There’s the obvious story. And then there’s the truth.
Alex lives a comfortable life with his wife Beth in the leafy suburb of Silver Vale. Fine, so he’s not the most extrovert guy on the street, he prefers to keep himself to himself, but he’s a good husband and an easy-going neighbour.
That’s until Beth announces the creation of a nature trail on a local site that’s been disused for decades and suddenly Alex is a changed man. Now he’s always watching. Questioning. Struggling to hide his dread . . .
As the landscapers get to work, a secret threatens to surface from years ago, back in Alex’s twenties when he got entangled with a seductive young woman called Marina, who threw both their lives into turmoil.
And who sparked a police hunt for a murder suspect that was never quite what it seemed.
It still isn’t.
Buy a copy of The Only Suspect here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Wow! I have read a few of Louise Candlish’s books over the years, but this would have to be my favourite. I couldn’t put this one down. It drew me in right from the first page and didn’t let me go until the end. It had me second-guessing the whole way through and just when I thought I had it figured out, I discovered I was completely off the mark! A flawless plot, complex characters, red herrings everywhere, and the awesome 90s flashbacks all make for a cracking read. 5 out of 5 stars from me, can’t wait to see how Louise is going to top this one! Ami, VIC, 5 Stars
Alex and his wife Beth live a quiet and simple life, or so it seems! Beth, who loves being involved in the community, is very happy when the council approves the development of a nature trail at the back of their home. Alex, a normally quiet, private man, seems extremely anxious about it all. The book takes us between 1995 and the present. While I guessed some of it, I was extremely surprised at some of the unpredictable twists and turns! The book started off reasonably slow but just kept getting better. Looking forward to reading more of Louise Candlish. Nicola, SA, 5 Stars
Things are not always what they seem. This book will keep you guessing till the very end. Liz, VIC, 5 Stars
Wow, what a read! The Only Suspect was a twisty thriller and I did not guess the ending! Even after finishing the book, I kept thinking about all the clues I missed while reading Alex’s stories across the years. Kelly, QLD, 5 Stars
Oh my, what a rollercoaster of a book. We jump from 1995 to present day, in almost a diary-like form, reading about two seemingly different couples. It drew me in and I finished this in one sitting, and the ending blew me away. So well written there was no clue as to who the only suspect was going to be. Do yourself a favour and read this book. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better read of this genre out there at the moment. Nicola, VIC, 5 Stars
Another suspense-filled read by Louise Candlish that keeps you guessing until the end. This story follows two timelines. We meet Alex and his wife Beth in the present. Intertwined with the story of Alex, are the stories of Rick and his flatmate Rollo living the life in 1995. The intricacies of this skilfully structured plot build slowly and just when you think you’ve got it a new twist opens up and gets you thinking again. Highly recommend this book. Enjoy the journey another brilliant book from Louise Candlish. Rita, WA, 5 Stars
This is simply a brilliant read, one of the best ever! Author Louise Candlish, who has written 16 novels, has been described by one reviewer as the queen of the sucker-punch twist and I failed to come up with a better description. Here she tells the story of Alex, who is living comfortably with his wife in a leafy London suburb until a campaign by locals to create a nature trail on a strip of land that’s lain disused for years is successful. As the landscapers get to work, Alex struggles to quell his fears that a deadly secret will be uncovered. The result for me was an immediate search for previous novels Candlish has written. Don, SA, 5 Stars
The Only Suspect is a satisfying thriller that moves at such a pace to keep the reader engaged the whole way through. There are just enough hints throughout that you can’t trust any of the characters, which adds to the sense of dread and the need to know what’s really going on. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and devoured it in a couple of days. Vanessa, QLD, 5 Stars
The Only Suspect gripped me from the get-go. Louise Candlish handles a dual timeline adeptly, building up tension in past and present, as choices made in the 90s by our cast of characters bring consequences many years later. The cultural references in both narratives establish the broader context and add colour. The reference to the TV series, Unforgotten, is a nice touch for fans of that show and very relevant to the story. One of the (many) clever aspects of this novel is the series of punches the author deals – the surprises keep coming. Just when you think you have it figured, look out! Here comes another thwack you were not expecting. This novel gave me a lot to think about – sliding doors moments, chance meetings with strangers, to what extent are we responsible for the decisions that others make? In this novel, the characters make one choice after another, each propelled by their own life experiences and desires, that have a significant impact on those close to them. Don’t think you can turn your back on events buried in the past! This is a compelling story that is fast-paced, surprising, and brilliantly plotted. It’s a highly recommended page-turner! Jane, NSW, 5 Stars
Alex and Beth live in suburban England where a disused site nearby is to be developed as a nature trail. Will the landscapers unearth a secret Alex hoped would stay buried? There are two timelines – present day and 1995. The Only Suspect starts slowly but as Alex’s paranoia grows, threatening his marriage, the tension builds and my heart was racing, leading to a twist I just didn’t see coming leading to an unexpected conclusion. Sarah, NSW, 5 Stars
The Only Suspect is full of unexpected twists and turns, making for a very exciting read. It was certainly hard to put down – and it is cleverly written to keep the reader guessing almost till the end! It is written in two different time periods – 1995 and the present, and told in the names of different characters, which gives different sides of the story, at the same time not telling the whole story immediately, which builds the suspense and adds to the surprise of the final chapters, which are far from straightforward. I would recommend this book to the reader who enjoys a clever plot, with twists and turns galore, and also the added bonus of a love story! (What would you do for love?) Marilyn, NSW, 5 Stars
Wow! The last 1/3 of this book was amazing and I couldn’t put it down. A great slow-burn thriller. This book had so many twists and turns. It was well written and I needed to keep reading to find out the truth. I did find the first 1/3 of the book dragged on a bit too long. Tara, WA, 4 Stars
If you are after a great page turner at the beach, this book is it. It keeps you wanting more. Jen, NSW, 4 Stars
If you want a suspenseful summer read that carries its own unique formula then this is a book that will linger in your thoughts for some time after. This novel is a bit like driving up a mountain in which it gradually builds momentum then about mid-way through it reaches a heart-thumping pace and you begin to notice the many twists and turns. Coral, VIC, 4 Stars
I just finished The Only Suspect and I’m shook! Twists and turns and a few WTFs. If you like the normal ‘who done it’ crime novels, this book is not for you. Alex has a rather normal life with Beth, but things come unravelled as a new nature trail is embraced by the neighbourhood. Flashbacks to the 90s add to the layers of this story and really make you feel like any one of us could have gotten intertwined with these unexpected events. Tess, TAS, 4 Stars
This is the first Louise Candlish book I’ve read, though it won’t be the last! It was a slow burn with a well-plotted, intelligent storyline and so many twists and turns. There are two timelines tracking the events of two protagonists. There are enough twists and turns to keep you reading well into the night, as I couldn’t put it down! Very enjoyable novel! Julie, VIC, 4 Stars
Louise Candlish is one of my favourite authors, but I struggled a little with this one. Told in dual timelines, Rick in 1995 and Alex in the present. From the beginning, we learn Alex has secrets linked to the nature trail being restored in the woods opposite his house and that his wife, Beth, is not the one he fantasized about having. The story is slow to begin with, but the pace picks up mid-way as the author weaves information that links the timelines with enough twists and turns along the way to keep me reading. I almost had things worked out. Not my favourite of her books, but still an enjoyable read. Pamela, QLD, 3 Stars
I recently read Louise Candlish’s novel The Only Suspect and I absolutely loved it! The thrilling narrative kept me captivated from beginning to end, and I found myself completely engrossed in the story. Candlish writes cleverly and creates an engaging cast of characters who are both sympathetic and creepy at the same time. Her writing is full of suspense and tension, with unexpected twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you’re looking for a page-turner of a mystery, then this is definitely worth a read! Shoshana, WA, 3 Stars
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