It’s Not What You Think
by Clare Mackintosh
DESCRIPTION
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.
*First published March 26, 2026
Link to purchase the book
MY THOUGHTS
Well, the title of this book really says it all! It couldn’t be more appropriate because just when I thought I understood what was happening, Clare Mackintosh reminded me that I probably didn’t!
Nadeeka, a divorced mother of two, is convinced that her partner, Jamie, is having an affair. After the disastrous end of her previous marriage, she can’t believe she trusted another man. Determined to catch Jamie in the act, she instead discovers a horrifying truth: Jamie is dead, and her home has become a crime scene.
Clare Mackintosh skillfully sets the tone of this book, initially making it seem as though we are heading into a domestic psychological thriller involving infedelity. However, the story takes a much darker turn as the focus shifts to finding Jamie’s murderer. Also woven into the story are secrets, deception and people who aren’t necessarily who they appear to be.
The book is brilliant because it delves into Nadeeka’s devastation over losing Jamie while also introducing another important storyline involving the police handling the case - DCI Lauren Caldwell and her partner and fiancé, Fraser Hogan. Both become key figures in the investigation and, consequently, in the story itself.
The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, including Nadeeka, Lauren, Fraser, and even some scenes from Jamie’s point of view. While the suspected affair isn’t the central plot, Jamie’s murder certainly is. But is it? What is the underlying scenario that has set everything in motion?
Readers are presented with a murder mystery that feels like a complex jigsaw puzzle, with seemingly impossible pieces. Just when you think you have one piece figured out, another piece changes the picture.
This book has a truly significant twist. Of course, as readers, we want to know who killed Jamie, but what we eventually discover is that this murder has a much deeper theme and backstory - one that gradually comes to the forefront as the story unfolds. I really enjoyed the way Mackintosh allowed that information to develop rather than giving everything away at once.
This is my first book by Clare Mackintosh, and I can confidently say that it won’t be my last. It’s Not What You Think is a captivating read filled with unexpected twists and turns. The book delves into darker themes, seamlessly transitioning into a sensitive subject that is woven into the plot. I had preconceived notions about the story, but Mackintosh’s writing kept me on my toes and surprised me at every turn.
Many thanks to Sourcebook Landmark and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
