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The Blame Game
She knows she’s telling the truth. But the evidence says she’s lying.
As a psychologist specializing in domestic abuse, Naomi has found it hard to not become overly invested in her clients’ lives. But after helping the middle-aged Jacob make the decision to leave his wife, Naomi has begun to worry that she’s gone too far this time. On the morning of Jacob’s first session after his escape, doors that Naomi is sure she’d locked have been mysteriously left open, and Jacob’s client file is missing.
Then, another client approaches Naomi for assistance in leaving behind her abusive husband, and Naomi is once again unable to turn aside someone in need. But are the missing papers and unlocked doors symptoms of Naomi’s own dark past raising its ugly head, or something more? And is it possible that her clients aren’t the only ones in danger, but Naomi herself?
As a psychologist specializing in domestic abuse, Naomi has found it hard to not become overly invested in her clients’ lives. But after helping the middle-aged Jacob make the decision to leave his wife, Naomi has begun to worry that she’s gone too far this time. On the morning of Jacob’s first session after his escape, doors that Naomi is sure she’d locked have been mysteriously left open, and Jacob’s client file is missing.
Then, another client approaches Naomi for assistance in leaving behind her abusive husband, and Naomi is once again unable to turn aside someone in need. But are the missing papers and unlocked doors symptoms of Naomi’s own dark past raising its ugly head, or something more? And is it possible that her clients aren’t the only ones in danger, but Naomi herself?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 16, 2022
366 people are currently reading
28861 people want to read
About the author
Sandie Jones
17 books3,274 followersSandie Jones has worked as a freelance journalist for over twenty years, and has written for publications including the Sunday Times, Woman’s Weekly and the Daily Mail. She lives in London with her husband and three children. The Other Woman is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,780 reviews
August 15, 2022
Once again, I find myself on outlier island with another blah thriller after the last blah thriller I just finished (The Family Remains for those who are following along at home)
To start off with, I listened to this partially as an audiobook, but the narration was soooo slow, even at 2x speed I thought it was too slow, so I switched to print.
I absolutely did not like or connect with Naomi. She's a therapist who is completely unethical with no boundaries. She is seeing a man named Jacob (or is that really his name?) who supposedly disappeared and she has been tied to his disappearance because she crosses boundaries just to help and ends up putting herself in compromising-ish situations. She lies a lot. To everyone, to the police, to her husband, sometimes to cover her bad choices and sometimes because she thinks that something looks bad so she doesn't tell the truth.
So when she gets called into the police for questioning, does she want a lawyer there? No, that would mean she'd have to tell someone the truth! Does she ever listen to her husband about sticking with her professional role and keeping distance? Nope, she lies to him, then in her frantic behavior decides to accuse him of setting her up. Huh?
There's this whole back story from Naomi's past and it somehow (maybe?) relates to the present but I'm not sure how and the author never makes it very clear. The police believe all of this random circumstantial evidence (text messages, emails, but no voice messages, oh here is this burner phone, you must be guilty!) I have so many unanswered questions in the end of this book that I am left more baffled than anything. The epilogue tries to tie it all together, but that's just bad writing to have to explain things that way, and even then it wasn't as clear as it could have been.
Honestly, this was just a hot mess, I can't really think of anything I liked about it. Maybe this author just isn't for me. If you want to see spoilers for this book, check out my blog post: The Blame Game Spoilers
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
To start off with, I listened to this partially as an audiobook, but the narration was soooo slow, even at 2x speed I thought it was too slow, so I switched to print.
I absolutely did not like or connect with Naomi. She's a therapist who is completely unethical with no boundaries. She is seeing a man named Jacob (or is that really his name?) who supposedly disappeared and she has been tied to his disappearance because she crosses boundaries just to help and ends up putting herself in compromising-ish situations. She lies a lot. To everyone, to the police, to her husband, sometimes to cover her bad choices and sometimes because she thinks that something looks bad so she doesn't tell the truth.
So when she gets called into the police for questioning, does she want a lawyer there? No, that would mean she'd have to tell someone the truth! Does she ever listen to her husband about sticking with her professional role and keeping distance? Nope, she lies to him, then in her frantic behavior decides to accuse him of setting her up. Huh?
There's this whole back story from Naomi's past and it somehow (maybe?) relates to the present but I'm not sure how and the author never makes it very clear. The police believe all of this random circumstantial evidence (text messages, emails, but no voice messages, oh here is this burner phone, you must be guilty!) I have so many unanswered questions in the end of this book that I am left more baffled than anything. The epilogue tries to tie it all together, but that's just bad writing to have to explain things that way, and even then it wasn't as clear as it could have been.
Honestly, this was just a hot mess, I can't really think of anything I liked about it. Maybe this author just isn't for me. If you want to see spoilers for this book, check out my blog post: The Blame Game Spoilers
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2023
My mind is mushy mess! I keep asking myself who is who, what I am, what’s the meaning of this book, who’s telling the truth? I’m way too much dizzy and confused, smelling the smoke coming from my overworked brain cells and I finally gave up!
What I really liked about this book:
The plot line was intriguing: A psychiatrist who is ready to cross the lines to help her fragile patients in expanse putting herself and her traumatic past in the spotlight! I always go blind with psychological thriller and twisty mysteries
The epilogue of the story was fantastic! I gave additional star for the smart ending!
But… There are so many things I truly hated:
The characterization was weak! I couldn’t connect with heroine: Naomi, raises by her aunt in NYC, suffering from traumatic death of her mother, losing her connection with her little sister, a psychiatrist who acts so irrational to help her patients and slowly disconnects from the real world, estranging her husband, being obsessed with her patients’ problems, bringing them into her life and her own house.
Her husband Leo and her don’t have any chemistry. Leo acts like suspicious jerk! But he is so right because Naomi acts like a cheater, keeping any information away from him.
And Naomi’s two patients keep giving red flags. Jacob insists her wife abuses her ; ( after Heard and Depp trial : my perspective about abusive partners completely changed and I wish Naomi listens both of the parties’ stories) and Anna suffers from estranged marriage and losing her child. Both of them were lack of emotional depth and irritated me. They were extra demanding and relentless. And Naomi keeps involving one their lives without thinking any further.
The twists were not foreseeable because they’re too far fetched and unbelievable! Come on! There are so much plot holes and I reject to buy the entire execution! Sorry, it’s not my cup of Chardonnay!
I was so close to give two stars but I looked from the bright side: even though the plot’s direction turns into a very far fetched way and the characters were very dislikable, I didn’t get bored and pacing was still good! I also enjoyed the ending so I gave extra star and my conclusion is 3 solid, I didn’t like it but I also not completely hated it stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
What I really liked about this book:
The plot line was intriguing: A psychiatrist who is ready to cross the lines to help her fragile patients in expanse putting herself and her traumatic past in the spotlight! I always go blind with psychological thriller and twisty mysteries
The epilogue of the story was fantastic! I gave additional star for the smart ending!
But… There are so many things I truly hated:
The characterization was weak! I couldn’t connect with heroine: Naomi, raises by her aunt in NYC, suffering from traumatic death of her mother, losing her connection with her little sister, a psychiatrist who acts so irrational to help her patients and slowly disconnects from the real world, estranging her husband, being obsessed with her patients’ problems, bringing them into her life and her own house.
Her husband Leo and her don’t have any chemistry. Leo acts like suspicious jerk! But he is so right because Naomi acts like a cheater, keeping any information away from him.
And Naomi’s two patients keep giving red flags. Jacob insists her wife abuses her ; ( after Heard and Depp trial : my perspective about abusive partners completely changed and I wish Naomi listens both of the parties’ stories) and Anna suffers from estranged marriage and losing her child. Both of them were lack of emotional depth and irritated me. They were extra demanding and relentless. And Naomi keeps involving one their lives without thinking any further.
The twists were not foreseeable because they’re too far fetched and unbelievable! Come on! There are so much plot holes and I reject to buy the entire execution! Sorry, it’s not my cup of Chardonnay!
I was so close to give two stars but I looked from the bright side: even though the plot’s direction turns into a very far fetched way and the characters were very dislikable, I didn’t get bored and pacing was still good! I also enjoyed the ending so I gave extra star and my conclusion is 3 solid, I didn’t like it but I also not completely hated it stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
June 13, 2022
3.5*
Boundaries people, boundaries!
Naomi is a psychologist specializing in domestic violence. She has a huge heart, (maybe too much so) and wants to help everyone! Even if it means ignoring the rules now and again. Enter her latest client, Jacob who fears for his vey life, fully believing his wife is out to kill him.
Even though it probably crosses professional lines, tender-hearted Naomi offers him a safe place to hide out. But when he goes missing, all eyes turn to her. “No good deed goes unpunished”!
Can she find Jacob before it’s too late? Is something hidden in her past about to catch up with her?
When I started this read I was all in! Loved it! But the last 30% just went a bit wonky.💁♀️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
Boundaries people, boundaries!
Naomi is a psychologist specializing in domestic violence. She has a huge heart, (maybe too much so) and wants to help everyone! Even if it means ignoring the rules now and again. Enter her latest client, Jacob who fears for his vey life, fully believing his wife is out to kill him.
Even though it probably crosses professional lines, tender-hearted Naomi offers him a safe place to hide out. But when he goes missing, all eyes turn to her. “No good deed goes unpunished”!
Can she find Jacob before it’s too late? Is something hidden in her past about to catch up with her?
When I started this read I was all in! Loved it! But the last 30% just went a bit wonky.💁♀️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
March 30, 2025
Naomi is a UK-based therapist specializing in helping victims of domestic violence.
In her own life, Naomi is married to Leon, a man who initially swept her off her feet, and she still feels content and loved in their relationship.
Originally from New York, it has taken Naomi a long time to get to this place. Having been raised in a violent home, her mother ultimately having been killed by her father, Naomi has worked hard to move past that.
Regardless, of how far she gets however, it will always impact her life. It provides the prism through which she views the world.
Because of her past, Naomi frequently finds herself becoming overly invested in her client's lives. She can't help it. It's a compulsion.
For example, she currently has a client, Jacob, who has decided to leave his abusive wife. Having an empty flat available, Naomi offers it to Jacob as a temporary safe haven.
When Jacob goes missing, Naomi is concerned that his wife may have found him, but the police think otherwise.
Before she knows it, Naomi is neck deep in a criminal investigation and she is the main suspect. Even her once loyal husband seems to believe she is guilty.
Naomi believes she is being framed and that her past may finally have come back to get her. Can she find Jacob and clear her name before it's too late?
Y'all, The Blame Game was such a wild, and at times confusing, ride. I enjoyed this audiobook so much. Once I started with this story, I could not put it down.
I was all over the place with this. I had so many theories. I was getting so frustrated with Naomi, but for me, that was a huge part of the fun.
I haven't been this frustrated with a main character since Behind Closed Doors, but again, in a way that was pure fun. If I could have reached through the pages and shaken the shit out of this woman, I would have.
If Sandie Jones goal was to mess with my mind, she 100% succeeded. Was this ridiculously dramatic, confusing, frustrating and over-the-top? Yes.
Did it also leave me with that devious little grin on my face at the very end that I cherish so incredibly much? Yesssss.
Did I love the overall experience!? Absolutely, yesssssss.
I thought the narrator nailed the performance of this story. She definitely kept me at the edge of my seat. The combination of the intensity of the story mixed with the intensity of the delivery was just so well done.
Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
I have enjoyed Jones work in the past, but this one is definitely a standout for me!
In her own life, Naomi is married to Leon, a man who initially swept her off her feet, and she still feels content and loved in their relationship.
Originally from New York, it has taken Naomi a long time to get to this place. Having been raised in a violent home, her mother ultimately having been killed by her father, Naomi has worked hard to move past that.
Regardless, of how far she gets however, it will always impact her life. It provides the prism through which she views the world.
Because of her past, Naomi frequently finds herself becoming overly invested in her client's lives. She can't help it. It's a compulsion.
For example, she currently has a client, Jacob, who has decided to leave his abusive wife. Having an empty flat available, Naomi offers it to Jacob as a temporary safe haven.
When Jacob goes missing, Naomi is concerned that his wife may have found him, but the police think otherwise.
Before she knows it, Naomi is neck deep in a criminal investigation and she is the main suspect. Even her once loyal husband seems to believe she is guilty.
Naomi believes she is being framed and that her past may finally have come back to get her. Can she find Jacob and clear her name before it's too late?
Y'all, The Blame Game was such a wild, and at times confusing, ride. I enjoyed this audiobook so much. Once I started with this story, I could not put it down.
I was all over the place with this. I had so many theories. I was getting so frustrated with Naomi, but for me, that was a huge part of the fun.
I haven't been this frustrated with a main character since Behind Closed Doors, but again, in a way that was pure fun. If I could have reached through the pages and shaken the shit out of this woman, I would have.
If Sandie Jones goal was to mess with my mind, she 100% succeeded. Was this ridiculously dramatic, confusing, frustrating and over-the-top? Yes.
Did it also leave me with that devious little grin on my face at the very end that I cherish so incredibly much? Yesssss.
Did I love the overall experience!? Absolutely, yesssssss.
I thought the narrator nailed the performance of this story. She definitely kept me at the edge of my seat. The combination of the intensity of the story mixed with the intensity of the delivery was just so well done.
Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
I have enjoyed Jones work in the past, but this one is definitely a standout for me!
October 15, 2022
The Blame Game turned out to be a bit of a letdown. I’ve read and liked previous Sandie Jones books, but with this one, there wasn’t anything special that stood out and made me enjoy it. The police investigation felt very unprofessional and amateur and it really bugged me. Some parts of the story, I don’t feel like added up correctly and it felt so far fetched, that I found it hard to connect to. The characters were basic and very unlikable. Even though this one didn’t work for me, I will try this author again in the future and give her another try since I liked some of her previous work.
Thank you St. Martins Press, and Net Galley, for an ARC in return for my honest opinion.
Thank you St. Martins Press, and Net Galley, for an ARC in return for my honest opinion.
February 22, 2023
I’ve been reading so much less because I can’t seem to pick really good books for me lately. 😩
I was very excited to read this as the premise seemed incredibly interesting. To be honest, I found this one forgettable and mediocre at best. It wasn’t very original and my biggest complaint I have is that problems and situations came up in the book that I thought the author was going to circle back to and never did. For example, there were missing documents from the MC’s office that miraculously appeared again. We were never told why this happened and who did it. There were a handful of others just like this that made it difficult for me to want to rate this any higher.
I joined a book club! So hopefully that helps me get out of the worst reading slump I’ve ever been in!
2⭐️
I was very excited to read this as the premise seemed incredibly interesting. To be honest, I found this one forgettable and mediocre at best. It wasn’t very original and my biggest complaint I have is that problems and situations came up in the book that I thought the author was going to circle back to and never did. For example, there were missing documents from the MC’s office that miraculously appeared again. We were never told why this happened and who did it. There were a handful of others just like this that made it difficult for me to want to rate this any higher.
I joined a book club! So hopefully that helps me get out of the worst reading slump I’ve ever been in!
2⭐️
August 9, 2022
3.5 stars
Naomi is a psychologist who specializes in abuse. She has personal reasons for this being her specialty. When Jacob comes to her due to abuse in his home, she becomes involved. She helps him leave his abusive home but when he goes missing, Naomi becomes the chief suspect!
Can she prove her innocence? How many ethical boundaries did she cross? What will her husband think? Where is Jacob? So many questions were brought up while reading this fairly fast-moving plot.
This is the case of who can be trusted? How well do you know someone? Do you take what someone tells you at face value?
For me this was a no-nonsense book. It didn't take much thought, I could sit back and enjoy reading it, while appreciating the twists and turns and the story.
Another engaging book by Jones!
#TheBlameGame #NetGalley
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Naomi is a psychologist who specializes in abuse. She has personal reasons for this being her specialty. When Jacob comes to her due to abuse in his home, she becomes involved. She helps him leave his abusive home but when he goes missing, Naomi becomes the chief suspect!
Can she prove her innocence? How many ethical boundaries did she cross? What will her husband think? Where is Jacob? So many questions were brought up while reading this fairly fast-moving plot.
This is the case of who can be trusted? How well do you know someone? Do you take what someone tells you at face value?
For me this was a no-nonsense book. It didn't take much thought, I could sit back and enjoy reading it, while appreciating the twists and turns and the story.
Another engaging book by Jones!
#TheBlameGame #NetGalley
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 11, 2022
Naomi Chandler has a problem with boundaries. Just the two clients we see her interact with have her going the extra mile -- and not in a professional manner. I really wanted to put my arm around her and tell her to take a vacay so her clients could fend for themselves for awhile. And don't get me started on her cold fish husband. So, I come in right at the average for this book. The overall story arc gets three stars. The Epilogue, on the other hand, is brilliant. Five stars! Giving me a final rating of four stars. Not my favorite from Sandie Jones, but it was an entertaining read.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2022
A lot of lying, blaming, deception and confusion in this psychological thriller. Told through Naomi's eyes, you see through her intentions but what she actually chooses to do. Each time she is backed into a corner, she lies and her troubles expand. As a psychologist for domestic abuse victims, she encounters some sketchy stories. This can sometimes be one-sided and fingers can point in the wrong direction. Naomi extends too much of herself to help her victims and finds her own marriage crumbling.
Jacob is one of her patients that suffers at the hands of his abusive wife. He flees from his home, while Naomi, against her husband's wishes, allows him to stay in their vacation cottage. (The cover of the book is gorgeous) One thing leads to another almost crossing ethical boundaries. Jacob calls her one night to meet in a bar when he thinks his wife has found out where he is. When Jacob goes missing, the detectives have a lot of evidence stacked against Naomi putting a farther strain in her marriage. She lies so many times pushing my buttons.... Her husband reacts with accusations which were expected.
This is not one of my favorites of Sandie Jones' books, but it kept me reading to find out the truth and as more characters are introduced and the detectives elaborate their investigation, you realize things may not be as it appears. Some of it was easy to figure out, but it did not deter me from enjoying it. The ending was questionable. The characters are tough to connect and like. All in all it is a quick read to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
Jacob is one of her patients that suffers at the hands of his abusive wife. He flees from his home, while Naomi, against her husband's wishes, allows him to stay in their vacation cottage. (The cover of the book is gorgeous) One thing leads to another almost crossing ethical boundaries. Jacob calls her one night to meet in a bar when he thinks his wife has found out where he is. When Jacob goes missing, the detectives have a lot of evidence stacked against Naomi putting a farther strain in her marriage. She lies so many times pushing my buttons.... Her husband reacts with accusations which were expected.
This is not one of my favorites of Sandie Jones' books, but it kept me reading to find out the truth and as more characters are introduced and the detectives elaborate their investigation, you realize things may not be as it appears. Some of it was easy to figure out, but it did not deter me from enjoying it. The ending was questionable. The characters are tough to connect and like. All in all it is a quick read to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 29, 2024
I can understand lines being blurred, but not in this way.
July 4, 2022
A compelling domestic suspense novel!!
After really enjoying one of the author's previous novels "The First Mistake", I looked forward to getting my hands on this novel too. I'm happy to say that I thought it was a very entertaining read.
Filled with twists and turns, I had a hard time putting this book down once I started reading. I got lucky with a couple of my guesses, but still really enjoyed this story. It was a gripping read that held my interest from start to finish.
I'm hoping I don't have to wait long to read more from Sandie Jones!!
After really enjoying one of the author's previous novels "The First Mistake", I looked forward to getting my hands on this novel too. I'm happy to say that I thought it was a very entertaining read.
Filled with twists and turns, I had a hard time putting this book down once I started reading. I got lucky with a couple of my guesses, but still really enjoyed this story. It was a gripping read that held my interest from start to finish.
I'm hoping I don't have to wait long to read more from Sandie Jones!!
June 21, 2022
Finally after a bunch of duds I found a winner! This book bent my mind into a pretzel. I could not predict where it was going, who was telling the truth, and how it would all end. The ending was the cherry on top and I couldn’t help but feel satisfied she got what she deserved.
Naomi is a psychologist specializing in domestic abuse. The events that occurred in her childhood made advocating for domestic violence an important cause for her. She has always been willing to go the extra mile for her patients, however after helping Jacob leave his abusing wife she is worried that this time she’s bitten off more than she could chew.
Things start to get fishy from here and Naomi can’t shake the feeling someone has been in her home and is watching her. This is especially true after Jacob’s file goes missing and soon after Jacob himself goes missing.
Naomi is the prime suspect in Jacob’s disappearance. The evidence is piling up that their relationship is beyond professional and that Naomi knows what happened to him. Is Naomi being set up? Who really is Jacob? Will she be able to figure out who is telling the truth or has Naomi really gone off the deep end?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Naomi is a psychologist specializing in domestic abuse. The events that occurred in her childhood made advocating for domestic violence an important cause for her. She has always been willing to go the extra mile for her patients, however after helping Jacob leave his abusing wife she is worried that this time she’s bitten off more than she could chew.
Things start to get fishy from here and Naomi can’t shake the feeling someone has been in her home and is watching her. This is especially true after Jacob’s file goes missing and soon after Jacob himself goes missing.
Naomi is the prime suspect in Jacob’s disappearance. The evidence is piling up that their relationship is beyond professional and that Naomi knows what happened to him. Is Naomi being set up? Who really is Jacob? Will she be able to figure out who is telling the truth or has Naomi really gone off the deep end?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
May 13, 2022
I'm neutral on this one.....
Naomi runs a private Psychology practice out of her home and we are introduced to two of her clients - Jacob and Anna who both are experiencing domestic abuse. Jacob decides he's going to make the brave decision to leave his wife and Naomi offers him the flat her and her husband were thinking of renting out while Jacob gets back onto his feet. Now on to Anna, she also attempting to flee her abusive marriage and Naomi offers up the extra rooms in her house......So this is where my problem lies with this book - in no way shape or form is this ethical and completely crosses IMO that line between patient and doctor. Each time she offered help I just shook my head! I'm like noooo, what are you doing?! She just wasn't believable as a psychologist. I can understand some poorly made decisions/offers but every thing she did completely crossed the line.
Meanwhile,.... Jacob has gone missing. How is this tied together?
What I liked: This was a very quick read and had a few little twists along the way
What I didn't like: Naomi. The way she was written just made me cringe she was just very shrill and it grated on my last nerve. There was nothing calming about her. I get it, files are going missing, your patient is missing and it appears someone is breaking in your house BUT it was too much. The characters to me just lacked depth and just felt one-dimensional. It worked well just for a read but in the end I really didn't care what happened to any of them.
Overall this was a fast read that held my attention - and I wanted to figure out how it was all tied together,
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Naomi runs a private Psychology practice out of her home and we are introduced to two of her clients - Jacob and Anna who both are experiencing domestic abuse. Jacob decides he's going to make the brave decision to leave his wife and Naomi offers him the flat her and her husband were thinking of renting out while Jacob gets back onto his feet. Now on to Anna, she also attempting to flee her abusive marriage and Naomi offers up the extra rooms in her house......So this is where my problem lies with this book - in no way shape or form is this ethical and completely crosses IMO that line between patient and doctor. Each time she offered help I just shook my head! I'm like noooo, what are you doing?! She just wasn't believable as a psychologist. I can understand some poorly made decisions/offers but every thing she did completely crossed the line.
Meanwhile,.... Jacob has gone missing. How is this tied together?
What I liked: This was a very quick read and had a few little twists along the way
What I didn't like: Naomi. The way she was written just made me cringe she was just very shrill and it grated on my last nerve. There was nothing calming about her. I get it, files are going missing, your patient is missing and it appears someone is breaking in your house BUT it was too much. The characters to me just lacked depth and just felt one-dimensional. It worked well just for a read but in the end I really didn't care what happened to any of them.
Overall this was a fast read that held my attention - and I wanted to figure out how it was all tied together,
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
August 3, 2022
okay I quite honestly want to say this is among the worst books I’ve read this year? although 115 books later, it’s all a bit blurry 🥴
I think I’m just sick and tired of the overused trope where the MC ends up as a prime suspect in a murder or kidnapping and literally lies to the police instead of just telling them the truth … IT ALWAYS ENDS BADLY!
also, I kept asking myself “what was the point” - especially as I approached the last few chapters and the story was not wrapping up at all.
for example, naomi’s sister is back in town and calls her out of nowhere and wants to meet up but seems kind of shady? does it go anywhere? nope.
another example, naomi’s dad (an actual murderer) is released from prison and naomi fears for the worst. does THAT go anywhere? nope.
and I’m not even sure who is worse in this relationship: naomi or leon. naomi who ditches her husband at every single patient’s beck and call and invites them to STAY AT HER HOUSE?! or leon who truly thinks the absolute worst of his wife at all times?
jury’s out.
I just am so confused at what the point of this story was, except to point out that naomi is literally the worst therapist ever. she breaches so many lines and confidential clauses it’s unbelievable.
and the worst part was that I got to the end of the story and we don’t even figure out why the person behind it all did what they did …
I’m done ranting, I just have no idea what I just read. I probably should have DNFed, but I wanted to see where this train wreck was going. spoiler: it’s no where.
rating: 1 star
wine pairing: everclear so you can black out before reading this
I think I’m just sick and tired of the overused trope where the MC ends up as a prime suspect in a murder or kidnapping and literally lies to the police instead of just telling them the truth … IT ALWAYS ENDS BADLY!
also, I kept asking myself “what was the point” - especially as I approached the last few chapters and the story was not wrapping up at all.
for example, naomi’s sister is back in town and calls her out of nowhere and wants to meet up but seems kind of shady? does it go anywhere? nope.
another example, naomi’s dad (an actual murderer) is released from prison and naomi fears for the worst. does THAT go anywhere? nope.
and I’m not even sure who is worse in this relationship: naomi or leon. naomi who ditches her husband at every single patient’s beck and call and invites them to STAY AT HER HOUSE?! or leon who truly thinks the absolute worst of his wife at all times?
jury’s out.
I just am so confused at what the point of this story was, except to point out that naomi is literally the worst therapist ever. she breaches so many lines and confidential clauses it’s unbelievable.
and the worst part was that I got to the end of the story and we don’t even figure out why the person behind it all did what they did …
I’m done ranting, I just have no idea what I just read. I probably should have DNFed, but I wanted to see where this train wreck was going. spoiler: it’s no where.
rating: 1 star
wine pairing: everclear so you can black out before reading this
August 30, 2024
3.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ August 16, 2022
Est Page Count ~ 244 (p+ 29 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 36 minutes
Narrator ~ Karissa Vacker
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ 2 parts, secrets, lies
Naomi is an unconventional psychologist that gets too involved with her patients, not in a totally, totally unethical sense, but always going WAY over and beyond the call of duty. She specializes in cases of domestic abuse which stems from something that happened in her childhood. Her husband, Leon, is fed up with her ways and their marriage becomes rocky after he meets two of her clients, Jacob and Anna.
I wasn't feeling Naomi at all, I didn't like her unconventional ways, the secrets and lies she kept from Leon or her backstory. And inviting people into her home, really?! And when are people going to realize you can't lie to the police? Although, I did predict most things I still liked this one.
I have read every book by Sandie, all rated 4 stars. Her plots are not original, but solid domestic/psychological reads. A quick under 300 page read.
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I started out reading it, then switched to audio, then back again and ultimately my favorite was the audio, so that's how I tackled most of it.
Narration notes:
She did a FANTASTIC job! Her accents were spot on.
*Thanks to St. Martin's Press ~ Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, the author and NetGalley for the ARC and audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ August 16, 2022
Est Page Count ~ 244 (p+ 29 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 36 minutes
Narrator ~ Karissa Vacker
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ 2 parts, secrets, lies
Naomi is an unconventional psychologist that gets too involved with her patients, not in a totally, totally unethical sense, but always going WAY over and beyond the call of duty. She specializes in cases of domestic abuse which stems from something that happened in her childhood. Her husband, Leon, is fed up with her ways and their marriage becomes rocky after he meets two of her clients, Jacob and Anna.
I wasn't feeling Naomi at all, I didn't like her unconventional ways, the secrets and lies she kept from Leon or her backstory. And inviting people into her home, really?! And when are people going to realize you can't lie to the police? Although, I did predict most things I still liked this one.
I have read every book by Sandie, all rated 4 stars. Her plots are not original, but solid domestic/psychological reads. A quick under 300 page read.
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I started out reading it, then switched to audio, then back again and ultimately my favorite was the audio, so that's how I tackled most of it.
Narration notes:
She did a FANTASTIC job! Her accents were spot on.
*Thanks to St. Martin's Press ~ Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, the author and NetGalley for the ARC and audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
July 30, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: August 16, 2022
Naomi is a psychologist who treats victims of domestic violence. As a survivor herself, Naomi feels personally connected to her clients and sometimes she goes above and beyond to help them, causing tension in her marriage and in her personal life as a whole. After meeting with Jacob, a client who is escaping an abusive wife, Naomi again breaches protocol by offering Jacob a place to live in her rental property and keeps it a secret from her husband Leo. When Jacob’s file vanishes from her office, and then Jacob himself vanishes without a trace, Naomi wonders if Jacob’s wife has finally caught up to him, or if the lack of boundaries in her relationship with Jacob has opened the door for Naomi’s past to come calling- taking Jacob along for the ride.
Sandie Jones is the author of “The Other Woman” and “The Guilt Trip”, to name a few, and I was beyond excited to get a copy of her newest release, “The Blame Game”. A novel with domestic violence at its core (and the stereotypes associated with female on male violence), Jones’ takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster of tense drama and riveting suspense.
Naomi’s background is tragic and it’s awe-inspiring that she was able to build such a successful life, and sustain a (relatively) normal marriage. Although she broke almost every role in the “psychologist handbook” by completely obliterating her boundaries she manages to keep her own personal boundaries up (way up) when it comes to her husband. Throughout the novel I kept thinking “if she had just told Leo from the beginning, we honestly wouldn’t even have a story”. Her dishonesty made Leo look like a bad guy for his reactions, and I think he deserved more credit than that.
I wanted more of Naomi’s background, with her estranged sister and her convict father. Since it is obviously so relevant to Naomi’s life, Jones provided the applicable details and the important bits, but I was still left wanting more. Jones could have created an entire novel on Naomi’s backstory and I would’ve been completely satisfied.
The twists and turns in this one were abundant, and when the final twist was revealed, it was not entirely unexpected, but enjoyable all the same! Jones delivers a gripping, page-turning novel about boundaries, stereotypes, and the devastating effect of domestic violence on everyone involved. “The Blame Game” has a little bit of everything- for everyone!
Expected publication date: August 16, 2022
Naomi is a psychologist who treats victims of domestic violence. As a survivor herself, Naomi feels personally connected to her clients and sometimes she goes above and beyond to help them, causing tension in her marriage and in her personal life as a whole. After meeting with Jacob, a client who is escaping an abusive wife, Naomi again breaches protocol by offering Jacob a place to live in her rental property and keeps it a secret from her husband Leo. When Jacob’s file vanishes from her office, and then Jacob himself vanishes without a trace, Naomi wonders if Jacob’s wife has finally caught up to him, or if the lack of boundaries in her relationship with Jacob has opened the door for Naomi’s past to come calling- taking Jacob along for the ride.
Sandie Jones is the author of “The Other Woman” and “The Guilt Trip”, to name a few, and I was beyond excited to get a copy of her newest release, “The Blame Game”. A novel with domestic violence at its core (and the stereotypes associated with female on male violence), Jones’ takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster of tense drama and riveting suspense.
Naomi’s background is tragic and it’s awe-inspiring that she was able to build such a successful life, and sustain a (relatively) normal marriage. Although she broke almost every role in the “psychologist handbook” by completely obliterating her boundaries she manages to keep her own personal boundaries up (way up) when it comes to her husband. Throughout the novel I kept thinking “if she had just told Leo from the beginning, we honestly wouldn’t even have a story”. Her dishonesty made Leo look like a bad guy for his reactions, and I think he deserved more credit than that.
I wanted more of Naomi’s background, with her estranged sister and her convict father. Since it is obviously so relevant to Naomi’s life, Jones provided the applicable details and the important bits, but I was still left wanting more. Jones could have created an entire novel on Naomi’s backstory and I would’ve been completely satisfied.
The twists and turns in this one were abundant, and when the final twist was revealed, it was not entirely unexpected, but enjoyable all the same! Jones delivers a gripping, page-turning novel about boundaries, stereotypes, and the devastating effect of domestic violence on everyone involved. “The Blame Game” has a little bit of everything- for everyone!
July 29, 2022
I've read several of Sandie Jones's novels and enjoyed them, so I was happy to pick this one up. This is a domestic suspense / thriller type of book involving a psychologist who specializes in domestic abuse and her clients. Naomi always trys to go above and beyond for her clients, and sometimes crosses professional lines in order to do so. She has done that for Jacob, who is being abused by his wife, and she allows him to live in the flat she and her husband were thinking about renting out. But she doesn't tell her husband about this.
When Jacob disappears and the police become involved, Naomi has things she is hiding from her husband and from the police. Naomi's previous history has left her with trust issues and this entire fiasco of a situation blows up to a climax that surprises.
Unfortunately, I didn't find any characters here I really liked or identified with. The plot was a little unbelievable to me, but I tried to just accept that this is fiction and you can spin it any way you want.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 16, 2022.
When Jacob disappears and the police become involved, Naomi has things she is hiding from her husband and from the police. Naomi's previous history has left her with trust issues and this entire fiasco of a situation blows up to a climax that surprises.
Unfortunately, I didn't find any characters here I really liked or identified with. The plot was a little unbelievable to me, but I tried to just accept that this is fiction and you can spin it any way you want.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 16, 2022.
March 30, 2023
This thriller was just okay for me. The beginning is a little slow and I never really connected to the main character Naomi. There were many twists toward the end, and that is why my rating is bumped up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t dislike it, but was never invested completely. I did enjoy the narration, and felt it added a layer of suspense and mystery. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.
July 20, 2022
I had previously read and enjoyed ‘The Other Woman’ by author Sandie Jones so I was really looking forward to this one. This is a little different to my regular reads but loved this twisty, suspenseful thriller. Great characters and fast paced.
Naomi is psychologist who specialises in domestic abuse, she enjoys her job but struggles not to get over involved in her patients lives. One of her current patients is Jacob who wants to leave his abusing wife and true to Naomi’s weakness offers him her spare flat to stay in. But when Jacob goes missing the police start asking Naomi some difficult questions that threaten to unveil her own dark secrets and put her life in danger.
A fast paced enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Naomi is psychologist who specialises in domestic abuse, she enjoys her job but struggles not to get over involved in her patients lives. One of her current patients is Jacob who wants to leave his abusing wife and true to Naomi’s weakness offers him her spare flat to stay in. But when Jacob goes missing the police start asking Naomi some difficult questions that threaten to unveil her own dark secrets and put her life in danger.
A fast paced enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2022
As too many books I’ve read lately have been, this just couldn’t be a four-star book. This is a book that, if you suspend reality and pretend any of it is plausible, is very entertaining and engrossing. However, I’m actually giving it a 3.5 star rating; I don’t know how things work in the UK, but in America, any therapist doing any of the things in this book wouldn’t have a license, and definitely wouldn’t be a good therapist. But let’s suspend reality for a bit so we can enjoy the story…
Naomi is a therapist from New York, living near London. She has a couple of clients who are dealing with big things: a man whose wife has been abusing him for years, and a woman who has lost her son. She gets waaaaay too involved in their lives, thus putting herself and her husband, Leon, in danger. She also has “a past” that is getting ready to catch up with her (of course).
That’s about it - there isn’t much more I can say without this turning into spoiler territory. Overall, this was quite entertaining and it definitely held my interest, but it was one of the most implausible books I’ve ever read. Like I mentioned, no therapist or psychologist would behave the way Naomi did. If they did, there would be serious questions about their professionalism and possibly their own mental health. Also, I figured out the end at the beginning of the book, and that always puts a damper on what should be a shocking conclusion.
I’m sadly giving this 3.5 stars, rounded down because it was just too unbelievable. The plot was a good one, the ending would have been good, had it not been so obvious by clues given early in the story, and the writing was decent. I just couldn’t wrap my head around such an implausible story, so unfortunately, that brought the rating down. Also, the cover makes it look bubble gummy, which just adds to the cheese. However, I do still recommend this as a quick and easy read … just push reality aside while you are reading!
(Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Sandie Jones, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Naomi is a therapist from New York, living near London. She has a couple of clients who are dealing with big things: a man whose wife has been abusing him for years, and a woman who has lost her son. She gets waaaaay too involved in their lives, thus putting herself and her husband, Leon, in danger. She also has “a past” that is getting ready to catch up with her (of course).
That’s about it - there isn’t much more I can say without this turning into spoiler territory. Overall, this was quite entertaining and it definitely held my interest, but it was one of the most implausible books I’ve ever read. Like I mentioned, no therapist or psychologist would behave the way Naomi did. If they did, there would be serious questions about their professionalism and possibly their own mental health. Also, I figured out the end at the beginning of the book, and that always puts a damper on what should be a shocking conclusion.
I’m sadly giving this 3.5 stars, rounded down because it was just too unbelievable. The plot was a good one, the ending would have been good, had it not been so obvious by clues given early in the story, and the writing was decent. I just couldn’t wrap my head around such an implausible story, so unfortunately, that brought the rating down. Also, the cover makes it look bubble gummy, which just adds to the cheese. However, I do still recommend this as a quick and easy read … just push reality aside while you are reading!
(Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Sandie Jones, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
August 23, 2022
Sandie Jones sure knows how to twist a story! I thought that I had this one all worked out but I was in for a surprise with that ending. Another great read from this author.
Naomi is a therapist that specialises in domestic abuse. She always goes the extra mile for her patients, doing whatever it takes to keep them safe. She convinces Jacob to leave his abusive wife.. and that is when her life starts to unravel. Jacob is reported missing, the next day, by his wife, and all roads lead back to Naomi. The police are soon knocking at her door asking some difficult questions, questions that will have her own husband questioning how well he really knowns her. Secrets and lies never stay hidden for long.
This is a fun, fast paced, popcorn thriller that can easily be read in a day or 2.
Thanks to Macmillan Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published in Australia, August 30th
Naomi is a therapist that specialises in domestic abuse. She always goes the extra mile for her patients, doing whatever it takes to keep them safe. She convinces Jacob to leave his abusive wife.. and that is when her life starts to unravel. Jacob is reported missing, the next day, by his wife, and all roads lead back to Naomi. The police are soon knocking at her door asking some difficult questions, questions that will have her own husband questioning how well he really knowns her. Secrets and lies never stay hidden for long.
This is a fun, fast paced, popcorn thriller that can easily be read in a day or 2.
Thanks to Macmillan Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published in Australia, August 30th
September 16, 2022
Naomi is a psychologist who specializes in domestic abuse victims and has a tendency to over-extend herself to many of her patients which sometimes get her into trouble with her husband who can't seem to understand why his wife can't separate her heart from her business. Many times Naomi might be crossing the line with some of her ethical boundaries but she is willing to take that risk if it will.help her patients get out of possible deadly situations.
When a patient named Jacob needs some extra help, Naomi again steps in to hopefully save her patient which is really putting a strain on her marriage and soon after Jacob become a missing person and you'll never guess who becomes a number one suspect! Naomi, Naomi, what are you doing or is it what have you done?
This was another book that was hard to out down since it was delightfully entertaining and enjoyable. A fast read to be sure. There is something special about "Sandie Jones" writing that has me fully engaged from beginning to end with unexpected twists and turns. Now, don't expect a story about realism or you might be disappointed but if the reader just accepts the book for want it is which is a domestic/thriller and a whole lot of fun even though it is written as a serious drama, I'm sure most people will love the book. This is my second novel written by "Sandie Jones" and I hope to read many more of her books and I highly recommend this author.
I want to thank k the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this entertaining book a rating of 4 DELICIOUSLY DECEPTIVE 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
When a patient named Jacob needs some extra help, Naomi again steps in to hopefully save her patient which is really putting a strain on her marriage and soon after Jacob become a missing person and you'll never guess who becomes a number one suspect! Naomi, Naomi, what are you doing or is it what have you done?
This was another book that was hard to out down since it was delightfully entertaining and enjoyable. A fast read to be sure. There is something special about "Sandie Jones" writing that has me fully engaged from beginning to end with unexpected twists and turns. Now, don't expect a story about realism or you might be disappointed but if the reader just accepts the book for want it is which is a domestic/thriller and a whole lot of fun even though it is written as a serious drama, I'm sure most people will love the book. This is my second novel written by "Sandie Jones" and I hope to read many more of her books and I highly recommend this author.
I want to thank k the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this entertaining book a rating of 4 DELICIOUSLY DECEPTIVE 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
October 13, 2022
Just finished listening / reading the printed version and I'm still mulling everything about this one over. This book put me through a whirlwind of emotions!! I'm going to give this one a 4 Star rating to be kind, because Sandie Jones is a very talented writer, BUT every single character was detestably unlikeable, and I have NEVER read a protagonist (who assumingly had a PHD / MD) who was a therapist and so frustratingly less than smart!!! I mean, her idiocy made this novel so much less plausible, to me.
That being said, this one was a fairly quick-paced story about a patient, named Jacob, who has disappeared, and Naomi might have been the last person to see him prior, under questionable circumstances, to say the least. I just HAD to know who dunnit!! It was insanely addictive as I kept going back and forth in my prediction, and the twists at the end didn't help the slightest. My head's still spinning, and for a thriller to achieve this marks this one as a success. Don't get me wrong, I literally wanted to reach through the pages and shake Naomi, on multiple occasions!
Sandi Jones is always hit and miss with me. Sometimes she gets is incredibly wrong, IMO, but when she gets it right, it's a homerun, in my book! I recommend this one for anyone wanting to fly through a oftentimes frustrating thriller (only 244 pages!)!!! I do believe most Jones fans will enjoy this one, at least I did, overall!
That being said, this one was a fairly quick-paced story about a patient, named Jacob, who has disappeared, and Naomi might have been the last person to see him prior, under questionable circumstances, to say the least. I just HAD to know who dunnit!! It was insanely addictive as I kept going back and forth in my prediction, and the twists at the end didn't help the slightest. My head's still spinning, and for a thriller to achieve this marks this one as a success. Don't get me wrong, I literally wanted to reach through the pages and shake Naomi, on multiple occasions!
Sandi Jones is always hit and miss with me. Sometimes she gets is incredibly wrong, IMO, but when she gets it right, it's a homerun, in my book! I recommend this one for anyone wanting to fly through a oftentimes frustrating thriller (only 244 pages!)!!! I do believe most Jones fans will enjoy this one, at least I did, overall!
November 2, 2023
I will admit I am going through a huge reading slump - as noted in the length of time it took me to even finish this very short book!
Well, it was pretty bad and hasn’t inspired me to get back into reading 😂😂
Weak characters, weak story and a weak ending………
Well, it was pretty bad and hasn’t inspired me to get back into reading 😂😂
Weak characters, weak story and a weak ending………
August 23, 2022
Review coming soon.
May 2, 2022
"It doesn’t matter whether you’re young or old, male or female; the greatest fear, apart from the abuse itself, is that nobody will believe you."
This didn't look like the type of book that I would read based on the cover. It seemed too bright and cheery. Then a friend highly recommended it to me and she never steered me in the wrong direction before. With the recommendation paired with the synopsis, I knew that I was being treated with a book that is going to shock and disturb me. Oh, how wrong I was. (cue the wah-wah sound effect)
First off, let me say that this book wasn't terrible. It kept me entertained and some of the characters were real psychos, which made me want to see how far they would take things. Here's the sad part, it was pretty predictable. As soon as some characters were introduced, I knew that there were in on something bigger than we all thought. Ding! Ding! Ding! Do you hear that? It's the sound of me being right.
This was an okay mystery but mostly predictable. The author throws in some unnecessary situations from the past to throw you off but you can see right past those. You'll know when you read it that certain situations were thrown in to distract you. I wish the author would have made Naomi panic more about maybe losing her mind but it just wasn’t there.
Naomi and her husband were not likable characters. They both found it so easy to point fingers but never enough to look in the mirror. I did enjoy Jacob and Anna. They were two characters that were like firecrackers and I can't wait for you to meet them two.
The Blame Game was an okay mystery and a decent way to pass the time. I didn't think that the story was the right fit for me but I can see others really enjoying this one. Non-weirdos will be shocked at the outcome of this but horror lovers who can piece together a mystery will figure this one out real quick.
This didn't look like the type of book that I would read based on the cover. It seemed too bright and cheery. Then a friend highly recommended it to me and she never steered me in the wrong direction before. With the recommendation paired with the synopsis, I knew that I was being treated with a book that is going to shock and disturb me. Oh, how wrong I was. (cue the wah-wah sound effect)
First off, let me say that this book wasn't terrible. It kept me entertained and some of the characters were real psychos, which made me want to see how far they would take things. Here's the sad part, it was pretty predictable. As soon as some characters were introduced, I knew that there were in on something bigger than we all thought. Ding! Ding! Ding! Do you hear that? It's the sound of me being right.
This was an okay mystery but mostly predictable. The author throws in some unnecessary situations from the past to throw you off but you can see right past those. You'll know when you read it that certain situations were thrown in to distract you. I wish the author would have made Naomi panic more about maybe losing her mind but it just wasn’t there.
Naomi and her husband were not likable characters. They both found it so easy to point fingers but never enough to look in the mirror. I did enjoy Jacob and Anna. They were two characters that were like firecrackers and I can't wait for you to meet them two.
The Blame Game was an okay mystery and a decent way to pass the time. I didn't think that the story was the right fit for me but I can see others really enjoying this one. Non-weirdos will be shocked at the outcome of this but horror lovers who can piece together a mystery will figure this one out real quick.
November 4, 2022
A short easy read (at a little under 250 pages) that will keep your mind wondering what the heck is happening!
Naomi is a psychologist who specializes in domestic violence and abuse. She has set up a wonderful practice in Britain, having left her previous life in New York. Actually she’s running away from what happened to her in New York, which is probably what led her to specialize in domestic violence. Naomi cares deeply for each of her patients and sometimes forgets to set up boundaries. Enter “the blame game”. Someone’s trying to make Naomi go insane. She’s being accused of things that she never did. There’s even evidence of things that she never did. Will you, the reader be able to sort fact from fiction before somebody dies?
Naomi is a psychologist who specializes in domestic violence and abuse. She has set up a wonderful practice in Britain, having left her previous life in New York. Actually she’s running away from what happened to her in New York, which is probably what led her to specialize in domestic violence. Naomi cares deeply for each of her patients and sometimes forgets to set up boundaries. Enter “the blame game”. Someone’s trying to make Naomi go insane. She’s being accused of things that she never did. There’s even evidence of things that she never did. Will you, the reader be able to sort fact from fiction before somebody dies?
August 5, 2022
this is my 3rd book from Jones and I have yet to give her stuff anything more than 2 stars, so I guess it’s my time to sever ties with this author. Another insufferably naive protagonist (which annoyed me so much in The Other Woman), and I felt like there were just so many things going on that didn’t make a lot of sense, there were several parts I had to re-read a few times to make sure.
And on a more personal level, I really don’t like this recent trend of unorthodox/unethical therapists - there’s already enough stigma surrounding mental health…
And on a more personal level, I really don’t like this recent trend of unorthodox/unethical therapists - there’s already enough stigma surrounding mental health…
August 26, 2022
In The Blame Game, protagonist Naomi is a psychologist specializing in counseling victims of domestic abuse. She chose this line of work due to things in her own dark, tragic past. While she enjoys her work, in her eagerness to offer help and comfort, she often finds it difficult to maintain the ethical line between doctor and patient. When her patient Jacob shares with Naomi that he wants to leave his abusive wife, Naomi strays into the gray area and then crosses the line by offering Jacob a safe place to stay at a place owned by she and her husband. Soon, another client tells Naomi of her fear of her abusive husband, and Naomi also intervenes by giving her a place to stay. Naomi's husband cautions her, but she ignores him. However, when files go missing, and doors she knows she locked are found unlocked, Naomi has to wonder if she's gone too far or if her past has finally caught up with her. When the police come knocking at her door asking a lot of uncomfortable questions about the whereabouts of a missing Jacob, Naomi fears her secrets are about to be exposed. Has she gone too far?
As a reader, I found it interesting that Naomi crosses all ethical lines with her patients and yet she appears to maintain a personal Do Not Cross line with her own husband. While we know her past was dark, I wanted more of Naomi's backstory in order to better connect and establish empathy for her especially since the past proved to be relevant to her life choices. Jones has provided readers some details, but Naomi may have come across as a more likable, sympathetic character if readers could see more interactions of her with her estranged sister and convict father and if she actually had found some kind of closure. I'm left feeling a critical piece of the puzzle plus motivation for the main character's actions are rushed.
The Blame Game is exactly that as readers are charged with delving through the bits and pieces of the story and following the twists and turns until the final reveal occurs. I'll admit to seeing it coming which rendered less shock value, but I continued reading seeking answers to other questions raised. The author does a great job spotlighting the issue of domestic abuse and violence while showcasing the stereotypes often associated with abusive relationships especially a less typical female against male abuse. I applaud her for taking this approach and feel she did an expert job drawing much needed attention to the subject of domestic violence as a whole.
The Blame Game is well written, tense and at times quite riveting. While I enjoyed reading it, The Other Woman remains my favorite work from the talented Sandie Jones. I look forward to seeing what this author releases next. Highly recommended to fans of mystery and suspense.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. It's also published at Cross My Heart Reviews
As a reader, I found it interesting that Naomi crosses all ethical lines with her patients and yet she appears to maintain a personal Do Not Cross line with her own husband. While we know her past was dark, I wanted more of Naomi's backstory in order to better connect and establish empathy for her especially since the past proved to be relevant to her life choices. Jones has provided readers some details, but Naomi may have come across as a more likable, sympathetic character if readers could see more interactions of her with her estranged sister and convict father and if she actually had found some kind of closure. I'm left feeling a critical piece of the puzzle plus motivation for the main character's actions are rushed.
The Blame Game is exactly that as readers are charged with delving through the bits and pieces of the story and following the twists and turns until the final reveal occurs. I'll admit to seeing it coming which rendered less shock value, but I continued reading seeking answers to other questions raised. The author does a great job spotlighting the issue of domestic abuse and violence while showcasing the stereotypes often associated with abusive relationships especially a less typical female against male abuse. I applaud her for taking this approach and feel she did an expert job drawing much needed attention to the subject of domestic violence as a whole.
The Blame Game is well written, tense and at times quite riveting. While I enjoyed reading it, The Other Woman remains my favorite work from the talented Sandie Jones. I look forward to seeing what this author releases next. Highly recommended to fans of mystery and suspense.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. It's also published at Cross My Heart Reviews
August 11, 2022
After seeing a few mixed reviews on this one, I was a little bit nervous starting it, especially given the book slump I am in. Thanks to having the ALC as well as the physical copy, I was able to start it while doing housework last night, and let’s just say, I couldn’t stop. I was finished by the time I drove my son to camp this morning. Have I mentioned I am in a slump? I cannot believe the hold this book took over me.
There is something about Sandie Jones’ writing style that makes her thrillers so entertaining. They are fast paced, with lots of twisty goodness, and they will not let you put them down. I felt the same about her novel, The Guilt Trip. It feels like what would happen if you crossed the best soap opera with a movie and a book. And it is very unique to her writing.
My only criticism of this one, as well as her previous work, is that the end gets a bit murky and I end up a bit confused and with more questions than answers. I am someone who loves my thrillers wrapped up in a crisp bow, and so I struggle with this aspect of her writing style a bit.
All in all though, I really liked this one and would definitely recommend it. If you are someone who prefers audio, the audiobook is amazing. Karissa Vacker did an excellent job bringing the characters to life while also adding an extra bit of a “things that go bump in the night” vibe that I absolutely loved.
Thank you to Minotaur for my physical ARC and NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC.
There is something about Sandie Jones’ writing style that makes her thrillers so entertaining. They are fast paced, with lots of twisty goodness, and they will not let you put them down. I felt the same about her novel, The Guilt Trip. It feels like what would happen if you crossed the best soap opera with a movie and a book. And it is very unique to her writing.
My only criticism of this one, as well as her previous work, is that the end gets a bit murky and I end up a bit confused and with more questions than answers. I am someone who loves my thrillers wrapped up in a crisp bow, and so I struggle with this aspect of her writing style a bit.
All in all though, I really liked this one and would definitely recommend it. If you are someone who prefers audio, the audiobook is amazing. Karissa Vacker did an excellent job bringing the characters to life while also adding an extra bit of a “things that go bump in the night” vibe that I absolutely loved.
Thank you to Minotaur for my physical ARC and NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC.
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