I Owe You One by Lauren North [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Heather Long 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"You saved my life. I faked your death...

I only came back to Skelwick Bay to lie low and reconnect with my sister. But now she wants me to fake her death...

Bryony says her husband Alex is abusive and it's the only way. And even though I think it's crazy, I can't say no, because I owe her for saving me 15 years ago...

So we hatch a plan – we fake a sailing accident. And my darling sister 'dies'.

Only, when she's gone, I start to think. There are holes in the story she gave me. She doesn't reach out like she says she will, leaving me to deal with the mess alone. And Alex only seems completely devastated...

So when I learn Bryony never actually saved my life all those years ago, I start to question everything she's ever told me. And I'm left with the terrifying Have I just saved my sister's life? Or helped her get away with a terrible crime...?"

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A tense and gripping listen

I've listened to Lauren North before, so I had high expectations for this one, and it certainly didn't disappoint. It's one of those stories that starts with a simple premise – a small favour – that quickly spirals into something much more unsettling. The psychological tension builds beautifully throughout, making it very hard to press pause.

The characters are well-drawn and I found myself constantly questioning who was actually telling the truth. It's a clever look at how easily life can be disrupted when you let the wrong person in. The pacing was spot on for a thriller; it felt like there was always a new layer being peeled back just as I thought I'd figured things out.

The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the tension to life. Their voice really suited the tone of the book and helped to distinguish the different perspectives without it feeling forced. It made the whole experience much more immersive, especially during the more claustrophobic moments of the plot.

The ending felt a little bit rushed compared to the steady build-up of the rest of the book. However, I still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a twisty domestic thriller. 

Many thanks to the author, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this audiobook.

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Perfect Wives by Lauren North [Audiobook]

Description from Goodreads:

"Three identical confessions to murder. Three perfect liars...

On a sunny Saturday morning, three women from the exclusive gated community of Magnolia Close walk into their local police station.

One by one, they all confess to the murder of their neighbour.

The officer takes statements from all three. From Tasha, the overwhelmed mother struggling under the weight of caring for her parents too. From Beth, the quiet one, desperate for another baby but unable to fall pregnant. From Georgie, the one whose life seems so dazzlingly glamorous ... on the surface.

Each woman has a life – a family – that they don't want to lose.

Each woman has a reason for wanting Johnny dead.

Each woman claims she killed him.

All of them are lying."

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I haven't read or listened to anything by Lauren North before but I was intrigued by the premise of this audiobook and I was looking for something to listen to whilst in the car and I wasn't disappointed.

The premise of this book is intriguing. We meet three women - Tasha, Beth and Georgie - who live in the exclusive, seemingly perfect gated community of Magnolia Close. Then, one sunny day, they all walk into the police station and separately confess to the murder of their terrible neighbour, Johnny. The catch? They are all lying.

Where do you even start?

Lauren North does a great job of peeling back the layers of these women's lives. The whole book is full of secrets, deception and the massive facade of their "perfect wives" status. It’s got that close-knit community vibe where you know everyone is hiding something big, which keeps the tension simmering. I found myself totally invested in figuring out what was going to be uncovered next and who the real killer actually was.

I really enjoyed the story but it does start of a bit slowly. However, it soon starts to move and the twists arrived with speed and a lot of satisfaction.

The narrator did a great job.  If I'm honest, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much had I been reading the physical book; Genevieve Swallow handled it so well that I was definitely more immersed in the lives of Tasha, Beth and Georgie.

Overall, this is a great book to listen to and if you like domestic thrillers about secrets coming out in the suburbs, I think you will enjoy this one but I highly recommend the audiobook version.

Many thanks to the author, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this compelling book.

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