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It’s Not What You Think

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It’s Not What You Think

By: Clare Mackintosh
Narrated by: Richard Armitage, Samuel Barnett, Tuppence Middleton, Vineeta Rishi
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‘I always see the twists coming – but not this time’ LEE CHILD Don't miss the jaw-dropping new thriller from Sunday Times bestseller Clare Mackintosh!

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

Praise for IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK:

'Madly twisty and super pacy and so so clever' LISA JEWELL

'A nail-biter of a thriller' SHARI LAPENA

‘I finished it in a day unable to put it down … jaw-dropping twists’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS

'An extraordinarily clever plot, this was one of my favourite books of the year’ ANDREA MARA

‘Clare Mackintosh has done it again with another unguessable twist’ ERIN KELLY

‘The book everyone will be talking about … more twists and turns than an episode of Line of Duty’ C.L. TAYLOR

‘A brilliant twist that you really won’t see coming’ NIKKI SMITH

‘This book is so addictive it should come with a warning’ ALICE FEENEY

‘The best twist I’ve read all year’ HOLLY SEDDON

‘Her best thriller yet … What a triumph' JILL MANSELL

©2026 Clare Mackintosh (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers Crime Fiction Domestic Thrillers Genre Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Exciting
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Critic reviews

More praise for IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK:
‘A riveting read that wrong-foots you time and time again … the definition of a one-sitting read’ JOHN MARRS
‘I’m a huge fan of Clare Mackintosh and right now she’s top of her game. With her trademark twists, skilful plotting and her natural instinct for storytelling, Clare will always be one of my go-to reads’ HEIDI PERKS
‘Absolutely brilliant! Clever, thought-provoking, and gripping. I was hooked from the first page’ JO JAKEMAN
'An immensely readable thriller for these troubled times. I flew through it' SARAH HILARY
'Astonishing! Utterly compelling and whiplash-inducingly twisty. Actually couldn't put it down' RACHEL WOLF
'An absolute treat of a crime novel … a thought-provoking read' SINEAD CROWLEY
‘A masterclass in suspense! I was hooked from the opening chapter to the very last word … And that twist – wow!’ STEPH BROADRIBB
Praise for Clare Mackintosh:
'Wickedly fun and smartly plotted' LUCY CLARKE
'Packed with suspects, twists and turns' ALEX MICHAELIDES
'Twisty and clever, with layered characters' KARIN SLAUGHTER
'Devilish, witty and wonderful' CHRIS WHITAKER
'Wonderfully assured and gripping' PETER JAMES
All stars
Most relevant
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish… I literally couldn’t stop listening, all Narrators were fantastic & the story itself was so good…. 100% recommend this book

Amazing

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I love Clare's writing, and this novel is as dramatic and intelligent as her thrillers usually are. The twists and turns are astoundingly scary at times. The narration is the best I've heard in quite sometime.

The only reason that I can't 5☆ the story is because it was so well written that the theme of racism and the far right's growing popularity made me feel incredibly uncomfortable. You could say that the quality of this writing and the fact that it made me feel so unnerved means it deserves 5☆s, but it's an unnervingly accurate portrayal of UK politics at the moment.

Chilling and thought-provoking thriller

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Loved the accuracy of the policing elements which aren’t usually spot on in fictional stories - you can feel the authors personal experience in this. An intriguing story but one that leaves you feeling slightly anxious at the end. Really enjoyed it.

Interesting twist to a crime novel

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Really gripping and addictive
Couldn’t stop listening. Thoroughly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good page turner.

Fantastic listen

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This is a well researched story with much to commend. I found it flagged in the middle with a sort of repetition of the stage of the story via another character. The final scenes were exciting and there was a good resolution for some of the characters. However, a chilling reminder of what is happening in UK now.

Unfortunately all too believable!

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