I Know You by Claire McGowan | Book Review

As I was in the mood to read a thriller and previously enjoyed reading Claire McGowan's The Other Wife, I decided to read her 2021 novel, I Know You, that begins with the premise: "When Rachel finds a dead body in the woods, she knows what to do. Run." 

PLOT

When Rachel stumbles upon a dead body in the woods, her instant reaction is to run. Although she lives a quiet life in the countryside working in a dog shelter, her life begins to unravel (again). This is not the first dead body she has come across. When the victim is identified as her boyfriend’s estranged wife, she realises that all eyes are on her and that she is the prime suspect. 

We learn that she was previously known as Casey Adams and that at 19 years old, she left the UK to work as a nanny looking after the two children of an actress and her producer husband in Los Angeles. The family she worked for were brutally murdered and she narrowly escaped the death penalty, managing to get out of prison on appeal. As her past that she had tried to keep hidden is revealed, the police and those around her assume she is guilty. She is left to wonder whether it's a coincidence that this has happened to her again, or if someone who knew her past is framing her for murder..

REVIEW 

The book switches back and forth between the past and present - the main character's new life as Rachel and her past life as Casey, which I thought worked really well. I was more drawn to the Casey chapters as they were very suspenseful and I was interested in what led the main character to be in her current situation. Rachel/Casey makes a compelling protagonist because of her complicated past. McGowan keeps introducing new twists and pieces of information that make the reader question every character’s motives, including Rachel herself, whose innocence is always hanging in the background. 

I also found the contrast between the UK countryside and the glamorous but toxic Hollywood setting interesting. I also liked how McGowan highlights the differences between UK and US culture, including social norms, attitudes, and legal procedures, which adds extra depth to the story.

I would have liked to see some of the other characters' stories in more depth. For example, Abby Saffran, the L.A mother whose children Casey babysat, had an interesting storyline because of her struggles with fame, pressure, and family life. Exploring her emotions further would have made the Hollywood sections even more compelling. In addition, Rachel’s boyfriend Alex also deserved more development considering how important he is to the central mystery and Rachel’s personal life.

All in all, I know You is a gripping psychological thriller with strong suspense, a compelling main character, and effective twists, making it a very enjoyable read.

Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐