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It’s Not What You Think
Win a free print copy of this book!
21 days and 09:20:36
10 copies available
U.S. only
He has a secret. She knows he’s lying…
YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.
She’s been here before.
YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST
When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.
YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS
But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…
Jamie is dead.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK
YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.
She’s been here before.
YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST
When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.
YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS
But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…
Jamie is dead.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2026
1005 people are currently reading
21757 people want to read
About the author
Clare Mackintosh
33 books12k followersWelcome to my Goodreads profile! Whether you're new to my work, or a hard-core fan, it's lovely to see you here. My latest book is OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES, the third book in my DC Ffion Morgan series. Like THE LAST PARTY and A GAME OF LIES, this is designed to be read as a standalone, but if you've followed Ffion and Leo from the beginning, I think you'll love seeing where OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES takes them.
If this is the first time we're meeting, welcome! In addition to the books above, I'm the author of I LET YOU GO, I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE and HOSTAGE - page-turning thrillers that have sold more than three million copies across 40 countries, and hit bestseller lists including The Sunday Times and The New York Times. I also wrote the emotional rollercoaster, AFTER THE END: a family drama about an impossible choice that threatens to tear a couple apart. It's the most personal novel I've written, and I've loved hearing from readers who have connected with it. In 2024 I released a memoir, I PROMISE IT WON'T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS, based on my experiences of navigating grief following the loss of my son eighteen years ago. It's a book to offer hope when you feel as though there's none to be had; a book to give to a friend when you don't know what to say.
Coming in 2026 is what I'm boldly going to tell you is my best book yet... a standalone thriller with a twist that'll knock your socks off! It's called IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, and I would love you to add it to your shelf right now!
I love connecting with my readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get a sneak peek at what's going on behind the scenes. My Facebook group offers reading recommendations and exclusive extras to members (just search online for 'The Clare Mackintosh Book Club'), or if it's general chit chat you're after, please do follow me on Instagram, where I go to avoid writing, and to share snippets of my life in rural Wales, complete with three spaniels and Pete the goat. I'm also on TikTok, much to the dismay of my three teenagers...
* * *
With over three million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016. She has since written seven more bestselling novels. Together, her books have been translated into 40 languages and spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists.
Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies.
* * *
For more information find Clare on Facebook, Instagram, Threads or TikTok at @ClareMackWrites
#ILetYouGo #ISeeYou #LetMeLie #AftertheEnd #HostageBook #TheLastParty #AGameOfLies #IPromise #OtherPeoplesHouses #ItsNotWhatYouThink
If this is the first time we're meeting, welcome! In addition to the books above, I'm the author of I LET YOU GO, I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE and HOSTAGE - page-turning thrillers that have sold more than three million copies across 40 countries, and hit bestseller lists including The Sunday Times and The New York Times. I also wrote the emotional rollercoaster, AFTER THE END: a family drama about an impossible choice that threatens to tear a couple apart. It's the most personal novel I've written, and I've loved hearing from readers who have connected with it. In 2024 I released a memoir, I PROMISE IT WON'T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS, based on my experiences of navigating grief following the loss of my son eighteen years ago. It's a book to offer hope when you feel as though there's none to be had; a book to give to a friend when you don't know what to say.
Coming in 2026 is what I'm boldly going to tell you is my best book yet... a standalone thriller with a twist that'll knock your socks off! It's called IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, and I would love you to add it to your shelf right now!
I love connecting with my readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get a sneak peek at what's going on behind the scenes. My Facebook group offers reading recommendations and exclusive extras to members (just search online for 'The Clare Mackintosh Book Club'), or if it's general chit chat you're after, please do follow me on Instagram, where I go to avoid writing, and to share snippets of my life in rural Wales, complete with three spaniels and Pete the goat. I'm also on TikTok, much to the dismay of my three teenagers...
* * *
With over three million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016. She has since written seven more bestselling novels. Together, her books have been translated into 40 languages and spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists.
Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies.
* * *
For more information find Clare on Facebook, Instagram, Threads or TikTok at @ClareMackWrites
#ILetYouGo #ISeeYou #LetMeLie #AftertheEnd #HostageBook #TheLastParty #AGameOfLies #IPromise #OtherPeoplesHouses #ItsNotWhatYouThink
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 719 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As book titles go, “It’s Not What You Think” couldn’t be more apt!
It certainly wasn’t what I thought anyway!
Nadeeka Prasanna is divorced with two little girls. Though her first husband, Scott, is still very much involved in the girls’ lives, he was a serial cheater and it’s left Nadeeka with real trust issues.
She’s currently dating Jamie Golding. The girls have accepted him, and she believes he’s a wonderful person, he even lets her have full access to his phone in order to alleviate her worries about cheating. That is until he suddenly doesn’t. He’s started taking his phone wherever he goes, and she believes he’s cheating on her. Then come the excuses about working late or missing his bus. However, what Nadeeka discovers is not what she (or indeed I) thought it was!
Nadeeka heads home from work determined to confront Jamie about his lies, but the scene that awaits her is like something from a horror movie. Jamie lies dead in a pool of blood, and in that moment Nadeeka realises that there is much more to this than a simple case of him cheating on her with another woman, but “IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK”!
I’m used to my thrillers coming with their inevitable twists, but this one came with some cracking ones! Don’t think for one minute you know what’s going to happen because, like me, you probably won’t have a clue where it’s going! This book held me spellbound. It is superbly paced, it has believable, credible characters, and is, in short, a brilliant story, told by a writer who is at the very top of her game. Highly recommended.
.*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
It certainly wasn’t what I thought anyway!
Nadeeka Prasanna is divorced with two little girls. Though her first husband, Scott, is still very much involved in the girls’ lives, he was a serial cheater and it’s left Nadeeka with real trust issues.
She’s currently dating Jamie Golding. The girls have accepted him, and she believes he’s a wonderful person, he even lets her have full access to his phone in order to alleviate her worries about cheating. That is until he suddenly doesn’t. He’s started taking his phone wherever he goes, and she believes he’s cheating on her. Then come the excuses about working late or missing his bus. However, what Nadeeka discovers is not what she (or indeed I) thought it was!
Nadeeka heads home from work determined to confront Jamie about his lies, but the scene that awaits her is like something from a horror movie. Jamie lies dead in a pool of blood, and in that moment Nadeeka realises that there is much more to this than a simple case of him cheating on her with another woman, but “IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK”!
I’m used to my thrillers coming with their inevitable twists, but this one came with some cracking ones! Don’t think for one minute you know what’s going to happen because, like me, you probably won’t have a clue where it’s going! This book held me spellbound. It is superbly paced, it has believable, credible characters, and is, in short, a brilliant story, told by a writer who is at the very top of her game. Highly recommended.
.*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
November 12, 2025
Nadeeka Prasanna rushes home, nearly getting a speeding ticket in the process, because she’s certain her partner Jamie Golding is having an affair. Why is she so sure? That will be because she’s seen the warning signs before, in her ex, Scott. However, when she arrives at her house, she’s confronted by a horrifying sight which she probably won’t ever be able to unsee. It’s very clear that Jamie is dead and the house is already a crime scene. As the mystery of Jamie and of his death deepens, it’s not what you think.
Oh my goodness, this latest novel by Clare Mackintosh starts with a shock and a bang and then at 20% there is a plot EXPLOSION. My mouth of literally drops open in shock as it’s so unanticipated. What an earth is going on? So yes, it’s most definitely not what you think - was ever a novel well titled. This is utterly gripping, twist comes after twist and they’re really good ones. It barrels and turns this way and that, it’s topical, thought provoking and disturbing as it propels its way to a chilling end.
As another reviewer wisely comments – go in blind with this one. It’s an absolute belter, so best buckle up. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Oh my goodness, this latest novel by Clare Mackintosh starts with a shock and a bang and then at 20% there is a plot EXPLOSION. My mouth of literally drops open in shock as it’s so unanticipated. What an earth is going on? So yes, it’s most definitely not what you think - was ever a novel well titled. This is utterly gripping, twist comes after twist and they’re really good ones. It barrels and turns this way and that, it’s topical, thought provoking and disturbing as it propels its way to a chilling end.
As another reviewer wisely comments – go in blind with this one. It’s an absolute belter, so best buckle up. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
September 16, 2025
This is the book everyone will be talking about in 2026. Timely, tense and terrifying, with more twists and turns than an episode of Line of Duty, It's Not What You Think is a breathless, edge-of-your-seat, tour de force. A masterclass in pace, characterisation and plotting, Clare Mackintosh has delivered the biggest book of her career. I read it in two sittings (on flights) and the time just sped by. I could NOT put it down.
PS: I'm deliberately not giving away anything about the plot or characters as I want readers to discover the surprises within the pages for themselves...
PS: I'm deliberately not giving away anything about the plot or characters as I want readers to discover the surprises within the pages for themselves...
April 4, 2026
➡️ FROM START TO FINISH.......
"It's Not What You Think" was NOT what I thought.
It's a masterclass in misdirection, suspense, and intrigue.
This emotionally charged, smart, gripping, twisty, and deeply unsettling thriller is in a league of its own.
🔷 Characterizations were stellar.
🔷 Pacing was relentless.
I especially enjoyed the compelling dynamic between the two female protagonists: the murdered man's girlfriend who questioned her own sanity, and the brilliant and deeply flawed DCI.
➡️ BEWARE:
I usually stay far, far away from books with heavy-handed political commentaries.
While this book explored the darker side of contemporary ideological extremism, it did so tactfully and with restraint.
No political agenda was ever pushed.
👏👏👏👏👏
Instead, the storyline focused on the human fallout of political extremism and its devastating consequences.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Richard Armitage, Samuel Barnett, Tuppence Middleton, and Vineeta Rishi.
Full-cast narrations are always a treat, and all narrators gave outstanding performances.
❤️ My favorite Clare Mackintosh thriller to date.
❤️ One of my besties of 2026.
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 11, 2026
Amazing! Clare Mackintosh always delivers and then some. It is dark and confronting, and scarily could really happen in today’s messed up world. An incredible read, one that you do not want to miss.
The plot is clever and layered, making you doubt everything and everyone. I love it when a book can do that and still work. It is twisty but realistic. With multiple points of view, there is never a dull moment.
It begins with a woman racing home to confront her partner who she believes is cheating on her. What she discovers is the beginning of a nightmare, with her home a crime scene surrounded by police. Her partner has been murdered and her whole world is turned upside down.
Go into this knowing only that, trust me. It will make the experience of reading this more enjoyable.
A must read, definitely a favourite for 2026 already.
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia for my early copy of book to read by a favourite author. Publishing on March 26th. The ARC is just stunning, and a hardback 🩷
The plot is clever and layered, making you doubt everything and everyone. I love it when a book can do that and still work. It is twisty but realistic. With multiple points of view, there is never a dull moment.
It begins with a woman racing home to confront her partner who she believes is cheating on her. What she discovers is the beginning of a nightmare, with her home a crime scene surrounded by police. Her partner has been murdered and her whole world is turned upside down.
Go into this knowing only that, trust me. It will make the experience of reading this more enjoyable.
A must read, definitely a favourite for 2026 already.
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia for my early copy of book to read by a favourite author. Publishing on March 26th. The ARC is just stunning, and a hardback 🩷
April 18, 2026
I really enjoyed the opening of this one—it pulled me in quickly and had me excited to see where the story was headed! Unfortunately, the pacing slowed quite a bit through the middle, and I found my attention drifting during that stretch. A large part of that was the heavier focus on politics, which isn’t something I typically gravitate toward in fiction. I didn’t realize how central it would be based on the blurb, so that piece just didn’t fully work for me.
That said, it’s clearly well written, and there are some genuinely strong twists woven into the story. I especially liked the multiple POV structure—Lauren and Nadeeka were both compelling in different ways, and their perspectives kept things interesting even when the plot lagged a bit.
I did end up guessing the major twist before it was revealed, but I still found the story entertaining overall. For me, it could have benefited from being a bit tighter, as various sections felt longer than necessary. That said, some of my experience comes down to personal preference—I went in expecting something a little different in terms of theme. Even so, there’s a lot here to appreciate, especially for readers who enjoy politically driven narratives!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
That said, it’s clearly well written, and there are some genuinely strong twists woven into the story. I especially liked the multiple POV structure—Lauren and Nadeeka were both compelling in different ways, and their perspectives kept things interesting even when the plot lagged a bit.
I did end up guessing the major twist before it was revealed, but I still found the story entertaining overall. For me, it could have benefited from being a bit tighter, as various sections felt longer than necessary. That said, some of my experience comes down to personal preference—I went in expecting something a little different in terms of theme. Even so, there’s a lot here to appreciate, especially for readers who enjoy politically driven narratives!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
April 21, 2026
‼️BANGER ALERT ‼️
— Out now in the UK with Harper Collins
— US Pub Date - 9/22/26 through @bookmarked
I have FIVE of her previous novels just sitting on the shelves and ALL UNREAD 🫣🫣🫣. Why am I like this?? Please tell me I’m not the only one that does this. lol
I went into this COMPLETELY BLIND. All I knew was that it was going to be twisty, crime, and part police procedural. The average rating on Goodreads stands at 4.26 ⭐️. I thought to myself this is gonna be damn good and IT WAS!!!
Mackintosh really knows how to throw some red herrings. What I thought I started reading turned into something that completely blindsided me. It’s truly scary where this novel leads to and so fitting for the times.
This will BLOW YOUR MIND! Get ready because IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK! Mind boggling. Addictive and utterly unputdownable!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BANGER
US Pub Date 9/22/26
Thank you to @netgalley for the digital copy. I purchased one of the 1200 special editions from Goldsboro Books in the UK.
— Out now in the UK with Harper Collins
— US Pub Date - 9/22/26 through @bookmarked
I have FIVE of her previous novels just sitting on the shelves and ALL UNREAD 🫣🫣🫣. Why am I like this?? Please tell me I’m not the only one that does this. lol
I went into this COMPLETELY BLIND. All I knew was that it was going to be twisty, crime, and part police procedural. The average rating on Goodreads stands at 4.26 ⭐️. I thought to myself this is gonna be damn good and IT WAS!!!
Mackintosh really knows how to throw some red herrings. What I thought I started reading turned into something that completely blindsided me. It’s truly scary where this novel leads to and so fitting for the times.
This will BLOW YOUR MIND! Get ready because IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK! Mind boggling. Addictive and utterly unputdownable!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BANGER
US Pub Date 9/22/26
Thank you to @netgalley for the digital copy. I purchased one of the 1200 special editions from Goldsboro Books in the UK.
November 1, 2025
"Twisty" is an adjective which is used in pretty much every thriller review or blurb. Never has it been more accurate that this one.
I am not going to get into the synopsis, it's one of those books you go into Blind and enjoy it better
I am not going to get into the synopsis, it's one of those books you go into Blind and enjoy it better
April 21, 2026
4.5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐Suspense, domestic drama, police procedural, thriller, this one had it all!
There was so much to love about this one, I found myself eager to pick it up whenever I had a chance to read and also chatting about it with my family and coworkers. I would eagerly watch this as a British crime drama! I guessed some of the twists but certainly not all including the first one, and just wow.. I didn't see that coming!! It was such a neat idea for a plot twist!
Nadeeka thinks her partner is cheating on her and rushes home to catch him in the act but instead finds that her home is a crime scene and her partner dead. You wont believe were we go from there. This novel doesn't shy away from dealing with some current hot button topics.
I love a novel with different POVs but this one was written in a fairly unique way for me as it had large chunks from each characters POV and I found it surprising sometimes whose head we would end up in. My favourite POV was the police one for sure, it was so interesting and kept me so engaged. There was one that slowed the book down a bit for me and thus the loss of star but all in all, was so glad I kept picking it up.
I loved the female leads, both so different, and loved learning more about their characters as I read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for the advance copy. Be sure to pick this one up on March 26th when it publishes and see if you can forecast the ending or will you agree that It's Not What You Think! 👀
There was so much to love about this one, I found myself eager to pick it up whenever I had a chance to read and also chatting about it with my family and coworkers. I would eagerly watch this as a British crime drama! I guessed some of the twists but certainly not all including the first one, and just wow.. I didn't see that coming!! It was such a neat idea for a plot twist!
Nadeeka thinks her partner is cheating on her and rushes home to catch him in the act but instead finds that her home is a crime scene and her partner dead. You wont believe were we go from there. This novel doesn't shy away from dealing with some current hot button topics.
I love a novel with different POVs but this one was written in a fairly unique way for me as it had large chunks from each characters POV and I found it surprising sometimes whose head we would end up in. My favourite POV was the police one for sure, it was so interesting and kept me so engaged. There was one that slowed the book down a bit for me and thus the loss of star but all in all, was so glad I kept picking it up.
I loved the female leads, both so different, and loved learning more about their characters as I read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for the advance copy. Be sure to pick this one up on March 26th when it publishes and see if you can forecast the ending or will you agree that It's Not What You Think! 👀
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sadly, this one just didn’t work for me. Had I known beforehand how heavily it would lean into political themes and police procedural elements, I probably wouldn’t have requested it, as that’s not typically what I gravitate toward in my reading. I also struggled to connect with the characters, and I found myself feeling surprisingly detached from Jamie’s storyline and the mystery surrounding him. At times, my interest waned enough that I skimmed certain sections. Under different circumstances, I likely would have dnf’d it, but since it was an arc, I decided to see it through.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2025
Is it too soon to call my book of 2026!?
This book comes with some very bold claims, including the one that got my attention: this is Clare Mackintosh’s BIGGEST twist yet! (Yes, that Clare Mackintosh…of I LET YOU GO genius…possibly the greatest twist of all time!!). I knew immediately that I had to dive into this one as soon as it landed on my doormat, just to find out if these claims held any weight. And boy, oh boy, do they!! It does exactly what it says on the cover and NOTHING is what you think. When I say that this book is fully loaded with twists, I mean FULLY loaded and ready to eject its load at the most shocking times, in the most mind-blowing of ways! Having said all of this, you can probably guess that it is virtually impossible to tell you very much more. This is a book that you absolutely MUST read, and do so without any prior knowledge of what is contained within its pages. You will not regret picking this book up. It’s destined to be huge, because it deserves to be and is another example of just how incredible a writer Clare Mackintosh is.
If that isn’t enough to convince you…firstly, are you ok, hun!? Secondly, here is a non-spoiler-y round up of what I absolutely loved most about this book:
1. It’s SO timely, incredibly astute, and absolutely taps into the society we are currently living in. That is what ultimately makes it so terrifying and tense.
2. The story is told in 5 distinct parts, from different perspectives, and each section ends with another twist that flips everything we think we’ve known up to that point. It’s ADDICTIVE!
3. Mackintosh’s writing style shines brighter than the K-Pop Demon Hunters’ GOLDEN, as she builds layer upon layer of suspense, which comes to a breathtaking crescendo in the final chapters. The book progresses at breakneck pace, with short and engaging chapters, which get shorter and more exhilarating as events unfold. It’s basically impossible to put down.
4. The characters are so well drawn, with two central heroines I couldn’t help but love and root for. The misdirection is exceptional and the wider cast really help propel the narrative forward, whilst giving the reader really visceral feelings towards them.
5. The emotions this book garners is off the scale! My heart was racing and at times my anger was raging. There’s a real poignancy to this narrative, but I turned the final pages feeling a true sense of hope. This is no mean feat, considering how close to the bone the social critique is in these pages.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK will be released in March 2026. You should absolutely pre-order it this very minute. You do not want to miss the opportunity to read this the moment it’s released…we’re all going to be chatting about it! 🤯
My heartfelt thanks to @harperfiction and @claremacwrites for my #gifted advance copy. I will cherish it forever!
This book comes with some very bold claims, including the one that got my attention: this is Clare Mackintosh’s BIGGEST twist yet! (Yes, that Clare Mackintosh…of I LET YOU GO genius…possibly the greatest twist of all time!!). I knew immediately that I had to dive into this one as soon as it landed on my doormat, just to find out if these claims held any weight. And boy, oh boy, do they!! It does exactly what it says on the cover and NOTHING is what you think. When I say that this book is fully loaded with twists, I mean FULLY loaded and ready to eject its load at the most shocking times, in the most mind-blowing of ways! Having said all of this, you can probably guess that it is virtually impossible to tell you very much more. This is a book that you absolutely MUST read, and do so without any prior knowledge of what is contained within its pages. You will not regret picking this book up. It’s destined to be huge, because it deserves to be and is another example of just how incredible a writer Clare Mackintosh is.
If that isn’t enough to convince you…firstly, are you ok, hun!? Secondly, here is a non-spoiler-y round up of what I absolutely loved most about this book:
1. It’s SO timely, incredibly astute, and absolutely taps into the society we are currently living in. That is what ultimately makes it so terrifying and tense.
2. The story is told in 5 distinct parts, from different perspectives, and each section ends with another twist that flips everything we think we’ve known up to that point. It’s ADDICTIVE!
3. Mackintosh’s writing style shines brighter than the K-Pop Demon Hunters’ GOLDEN, as she builds layer upon layer of suspense, which comes to a breathtaking crescendo in the final chapters. The book progresses at breakneck pace, with short and engaging chapters, which get shorter and more exhilarating as events unfold. It’s basically impossible to put down.
4. The characters are so well drawn, with two central heroines I couldn’t help but love and root for. The misdirection is exceptional and the wider cast really help propel the narrative forward, whilst giving the reader really visceral feelings towards them.
5. The emotions this book garners is off the scale! My heart was racing and at times my anger was raging. There’s a real poignancy to this narrative, but I turned the final pages feeling a true sense of hope. This is no mean feat, considering how close to the bone the social critique is in these pages.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK will be released in March 2026. You should absolutely pre-order it this very minute. You do not want to miss the opportunity to read this the moment it’s released…we’re all going to be chatting about it! 🤯
My heartfelt thanks to @harperfiction and @claremacwrites for my #gifted advance copy. I will cherish it forever!
November 10, 2025
What a rollercoaster of a book!
I could not put it down… wow!
A great, twisty read, intelligent and thought provoking.
It touches some very important topics and was therefore a little hard to read, as it felt like it resonated a little too close to home at this time.
It’s my first book from the author, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Edit: It has been 2 days, and I am still thinking about this book and the topics it explored so well. Brilliant! That is what a book should do :)
I could not put it down… wow!
A great, twisty read, intelligent and thought provoking.
It touches some very important topics and was therefore a little hard to read, as it felt like it resonated a little too close to home at this time.
It’s my first book from the author, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Edit: It has been 2 days, and I am still thinking about this book and the topics it explored so well. Brilliant! That is what a book should do :)
December 15, 2025
I really enjoyed the first half of this book and flew through it, unfortunately for me it got a bit bogged down by politics after that, which I am definitely not a fan of. It is well written and has a few good twists. I did guess the end one so maybe that’s why it’s a three star rather than a four.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy.
April 14, 2026
This latest book by Claire Mackintosh “It’s Not What You Think” is appropriately named because this book is not what you think! Told in alternative point of views in each section, really pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down. Lots of twists throughout that had me guessing til the last page!! This is book #7 of hers that I have loved over the years.
November 4, 2025
I always enjoy reading Clare Mackintosh books and was delighted to receive an advance copy of her new book ‘It’s Not What You Think’.
This was an exciting story with some fantastic characters, lots action to keep you on the edge of your seat and a twist you won’t see coming.
I can’t wait for the next book from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was an exciting story with some fantastic characters, lots action to keep you on the edge of your seat and a twist you won’t see coming.
I can’t wait for the next book from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2026
i can guarantee this book is NOT what you think like whatever preconceived notions you may have about a thriller, this book subverts them all !!! i don’t want to spoil ANYTHING because i need everyone to read it themselves but the themes and twists and discussions are just phenomenal
April 15, 2026
It’s really Not what you think! The title of this book is spot on. The book did a complete one eighty on me. It kept me guessing until the end. I was intrigued from the first page to the very end.
March 31, 2026
It’s taken me a while to pick up Clare Mackintosh’s work, but I finally got around to it—and overall, I found it to be a dark, twisty, and thought-provoking psychological page-turner.
Without giving too much of the premise away, the story follows a woman who, just as she’s about to confront her boyfriend over his infidelity, instead finds him dead.
I really enjoyed the sense of uncertainty surrounding the direction of the plot, and even when I began to speculate about the twists, I found myself completely off the mark. For me, the second half of the story is where the action truly intensifies, and I genuinely struggled to put the book down.
I appreciated how complex and immersive the author’s writing is, with twists that are both surprising and well-placed, and characters that feel well-rounded. The plot explores some heavy themes, delving into the darker side of humanity, so it’s worth checking content warnings if needed.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Clare Mackintosh’s work in the future, and I would highly recommend this to fans of crime fiction and domestic suspense with emotionally layered, character-driven plots.
4.5⭐️
Without giving too much of the premise away, the story follows a woman who, just as she’s about to confront her boyfriend over his infidelity, instead finds him dead.
I really enjoyed the sense of uncertainty surrounding the direction of the plot, and even when I began to speculate about the twists, I found myself completely off the mark. For me, the second half of the story is where the action truly intensifies, and I genuinely struggled to put the book down.
I appreciated how complex and immersive the author’s writing is, with twists that are both surprising and well-placed, and characters that feel well-rounded. The plot explores some heavy themes, delving into the darker side of humanity, so it’s worth checking content warnings if needed.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Clare Mackintosh’s work in the future, and I would highly recommend this to fans of crime fiction and domestic suspense with emotionally layered, character-driven plots.
4.5⭐️
April 8, 2026
This was a twisty, generally intense ride that was such an easy and exciting read.
Told in six parts seen through the POVs of four different characters, each part ended on a cliffhanger/twist and brought a new perspective to the murder mystery. The pacing was excellent in the first and last parts but the middle did slow down somewhat and was less engaging.
Overall though a very good twisty read that is timely (and sadly relevant) that had me turning the pages!
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
Told in six parts seen through the POVs of four different characters, each part ended on a cliffhanger/twist and brought a new perspective to the murder mystery. The pacing was excellent in the first and last parts but the middle did slow down somewhat and was less engaging.
Overall though a very good twisty read that is timely (and sadly relevant) that had me turning the pages!
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book really isn't what you think. Lots of twists that were carefully placed throughout the book and I particularly enjoyed the way it all started to unravel as the pieces fit together. The second half of the book was much more enjoyable and the first half felt a bit slow and didn't grab me hence 4 stars
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
April 16, 2026
Well… It’s Not What You Think is definitely not what I expected 😅
I absolutely loved I Let You Go, and I See You was a solid read for me… but this one? I’m honestly confused.
The first half really pulled me in the premise was intriguing and I was hooked: a woman finds her husband dead in their home… I was ready for a gripping thriller.
But the second half completely lost me. I struggled with Jamie’s storyline and didn’t connect with the character at all. At some point, I genuinely didn’t know whether to keep going or just DNF.
And when the big reveal finally came… it just didn’t hit. It lacked impact and felt underwhelming, especially for what should have been the final twist.
Honestly, it just didn’t work for me.
⭐️ 2.75
I absolutely loved I Let You Go, and I See You was a solid read for me… but this one? I’m honestly confused.
The first half really pulled me in the premise was intriguing and I was hooked: a woman finds her husband dead in their home… I was ready for a gripping thriller.
But the second half completely lost me. I struggled with Jamie’s storyline and didn’t connect with the character at all. At some point, I genuinely didn’t know whether to keep going or just DNF.
And when the big reveal finally came… it just didn’t hit. It lacked impact and felt underwhelming, especially for what should have been the final twist.
Honestly, it just didn’t work for me.
⭐️ 2.75
March 29, 2026
3,5//
Okay… “It’s Not What You Think” by Clare Mackintosh absolutely wasn’t what I expected. I thought I was getting a straightforward domestic thriller about Nadeeka and Jamie. But no. Twist after twist, POV switches, and moments where the story just… stops. One of the POVs in the middle felt like a mini black hole: nothing happening, nothing moving forward, just waiting for something to kick in. Also, I totally called one of the big twists at the end way too early.
That said, I had a lot of fun. Nadeeka and Lauren are great POVs, the side characters are surprisingly lovable and weirdly entertaining, and the writing is smooth enough that you fly through it. It’s a messy ride, but one that keeps you reading.
And now spoiler territory (sort of): Just when you think you know the story, it suddenly dives into right-wing extremism, racism, police work, and corruption. Like… what? Suddenly you’re in a completely different thriller world, and it’s darker and more intense than you ever expected.
[ARC]
Okay… “It’s Not What You Think” by Clare Mackintosh absolutely wasn’t what I expected. I thought I was getting a straightforward domestic thriller about Nadeeka and Jamie. But no. Twist after twist, POV switches, and moments where the story just… stops. One of the POVs in the middle felt like a mini black hole: nothing happening, nothing moving forward, just waiting for something to kick in. Also, I totally called one of the big twists at the end way too early.
That said, I had a lot of fun. Nadeeka and Lauren are great POVs, the side characters are surprisingly lovable and weirdly entertaining, and the writing is smooth enough that you fly through it. It’s a messy ride, but one that keeps you reading.
And now spoiler territory (sort of): Just when you think you know the story, it suddenly dives into right-wing extremism, racism, police work, and corruption. Like… what? Suddenly you’re in a completely different thriller world, and it’s darker and more intense than you ever expected.
[ARC]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2025
4.5⭐️
I went into It’s Not What You Think knowing very little — and that is exactly how this book should be read.
This was my first Clare Mackintosh, and if this novel is any indication of her writing style, I’ll be picking up more immediately. The pacing is tight, the tension relentless, and the story is constructed in a way that makes it genuinely hard to pull yourself away. I read this in three sittings, and each time I had to actively convince myself to stop.
What really stood out for me was how confidently the story led me in one direction, encouraging certain assumptions that felt solid — until they very much weren’t. The reveals never felt thrown in for shock value; everything felt deliberate, layered, and unsettling in the best way. The title couldn’t be more fitting.
I can absolutely see this becoming one of the most talked about books of 2026.
If you take one thing from this review, let it be this: go in blind. Don’t research it. Don’t read the synopsis. Just pick it up, start reading, and trust the process.
I went into It’s Not What You Think knowing very little — and that is exactly how this book should be read.
This was my first Clare Mackintosh, and if this novel is any indication of her writing style, I’ll be picking up more immediately. The pacing is tight, the tension relentless, and the story is constructed in a way that makes it genuinely hard to pull yourself away. I read this in three sittings, and each time I had to actively convince myself to stop.
What really stood out for me was how confidently the story led me in one direction, encouraging certain assumptions that felt solid — until they very much weren’t. The reveals never felt thrown in for shock value; everything felt deliberate, layered, and unsettling in the best way. The title couldn’t be more fitting.
I can absolutely see this becoming one of the most talked about books of 2026.
If you take one thing from this review, let it be this: go in blind. Don’t research it. Don’t read the synopsis. Just pick it up, start reading, and trust the process.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Review coming
Review coming
March 27, 2026
It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh is another unexpected read from the English author. Her debut
I Let You Go
was a very memorable book for me and in my review I comment on almost dropping my iPad into the bathtub (where I read) as the midway plot twist was sooooo shocking with limited foreshadowing. On starting this I assumed I was about to read a book about a cheating partner who gets his comeuppance, with the victim / partner becoming a key suspect... but this was far from that. Again Mackintosh flips things a third of the way through the book and we realise we've been duped. Suddenly the type of book we thought we were reading is far from what unfolds.
Mackintosh doesn't waste any time getting to the point here, as we meet Nadeeka as she's racing home expecting to find her boyfriend of 10 months at their house with another woman, instead finding her house a crime-scene and Jamie stabbed to death. We're privy to several flashbacks during which we learn how they meet and baggage Nadeeka is carrying from her marriage to a cheating ex-husband.
Mackintosh takes readers down several paths offering up a number of scenarios and suspects. But again this heads in a surprising direction and Mackintosh keeps the surprises coming until the very end. It's hard to talk too much about the murder and the 'why' without offering up too many spoilers, but let's just say Nadeeka's forced to consider that (either) she didn't know Jamie as well as she thinks; or that others are wrong about him.
4.5 stars
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Mackintosh doesn't waste any time getting to the point here, as we meet Nadeeka as she's racing home expecting to find her boyfriend of 10 months at their house with another woman, instead finding her house a crime-scene and Jamie stabbed to death. We're privy to several flashbacks during which we learn how they meet and baggage Nadeeka is carrying from her marriage to a cheating ex-husband.
Mackintosh takes readers down several paths offering up a number of scenarios and suspects. But again this heads in a surprising direction and Mackintosh keeps the surprises coming until the very end. It's hard to talk too much about the murder and the 'why' without offering up too many spoilers, but let's just say Nadeeka's forced to consider that (either) she didn't know Jamie as well as she thinks; or that others are wrong about him.
4.5 stars
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
April 9, 2026
Люблю книги, розповідь в яких ведеться від усіх учасників розслідування, щоб put yourself in theirs shoes, як то кажуть. Подобається, що у головного антагоніста є, так би мовити, «вища ціль», яка заснована на неоднозначній реальності, тому книга стане непоганим вибором для читацьких клубів, буде про що посперечатись, якщо ви хочете bring political matter up😏 хоча тема більш таки relevant для Британії і країн Європи, які масово приймають імігрантів
March 26, 2026
Wow!! I’m not going to say much about it for fear of spoiling it but this is a fantastic, twisty read. I highly recommend reading it.
April 1, 2026
Nadeeka and Jamie are really happy together but there’s a niggling doubt in Nadeeka’s mind, something about Jamie’s behaviour that makes her think he’s cheating on her. Rushing home to confirm her suspicions, she in fact finds Jamie dead and police on the scene. From there it becomes very clear that it’s not what she or the reader thinks.
I think it’s fairly common knowledge that there may be some twists in this book and Clare Mackintosh certainly does know how to do an excellent twist. I loved that nothing was obvious in this story, but even setting aside the clever twists, this is simply a first-rate thriller with a compelling story that I wanted to be reading all the time. The writing and plotting are flawless, the characters are so brilliantly depicted and the pacing is timed to perfection.
It’s Not What You Think was one of the books I was most looking forward to reading this year and it delivered on every level. I thought it was superb.
I think it’s fairly common knowledge that there may be some twists in this book and Clare Mackintosh certainly does know how to do an excellent twist. I loved that nothing was obvious in this story, but even setting aside the clever twists, this is simply a first-rate thriller with a compelling story that I wanted to be reading all the time. The writing and plotting are flawless, the characters are so brilliantly depicted and the pacing is timed to perfection.
It’s Not What You Think was one of the books I was most looking forward to reading this year and it delivered on every level. I thought it was superb.
April 18, 2026
Well-plotted. Frighteningly plausible. Kept me captivated from beginning to end.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
March 31, 2026
This just got slightly weird and felt like the author was throwing everything at the book and was just making it not believable.
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