I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Believe Me Now: A Thriller by S.M. Govett Published by Crooked Lane Books on June 10, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Domestic
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
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A woman wronged and the detective investigating her husband’s suspected crime must work through a chilling and puzzling case in this twisty dual-narrator thriller where nothing is as it seems, perfect for fans of Hayley Scrivener and Lisa Jewell.
Natalie Campbell loses time. She’ll wake up in different places with no memory of how she got there. The blackouts are a symptom of her PTSD, which began after she was sexually assaulted by her boss, who was found not guilty. But she found ways to cope by setting up routines and relying on her supportive husband, Ryan. Then one day, her husband is accused of committing the same crime that ruined her life.
Natalie desperately wants to believe he is innocent, but when Alice Lytton, the young woman who accused him, is found murdered in the woods near their house, she begins to doubt the man she married.
DI Helen Stratton is also healing from old wounds. Her older sister disappeared when she was 16, and the police didn’t bother to investigate. Vowing to help other lost and vulnerable girls, she joined the force. Stratton is ready to do whatever it takes to catch the killer and bring justice to her sister and Alice.
Tightly plotted, fast-paced, and addictive, Believe Me Now will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering if anyone is to be believed.
Story Locale: London
Review
S.M. Govett’s Believe Me Now starts with a dead body in the woods and a woman who can’t trust her own memories. It’s the kind of book that makes you side-eye your spouse over morning coffee.
Natalie’s husband might be a killer. At least that’s what DI Stratton thinks, and he’s got good reasons. The problem? Natalie’s PTSD causes blackouts, so she’s not even sure what she knows anymore. And that young woman they found in the woods behind her house? She’s just the beginning of Natalie’s problems.
Govett, who ditched her fancy Oxford law career to write thrillers, knows how to twist the knife. The story bounces between Natalie’s increasingly paranoid perspective and DI Stratton’s investigation, each chapter revealing just enough to make you question everything you thought you knew. It’s like watching two trains heading for each other in slow motion – you know the crash is coming, but you can’t look away.
What makes this book stand out isn’t just the plot (though it’s a doozy). It’s how Govett handles trauma. Instead of using PTSD as a convenient plot device, she digs deep into its messy reality. Her legal background adds weight to the police work, but the real star here is the psychological suspense that builds like a pressure cooker.
The twist ending? You might see parts of it coming, but that won’t stop your jaw from dropping. It’s like a magic trick – even when you know how it’s done, you’re still impressed by the execution.
Is it perfect? No. But it’s the kind of debut that makes you want to pre-order whatever Govett writes next. Think Gone Girl meets The Girl on the Train, but with its own dark, distinctive flavor.
3.5/5 stars – A solid psychological thriller that’ll make you trust no one, not even yourself.
