Diana - The Woman Inside [DVD] [2017]

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Even though all five thrillers are standalone reads, I strongly recommend starting with Book #1 and reading them in sequence. Outstanding narration. Narrator James Lailey is an accomplished actor and he is one of my new favorite UK male narrators. The story begins with Daisey Garrett at an after-work party thing that she really isn't enjoying and would much rather be curled up on the couch at home binge watching something more appealing on Netflix. She gets a little inebriated in the wake of her ex-fiance having run off with a younger woman, a former student of his no less. But that of course didn't stop Luke from coming around earlier for a little stroll down memory lane across the kitchen table. A couple of her colleagues are talking about the Rose Petal Ripper's latest victim, a former employee of the department store in which they all work, Fern Lever who was found dead, naked and with her throat slashed. This is the 4th instalment in the Detective Dan Riley series. I am happy to say it is still going strong for me and I really like him as a character. He does not always follow the rules but it is always in the best interests of the case and he is not a people pleaser. What gets him by is his instincts and famous gut feelings thank you to Netgalley, Anna-Lou Weatherley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I just spent the last 7 days with Anna-Lou Weatherley, narrator James Lailey, and DI Dan Riley (virtually), and it was an out-of-body experience.

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But Daisey’s mind is broken. She’s on edge, drinking too much and as she sits across from her cheating ex, Luke, in the beautiful home they once shared together, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched.

One thing that I noticed was that Daisey's memory loss was attributed to trauma to the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain is primarily involved with rational thought, decision making and impulse control*. It's the justification for setting the drinking age at 21 because this part of the brain is still developing through your teenage years. Basically, it's that part of the brain that keeps us from doing stupid stuff. Lawyers have used damage to the prefrontal cortex to explain away the depraved behavior of their clients as it plays a critical role in governing personality and emotions. Well, if you are half asleep when starting this book you’ll rapidly be jolted awake and become immersed in the plot! The premise is good, I really like the psychological aspects of the storyline both in Daisey and in the perpetrator. There are parts of the book that are chilling and you sense the fear and apprehension especially in the sections from the 1980’s. Although there are some clues in the direction the plot is taking that doesn’t detract from the enjoyment as it gets intriguingly weird. However, I do think apprehending the murderer is a a bit too drawn out and so loses some impact. I really like the characters especially Dan Riley. He’s a well developed character and has a very likeable personality, I especially like his wry self deprecating approach and his following his gut instincts. I’m always partial to a fictional lead detective who goes out on a limb! I like the end and it gives hope for a more settled and happier life for him. DCI Archer is an interesting character but I would like more development of DS Lucy Davis as she didn’t come across very strongly in this. Daisey Garrett opens up her door one night to an intruder who bashes her over the head with a hammer, slahes her throat, and leaves her for dead. One way that I rate my mysteries is to see if I can solve the case before the big reveal. In this case I was partially right though Weatherly did throw in a few curveballs. When the police are called Detective Dan Reilly, is called, and finds out Daisey is still alive. But when she wakes up in hospital, she cannot remember anything of that fatal time. When other bodies turn up with the same M.O. Dan has got his work cut out to find the killer before they strike again.

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The Woman Inside by Anna-Lou Weatherley is the fourth book in a series focused on Detective Dan Riley. Having previously enjoyed this series, I was anxious to jump aboard Riley's latest case, and what a ride it is. This is a series that, once started, will have you breathlessly awaiting the next installment. While I did enjoy this, while it did keep me engaged, it was an average story. I liked it, for sure, but it didn't have that wow factor and when the plot twist was discovered, I wasn't that surprised. It was definitely a part that this book needed. Without it, I'm not sure it would have held up much at all.

They always say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! Daisey the main character in this book was so strong! She didn’t deserve anything that happened to her! My heart went out to her many times. Would I recommend it? Well, no, but if you come across it and it sounds like something you would enjoy, especially if you like detective and amnesia based stories, then yeah, chances are you will enjoy this.Detective Dan Riley has no clues to the identity of the killer. Daisey regaining her memory is the best chance he has to stop whoever it is before he strikes again. He hopes hypnotherapy will help Daisey, as well as the case. But it may be too late. Another girl is dead. Daisey is missing. It’s a tense, breathless last couple of chapters that bring the story to a close. Told from the alternating timelines of 1987 and the present, we are shown a chilling and unsettling portrait of escalating evil, and it is up to Dan to solve a diabolical puzzle before there is more collateral damage. First, I want to thank Anna-Lou Weatherly, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

I did like the characters. I felt connected to them which is, in my opinion, quite important because that can make or break a story. It was well written and well told. Maybe it was just missing that little extra something or maybe it's just me. I am glad to have read this but I can't see myself re-reading it. The author has a new book being released in early 2023. and this book will be at the tippy-top of my TBR list. I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #Netgalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWomanInside in exchange for an honest review. Although it is the fourth book in the series, THE WOMAN INSIDE can be read as a standalone easily enough without getting lost. I love how each of the author's books explore the villain and their victims as well a little of the investigation without bogging readers down in the procedural aspect. Perfect for fans of crime thrillers that don't focus solely on the investigation. Anna-Lou Weatherly brings you a storyline that captivated my attention as no author has done in The Woman Inside. This story was deep on so many levels but nothing would prepare me for the twist at the end.

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The title, THE WOMAN INSIDE is a little ambiguous in which that it can have a double meaning. I won't say much more as to do so would reveal a major spoiler. But rest assured, this is an addictive tale that will that will have you promising yourself "just one more chapter"...