Clear My Name

By: Paula Daly

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Innocent?

When Carrie was accused of brutally murdering her husband’s lover, she denied it. She denied it when they arrested her, when they put her in front of a jury and when they sent her to prison. 

Now she’s three years into a 15-year sentence, away from the daughter she loves and the life she had built. And she is still denying that she is to blame. 

Guilty?

Tess Gilroy has devoted her life to righting wrongs. Through her job for Innocence UK, a charity which takes on alleged miscarriages of justice, she works tirelessly to uncover the truth.

But when she is asked to take Carrie’s case, Tess realises that if she is to help this woman, she must risk uncovering the secrets she has struggled a lifetime to hide....

We’ve all done things we’re not proud of.

©2019 Paula Daly (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"The UK’s answer to Liane Moriarty. Amazing." (Claire McGowan)

Believable characters and a fascinating storyline

A great story which had me hooked from the beginning. I have read all this author’s books and apart from one I have enjoyed them all. Her characters all seem so real and there is a quiet humour in her books which doesn’t detract from the excitement and twist and turns of the story. The narration was superb.

Unbelievable

As if.... Very far fetched and how annoying was Tess wanted to slap her... Why oh why does Paula Daly make all her woman characters anx ridden full of guilt and total martyrs. Every decision they make is illogical won't go there again...

Not for me - returning as could not get onboard

I enjoyed Open Your Eyes by Paula Daly bar the animal cruelty but I just could not get into this one although I did try several times. I found the whole premise a bit ridiculous and the characters strange, cliquey and unlikable.
It did sound good but I just found myself caring less and less.
I am taking Paula Daly off my list of promising listens as so many brilliant thrillers about by authors like Tana French, Ruth Ware, Fiona Barton, Jane Casey, Lisa Jewell, Clare Douglas, Robert Galbraith. JP Delaney, Cara Hunter, Caz Frear, Louise Candlish, Clare Mackintosh, Caroline Kepnes, Sam Hepburn, Dorothy Koomson. Aga Lesiewicz, T.M. Logan, Anthony Horowitz, Emily Barr, Kate McQuaile, Helen Callaghan. Teresa Driscoll, Sarah Alderson, Catherine Steadman, Sue Watson, Lucy Foley, Jessica Vallance, Kimberley Belle, Elle Croft, Sarah Pinborough, Denise Mina, Harriet Tyce, Jo Spain, Liz Nugent, Elly Griffiths, Mary Torjussen , Joss Stirling, Alison Bruce, C. J. Cooke, Camilla Way, Sabine Durrant , Sarah J. Naughton, Stef Penney, Caroline Mitchell, Annabel Kantaria , Stephanie Marland, Stephanie Broadribb, KL Slater, Eve Chase and Michelle Richmond to name but a few whose book or books I have given 5 stars over the years.

Really good story ruined by awful narrator

The book was so well written. The story was heartbreaking. Some of the characters were flawed in a way that made me want to know more about them. Even Pete was this interesting yet odious wisp of a man who fit well within the story. I would have enjoyed this book 1000x more had I read it or had a better person done the narration. Kristin Atherton has a dull, flat, lifeless voice that kills the energy of the book and prevents one from connecting with the characters. Never in all my years have I heard such a soulsucking voice. I felt depressed from beginning to end thanks to her voice, and I don't think that's normal. Why doesn't she simply read autobiographies or nonfiction history books? Why is she ruining this genre with that voice that has no idea how to shape a character? I say this only because this isn't the first time she's ruined a book for me. Clearly, someone thinks her choppy reading works but they're wrong. For me it's just the absolute worst. I had to speed up the narration just to get through the book without ripping out my hair.

Great book with fantastic twist

This was my first Paula Daly listen and I really enjoyed it. She clearly writes very good stories with believable characters that the listener can really relate to. Her dialogue is sharp and well-directed there are no lumps of padding for the sake of it. I felt this book moved at a great pace and I found it hard to pause it. The narrator did a really good job at conveying the main characters. I did not see the twist coming at the end. I am just about to look for my next listen by this author.

enjoyable read

really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone
it is a good story to listen to and I did not guess who done it

Good!

I enjoyed this book. The quality of the writing and the narration is excellent. The characters are well drawn. However, the main protagonist’s tendency to go way beyond her remit, placing herself and sometimes others, at risk, did stretch credulity sometimes.

Bit of a letdown

Was expecting much MUCH more from the author of Girl on the Train. Just didn’t really seem to go anywhere fast - was expecting a much bigger twist. Only reason I didn’t return it was I got it 241 abc I wanted to keep the other book.

Couldn’t put this down

Listened to this in the car, but couldn’t stop. Carried on listening through the night! Loved the twists and turns. Especially liked the fact that I never guessed the endings. Will read more of this author.

It wasn’t predictable and the characters evolved

Paula Daly had one of her books turned in to a TV drama lately. I am glad I didn’t know this as the drama didn’t work for me and would have put me off.
The story had two strong main characters, safe, secure in themselves and their seemingly perfect lives were far from it, just like real life. I enjoyed the story, felt it was following a certain path, realised it wasn’t, settled for disappointment or confusion before it took me on another turn. It wasn’t predictable, the characters evolved through the story. No characters were once dimensional, I liked the writers skill in bringing in a character or small storyline that felt you were going off in another direction with some twists and turns along the way.
The performer (Kirstin Atherton) was very good and confident in walking you through the story, defining the characters and their journey.