The Engagement: An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller with a heart-pounding twist

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The beginning and ending of this book were strong. I felt really intrigued by the book at the beginning, and couldn’t wait to see what happened. Then it became too much of a slow burn for me and I found myself losing interest. While I love some great foreshadowing, Hannah mentioned her past too frequently without giving enough detail to keep me fully engaged.

This is a parent’s worst nightmare - your daughter comes home from a holiday abroad, head over heels in love and engaged to a man who’s all wrong for her. You will be in thriller prison with this one, it won’t let you go, it’s totally consuming and you won’t want to leave it. This slow burn thriller has everything I love in a psychological suspense novel: dual timelines, multiple POVs, and sinister characters. It’s terrifying to think that this dark and gritty storyline is happening in our world every day, and the author does a stellar job of conveying the horrific conditions in the brothel. Although I guessed what I thought was the main twist, I should have realized that the talented Ms. Hayes had one last surprise up her sleeve with a real OMG of an epilogue! I enjoyed the multiple POVs & different timelines. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters until the end of the story.

Hannah hasn't always had the life she now has with partner Rob and the lights of her life, her two daughters Belle and Amber. She has never revealed her past or its secrets to anyone and would be quite happy if she never had to think of those dark days ever again. However, she carries the reminders with her daily from which she can never really escape whilst at the same time, they also went some way to give her life she has today. Samantha is a very talented storyteller and while this is my first from her, I am very keen to read more especially at this level of entertainment. This book is a fantastic psychological thriller, but it also delves into a very serious subject. When Belle comes home from a summer in France, she introduces a new, much older, man to her parents. They are engaged, and since Belle just turned 18, there isn’t anything they can do about it.

Genres covered in this book include Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction and Psychological Thriller amongst others.It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture. Hannah had a rough start at life (to say the least) but she now has a wonderful partner, Rob, a beautiful daughter named Belle, and her own successful business. She has never told anyone about her past, as she has secrets to keep (and they aren’t your typical thriller character secrets - this gets pretty deep). I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, 'Housemaid', 'Gone Girl' and 'The Girl on the Train', Rachel Abbot and anyone who loves an explosive ending!!! There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s dressed in expensive-looking clothes – tan trousers and a fitted navy shirt. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my eighteen-year-old daughter’s waist.

The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, secretive, and very creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, twisty, suspenseful, thought provoking, and kept me engaged the entire story. The author does a brilliant job at building and developing the characters, developing the plots is various twists, while some are predictable, the ending I did not see coming and it was a fantastic ending! This is my first introduction to Samantha Hayes’ writing. I loved her ability to surprise me, keep me on the edge of my seat, appeal to my emotions, and wow me with her wonderful character development. Most of all, she left me with plenty to think about…making this a book I won’t forget for some time.

Other books by Samantha Hayes

Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline. While Hannah struggles to determine how this man ended up with her eighteen-year-old daughter and what his end game is, her dark past is slowly revealed. Hannah has kept this past a secret, one she never expected to face. It slowly becomes clear that Hannah‘s past was that she was deeply involved in the sex work business. How she came from that to where she is now with what has been a happy marriage with two children and a good life does not even seem possible. Lies and secrets had been working for Hannah but the truth is certain to come to light, and the level of danger that now faces Hannah is certain to upset her carefully orchestrated life. This novel consists of a prologue, 50 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case! There’s someone I want you to meet," Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my daughter’s waist. This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Trapped Wife' which I would highly recommend!!