Believe

*THE EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT* 
 'All I can say is wow. The characters are really well written, the story is excellent and the twists just kept on coming' 5***** reader review 
'What an epic psychological thriller this is! I finished it in one day, that's how much I loved it. Twists, turns, red herrings, it has it all. The ending...just WOW' 5***** reader review 
 ---- 
 
Natalie has spent ten years trying to get over the twin set of events which changed her life forever. 
 The first: the moment her boss assaulted her. The second: the moment the jury declared him innocent - and her, a liar. 
 The memories continue to haunt Natalie, and in her attempts to block out the past, she often wakes up with no memory of where she’s been – or what she’s done. So when her husband, Ryan, gets accused of the same crime, Natalie comes perilously close to the edge. 
 Natalie wants to believe him. But when the body of the young woman who made the accusation is found in the woods near their house, Ryan becomes a prime suspect, and Natalie realises she can't trust anyone - herself included... 
 ---- 
 Why readers LOVE Believe 'A truly excellent debut. I raced through the book, and the twisty end was super' 5***** reader review'A great edge of your seat read' 5***** reader review'The perfect psychological drama that comes with plenty of twists to keep you guessing throughout' 5***** reader review 
 'A must read...chilling, unpredictable, and utterly unforgettable' 5***** reader review 
 'Non-stop in delivering moments of jaw-dropping storytelling with an ending so perfect it takes your breath away. Could this be the book of the year? I believe it could be' 5***** reader review 
 
 Why authors are loving Believe ‘Believe is absolutely stunning. The very definition of a page turner. A thought-provoking mystery, brimming with suspense’ Janice Hallett'An addictive domestic thriller with razor sharp writing and dialogue that will keep you up all night’ Abigail Dean ‘A properly good, tense thriller which had me guessing until the end’ Jennie Godfrey'A superior psychological thriller...gripping, clever and full of twists you won't see coming' Mark Edwards 'An accomplished crime debut...this is a must read' Jo Callaghan'Propulsive and provocative, taut and timely – that rare thriller you can’t read fast enough then can’t debate long enough' A.J. Finn 'A really strong debut with loads of twists and turns to keep you guessing and flipping the pages!' Sarah Pinborough

This brilliant psychological thriller will keep you up all night

One of the finest crime stories of the year so far. Govett is a name to watch

Believe is absolutely stunning. The very definition of a page turner. A thought-provoking mystery, brimming with suspense, it twists and writhes into an accomplished psychological thriller that maintains its emotional power, as well as its pace, from first page to last. What a debut! S.M. Govett is one to watch

An addictive domestic thriller with razor sharp writing and dialogue that will keep you up all night

Believe had me wondering which way was up as I tried to work out whodunnit! A properly good, tense thriller which had me guessing until the end

What a strong debut this is! You won't put it down once you start

A sharp and provocative thriller, this has its fair share of surprises in store

We couldn't put this brilliant thriller down

This fast-paced police procedural had me hooked from the start

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING – 50 BEST EVER BEACH BOOKS

A really strong debut with loads of twists and turns to keep you guessing and flipping the pages!

Propulsive and provocative, taut and timely – that rare thriller you can’t read fast enough then can’t debate long enough. Too many crime novels play it safe; here’s one that makes choices, takes risks, and breaks ground, and readers of Lisa Jewell, Freida McFadden, Harlan Coben and Gillian McAllister will love it

bestselling author of The Woman In The Window

An accomplished crime debut - a fresh take on a familiar tale, told through the perspectives of the wife Natalie and DI Stratton, a fascinating character with an authentic and compelling voice. This is a must read for police procedural fans

A spine-tinglingly brilliant thriller. Believe the hype, because Believe is the must-read thriller of the summer

A first class debut. Taut, tantalising and thought-provoking with a hugely compelling premise and twists galore

A superior psychological thriller from an exciting new name in crime fiction. Believe is gripping, clever and full of twists you won't see coming

A wonderfully tantalising novel, layered, with characters who guide you with every step towards the devastating conclusion. A fabulous debut

Simmering with tension, secrets and dark intrigue, Believe is an utterly compulsive thriller. A clever, classy and addictive read with characters that get under your skin and a twist that will knock you sideways. An utter triumph

At last, a woman led, twisty, disarmingly humour fuelled thriller. Page-turning and delightfully moreish

A startling debut. Twisty, clever, profound, Govett reveals the darker truths about human nature and the shadows, and lies, we all carry. It's the authentic voice that sets this novel apart - perfectly paced with a devastating conclusion, this is a thriller that will haunt readers long after the final page

Twisty, unpredictable and with a jaw-dropping plot, Believe will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Unforgettable and tantalisingly compulsive, this stunning debut is a sure-fire hit...it's impossible to put down

author of The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder

An outstanding and extraordinary novel … the pace is, well, unbelievable. Its twists and turns are breathtakingly fast and unforeseeable … stunning … this author is here to stay

[An] intriguing and addictive tale

S.M. Govett read Law at Trinity College, Oxford, before qualifying as a solicitor in the City. After realising that didn't suit her, she started tutoring before turning her hand to writing, which she discovered was her true calling. She has since authored several bestselling YA novels, including The Territory trilogy and We Go On Forever. She also co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film, T.I.M., which was the no. 1 film on Netflix upon release. Believe is her debut adult thriller. 
 
She currently lives in London with her husband and three children.

Natalie has spent ten years trying to get over the two events which changed her life forever. 
The first: the moment her boss assaulted her. The second: the moment the jury declared him innocent - and her, a liar. 
So when her husband, Ryan, gets accused of the same crime, Natalie comes perilously close to the edge. 
Natalie wants to believe him. But when the body of the young woman who made the accusation is found in the woods near their house, Ryan becomes a prime suspect, and Natalie realises she can't trust anyone - herself included...

S.M. Govett

I didn’t look away once from this taut, intelligent thriller. Tense, gritty and shocking it’s a frighteningly relatable psychological horror, expertly intertwined with a police procedural. This story is the very definition of a page turner and S. M. Govett is a master storyteller

Haunting and compelling, right to the final page. A terrific follow-up to Believe from S.M. Govett

The very definition of a page turner. A thought-provoking mystery, brimming with suspense...S.M. Govett is one to watch

Propulsive and provocative, taut and timely

A superior psychological thriller...gripping, clever and full of twists you won't see coming

Laura’s a good mother. 
Between her messy divorce with her ex-husband, and moving in with her new fiancé, her son Benjy has been her constant. 
But now that they’re settled, Laura is excited to throw herself back into work. 
Being a mother is fulfilling, but Laura has always felt that writing is her true calling. Her ultimate escape. 
Until that fateful day. The afternoon starts like any other. Laura picks Benjy up from school, then heads upstairs to write. 
It’s not until the sun is setting that she realises the house is quiet. Too quiet. 
It’s not until she sees the footprints in the garden that she knows something is terribly wrong. 
One set is undeniably Benjy’s. It’s the other set that strikes fear in her heart – those of an adult. 
Someone who took her son, right from under her nose…

S.M. Govett

Praise for When You Looked Away

I didn’t look away once from this taut, intelligent thriller. Tense, gritty and shocking it’s a frighteningly relatable psychological horror, expertly intertwined with a police procedural. This story is the very ...

Haunting and compelling, right to the final page. A terrific follow-up to Believe from S.M. Govett

Praise for S.M. Govett

I didn’t look away once from this taut, intelligent thriller. Tense, gritty and shocking it’s a frighteningly relatable psychological horror, expertly intertwined with a police procedural. This story is the very ...

Haunting and compelling, right to the final page. A terrific follow-up to Believe from S.M. Govett

Praise for S.M. Govett

I didn’t look away once from this taut, intelligent thriller. Tense, gritty and shocking it’s a frighteningly relatable psychological horror, expertly intertwined with a police procedural. This story is the very ...

Haunting and compelling, right to the final page. A terrific follow-up to Believe from S.M. Govett

Praise for S.M. Govett

Books by S.M. Govett

Series by S.M. Govett

The DI Stratton Series

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter