A twisty Clare Mackintosh thriller with a standout full cast audiobook.
Release date: September 22, 2026
Publisher: Sourcebooks Audio
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Narrators: Richard Armitage, Samuel Barnett, Tuppence Middleton and Vineeta Rishi
Synopsis:
He has a secret. She knows he’s lying…
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.
Review:
Clare Mackintosh’s It’s Not What You Think is exactly the kind of thriller where the less you know going in, the better. Nadeeka is convinced her partner Jamie is having an affair, but when she goes to confront him, she instead finds him dead, and suddenly nothing is as straightforward as it seemed. The title is very fitting because there are plenty of twists, turns, and surprises along the way. I found this one fast paced and engaging, and the basic premise is really all you need to know. Let the story unfold for yourself.
I also really enjoyed the characterization. With multiple POVs and quite a few characters, there’s a lot happening, but everyone felt well drawn and multifaceted, which made the story easy to stay invested in. I particularly enjoyed the police procedural elements and getting a POV from a cop as the investigation unfolds. The thriller aspect is definitely strong, but the characters give the story an added layer that I appreciated.
This is one I highly recommend listening to. Narrated by Richard Armitage, Samuel Barnett, Tuppence Middleton, and Vineeta Rishi, the full cast production was such a perfect fit for this story. Each narrator brought a distinct voice and wonderful performance to their perspective, making the multiple POVs and larger cast much easier to follow while bringing the story that much more to life. Rather than feeling overwhelming, the different voices made the shifting perspectives feel natural and immersive.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with It’s Not What You Think. It’s twisty without feeling unnecessarily complicated, moves at a good pace, and has the kind of story that keeps you wondering what you’ve missed. And if you’re an audiobook reader, the full cast makes this one especially worth adding to your listening list.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
• Full cast audiobooks
• Multiple POVs
• Police procedural elements
• Twist filled thrillers
• Well developed, multifaceted characters
• Fast paced mysteries
• Stories that keep you guessing
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Novelgossip!
Novelgossip 