It's Not What You Think by Clare MacKintosh #ItsNotWhatYouThink @claremackint0sh @HarperCollinsUK #BookReview #CrimeFiction #Thriller

 

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.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

It's Not What You Think by Clare MacKintosh was published on 26 March 2026 by HarperCollins. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I have read everything that Clare MacKintosh has written. From her amazing stand alone novels, to her fabulous police procedural series and also her non-fiction. She's a hugely talented writer and I was so excited to read this new one, especially as I'd seen on social media that this one has the best twist ever. 

This is a hefty book but I flew through it. Recently I've been struggling with concentration due to many issues but my nose was glued firmly into this one, never hesitating to pick it up and loathe to put it down when my eyes were closing. 

The blurb tells you that Nadeeka is convinced that her partner Jamie is having an affair. She's convinced and determined to catch him out. She's on her way home, with no doubt that she's going to catch him in the act. When she arrives, she finds a crime scene and Jamie is dead. That's not a spoiler, it's clearly written in the blurb .... so that's not the twist. 

This is not a straightforward tale of love, loss, and consequences. Not even close. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, the ground shifts beneath your feet. The author plays brilliantly with perception, and constantly challenges what you think you know. Nothing should be taken at face value, and a sense of uncertainty lingers throughout.

The novel unfolds in multiple parts, beginning firmly with Nadeeka. She is a compelling character, she is resilient, complex, and easy to like. As her story develops, there is a creeping sense that there is far more going on beneath the surface. And just when you feel settled, the first major twist arrives and it is sharp, satisfying, and impossible to ignore. Believe me, you will gasp. I did. In fact, I went back and read the paragraph again. It's clever, really really clever. 

From there, the story expands a little with other voices begin to emerge, offering new perspectives and adding layers to an already intricate plot. The timeline shifts, the tension builds, and each new revelation brings with it fresh intrigue. With a strong supporting cast which includes family, colleagues, and investigators, the narrative becomes richer and more immersive with every turn of the page.

This is a cleverly constructed thriller that keeps you guessing throughout. It’s tense, engaging, and full of surprises, exactly the kind of book that reminds you why 'trust no one' is advice that keeps being given! 

Clare Mackintosh is a former police officer and a bestselling crime author. 

Her books have sold more than three million copies, been optioned for television and translated into forty languages. 

She appears regularly at literary festivals and bookshop events across the UK and beyond.