get the whole thing right by the end, just partly…. but this one I found a bit tedious and repetitive until the last couple of chapters.

I like this author and have read several of her books. I did enjoy this book and I thought it raised some thoughtful issues but it had some major plot problems for me which made the story rather unbelievable. I know fiction should entertain but it also has to be believable. The author leaves out detail that is inconvenient to her plot which irritates.Two main plot issues I'll mention:-1. A 19 year old British girl on a working visa is arrested for murder in California. The consulate would absolutely send someone to her and help her with legal representation. Unbelievable circumstances.2. A nosy neighbour who sees EVERYTHING but doesn't hear a gunshot? Really???? In fact, no mention of a gunshot by witnesses and no real analysis of the gunshot residue on Casey which would form one sort of pattern if you fire a gun and a completely different kind if you hold a gun that's been fired. No mention. Just weak plotting.So, poor on believeable detail which really spoilt the book for me. If you are going to have a complicated plot then go the extra mile and tie up the detail properly.

Enjoyed the fast pace of events. Not too many characters or so many settings that the plot becomes difficult to follow.