So I really liked this first book though I think that things got a bit too convoluted towards the end. I will definitely read the next book though because I like how Melinda Leigh set this up and I adored the characters of Bree and her partner from the Philadelphia police, Dana. I was okay about Mike (the other lead I guess you could say) but not that focused on him while reading this. OMG the twists and turns in this rare gem of a read made for one hell of a roller-coaster ride! The story centres around Lisa; a seemingly ordinary, loving, single mum whose priority is that of her only child. We learn early on that Lisa is haunted by the death of a young boy but just how she is connected to him isn’t revealed until about a quarter of the way into the book.

Coming May 2018! Thanks to Netgalley & HarperFiction for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Cross her heart is written by Sarah Pinborough, author of Sunday Times bestselling book 'Behind her eyes.' I read C.L Taylor's review of this book shortly before writing mine and was I glad I did… just like C.L Taylor experienced, this book majorly messed with my head and I had the oddest strangest dreams! I've never written anything by Pinborough before, although her first book is now firmly on my 'To read' list! I wasn't disappointed. She's an eclectic mix of some of Psychological Suspense's finest - Sophie Hannah, B.A Paris, C.L Taylor, Claire Douglas and Emma Donohue and brings out some of the finest from each of their writing styles. At the same time though, there's something very unique about her. I couldn't put this book down until I knew exactly what was going on and at the end I was just left re I like the way this story starts out with the night in 1993. No stupid teasing with some past event the heroine had been through but not telling to the reader what it was till much later. In this story we get to see Bree as a 8-year-old who is making a 911 call because her Mommy and Daddy are fighting. Bree try to protect her younger sister and brother from her father's anger but the police arrive too late... Cross Her Heart is dark, unflinching and disturbing and there was parts of it I wanted to read from between my fingers… Heart-breaking in places, twisty as hell. I'd like to claim that I guessed the ending but Sarah stayed one step ahead of me all the way through. Pacy, unnerving, addictive read with a dark, dark heart’ C.L. Taylor, author of The Accident Cross Her Heart is a gripping read full of surprises. It’s different from Pinborough’s previous Behind Her Eyes - there’s no supernatural element for a start - but no less compelling. Swift and entertaining… Cross Her Heart has a welcome sisterhood-is-powerful vibe; it’s a novel that defines women by their relationships with one another, even as their creator is ruthlessly shoving them into position for the next twist. New York Times Book Review

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The book opens on a harrowing scene taking place at eight-year-old Bree’s home in Grey’s Hollow in upstate New York. She is desperate to protect her younger siblings – Erin and baby Adam – from their violent, abusive father, as he rages at and beats their mother. Bree has managed to call the police and to keep herself and her brother and sister safe, although when the police arrive, it’s too late for their mother – and their father then turns the gun he used to shoot her on himself. Justin’s best friend Matt Flynn, a former sheriff’s deputy and K-9 officer, isn’t too sure of Justin’s guilt and teams with Bree to determine the guilt or innocence of Justin. Initially though I admit I was unsure – the early part of the book felt similar to several others I’ve read recently and I thought I knew where it was going so I was a little disappointed, but – give it a few chapters and then BAM! Pinborough is truly a Grade-A expert in pulling the rug out from under the reader. Sarah Pinborough does it again with this disturbing descent into a heart of darkness. Highly recommended. Cass Hunter Twisty psychological thriller… Pinborough will keep even veteran genre readers guessing.”— Publishers Weekly on Behind Her Eyes

Erin second encounter with death comes at the hands of her husband Justin. Erin recently had separated from Justin because he suffered a relapse into his oxy addiction and has two children she didn't want to expose to Justin's addiction. Ava is a normal teenager, drinking, occasionally smoking, and worrying about boyfriends and school exams. She has a secret that she is keeping not only from her mother, but also from her best friends. But her mysterious Facebook admirer is not the only secret Ava is keeping. This is the first book in a new series by Melinda Leigh, an author I really love. The setting is not far from her old stomping grounds in Scarlet Falls, NY and the characters have a similar feel. The plot, as always, is a great mystery/suspense that keeps you guessing to the end. There is an almost romance to be fleshed out in coming books, I'm sure. This looks to be a great series.

Although the mother / teenager relationship initially appears pretty standard there’s much hidden. Multiple narrators in Lisa, Ava and Lisa’s friend Marilyn tell the story. Lisa’s story is also divided into three timelines, Before, After and Now. It sounds complicated but it’s honestly not and the story weaves seamlessly from one timeline to the next. Bree is not alone in her search for Justin. His best friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn knows Justin has problems, but he loved Bree and he does not believe he is capable of murder. Bree and Matt work together to uncover Erin’s secrets and to find Justin. Chief Deputy Todd Harvey knows that Bree and Matt aren’t going to sit quietly by while his department investigates, so he makes a deal with them; he won’t try to stop them, but wants to be kept informed of what they find out and will share information with them in return.

The past decade of crime fiction has been remarkable for the huge number of novels… featuring women... Some have been excellent, but most have been indistinguishable... Critics have spent much time searching for well-written, original examples. Sarah Pinborough passes the test. She… is adept at conjuring the unexpected.”— Times (London) Lisa is clearly disturbed by her past and coming to grips with understanding that is part of the hold the book has on the reader. Only Marilyn appears to have a perfect life. The stage is set when Ava saves a child from drowning and the after-effect has dire consequences for all three women. He reads the letter three times before it sinks in. She’s gone. They’re gone. He knows it’s true—he can feel the fresh emptiness in the house—but still he rushes through the rooms, pulling open hollow cupboards and drawers. There is no trace of her, however; no passport or driving license, none of these important things that frame her life. Leigh also shows us the third person POV of Matt Flynn. Matt is best friend's with Erin's husband, who has gone missing after Erin's murder. Matt previously worked as a K-9 unit with the sheriff's department before something happened that had him leaving.I've always enjoyed this author's writing and stories ... and I was not disappointed here. If you enjoy romantic suspense, I highly recommend Melinda Leigh books. This one is well written .... suspense from the very start .... a budding romance ..... and an unexpected ending. I look forward to see where Bree goes from here. Mike doesn't trust, but few at the sheriff's department after his boss the sheriff got brought down for corruption and several were likely complicit. He's pretty sure the career-ending shots caused by friendly fire at him and Brody being 'accidentally' sent in through the wrong door at a scene were meant to get rid of one who was a witness and threat to the sheriff before he was brought down. Mike has no idea how many of the sheriff's loyal crew are left in the department, but he knows for a fact that the patrol officer captain promoted into the temp job of sheriff is in over his head with this murder case. This was a book I couldn’t put down. I have to be honest and say I haven’t read Behind Her Eyes but I think this is a good thing as I have nothing to compare it with. This is a fast paced thriller with an intricate plot, but all the clues are there for people who like to try and guess ahead - it’s not one of those dreadful books where the baddie is only introduced about 80% of the way though. As with Behind Her Eyes, I thought I was guessing right but I was proved wrong again and again! Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.