Every Move You Make

By: Deborah Bee

Narrated by: Emma Gregory

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

There are two sides to every story.

But only one is the truth.

A young woman turns up at a police station. She has been kept prisoner in her own home. Abused and tortured, her every move watched, her every thought controlled. Now she's finally escaped.

That's what she says.

But when the police arrive at the address she's given them, her story doesn't seem to add up. Her husband is missing, but his phone and wallet are still in the house.

She says she's the victim, but what if she's not? What if the stories she's telling aren't her stories at all....

©2019 Deborah Bee (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK

Boy can this woman write!

This one really caught me by surprise! I was prepared for another one of those cookie cutter psychological female-centered mysteries that we’re getting so much of these days. But this one is really outstanding. Writing outstanding. Story gripping. Much of it takes place in a woman’s domestic abuse shelter, and the various characters are quite compelling. And the closing chapters do not disappoint. I’m just a jaded old male Audible listener with almost a 700 book library - but this is the best thing I’ve read in a long time!

Kimberley loves mysteries and thrillers

This was a outstanding book and the narrator was amazing I recommend it highly I rarely give A book 5 stars

Edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller you won’t forget

Both author and narrator are perfection in the rendering of this most unusual and exciting tale of a strange mystery. What and who are we to believe? All I can say is: Get this one. So worth a credit. “Every Move You Make” moves up to the top of my vast Audible library. I will most definitely be searching for more by Deborah Bee and featuring Emma Gregory! Epic I say, EPIC EPIC EPIC!!!!
✍🏻👏🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍🏻

Def recommend!

I listen to psychological thrillers ALL the time and I am quite adept at figuring out what’s going on, if I do say so myself.

I had not one clue with this! I kept thinking I had it but nope.

Great plot, fabulous characters, some to love, some to hate, a good dose of humor, believe it or not, which I love, and this narrator could be the next Jim Dale!

Fantastic

This not an ordinary domestic violence story. This is a mystery with twists and turns. Totally unpredictable. I love the story, and narration is great too.

Holy $h*t !!

This was unlike any book I've ever listed to... and I've listened to hundreds.
Although there are certain voices or characters that are very hard to listen to, especially in the beginning (and although this book could definitely be a trigger for many), this book kept me 100% interested from beginning to end! This is a story full of twists and well developed characters, but above anything, the narrator is off the charts talented!! If you like psychological thrillers, I can highly recommend this one

Remarkable Story

I have rarely enjoyed a story as much as this one. The narration was wonderful, and really gave so much to making it very, very special. I have to just say........listen, and enjoy.

A must read

great story even though the subject is disturbing. Wonderful narration by Emma Gregory. I was kept on the edge of my seat until the end. I laughed and cried.

Where to even begin?

BEWARE OF SPOILERS!

Twelve hours 43 minutes have never seemed so long; I couldn't wait for this book to end. But I should have guessed what I'd be in for right from the tedious opening scene in which a timid, half-dressed girl doused in some kind of flammable liquid enters a police station and is routinely ignored by the nail-filing receptionist. A scene that goes on and on and on while you have to listen to Coco/Claire's whiny voice trying to attract some attention from authority. I'm not sure what author Deborah Bee has against the police, but with very few exceptions she has portrayed them as lazy morons. Seriously, what police receptionist would ever respond to a distressed individual in such a way and expect to keep their job?

The only reason I persisted with this book--and why I selected it in the first place--is that having had no direct or indirect experience of domestic violence, I wanted to better understand the issue and perhaps have the author challenge some of my prejudices. Sadly, the opposite occurred. I ask you: Why would a well-educated single girl with a good job, friends, money, her own house and everything to live for allow herself to be treated in the way Coco/Claire is? Are we honestly expected to accept that she is willing to be degraded, humiliated, physically and psychologically abused by her psycho boyfriend Gareth because he's really good looking? I waited and waited to better understand her motivation but all Bee offers up is a weak excuse of "abandonment issues." Yet how much more abandoned are you going to feel being chained in an outhouse with everyone you've ever known fleeing because you've taken up with a nutter? It really is hard to sympathise with a character who listens to a man boast about being a model, actor, concert pianist, fashion expert, oh and a top-secret CIA operative, then gives him access to her credit cards and bank account.

Which brings me to the other major problem I had with this novel, the two main protagonists: Coco/Claire and Sally, a woman whose husband tried to kill her 20 years ago, for which no explanation is offered, but who killed her doppelganger best friend instead. I have no problem with flawed characters but I thought the whole point of storytelling was to show how people change at the end? Yet the close of this book finds Coco/Claire crouched on the floor, obeying her nutcase ex, who again douses her in paraffin--an almost exact replica of how she is introduced in the book--together with Sally who obviously has learned nothing by making herself an easy target for an ex-husband out to seek revenge for helping to put him away. Neither of these women seem to have learned anything, grown a backbone, or decided to stand up to bullies intent on dehumanising them. If you have any desire to glean some sympathy for women who end up in refuges, you're not going to get it from this book.

But, character flaws aside, this novel had so many plot holes in it, too. We are told repeatedly that the women's refuge Claire and Sally move into has "state of the art" security. Yet both of their antagonists swan in there as easy as pie, the two security guards being of no use whatsoever, Thank goodness for "Big Debbie," although it beggars belief that a woman like that would need to be in a women's refuge in the first place.

Then there's Kitty, someone against whom I might have been tempted to use violence myself, who shrieks about undertaking a "deep clean" of the kitchen for a whole chapter, with no advancement of the plot whatsoever. This is followed by one in which an irritating Indian man tries to engage everyone in mindfulness with the use of raisins. Providing yet another opportunity for author Bee to drop in a racist barb by having Sally call him "Mahatma Gandhi". (Bee also lessened my liking of Det Sgt Clarke when she referred to an IT guy's Thai wife as a "mail-order bride" because she thought him so ugly why else would anyone marry him.)

Then there's the pathetic ending (I knew immediately who "Axel" was - why would no one at the refuge at least try to warn Kitty that this is most likely a scam at best?). The meaning of the locket Gareth is intent on getting back is never explained. Why would someone so cunning, who has successfully eluded police across two continents, risk everything by coming to collect a locket from Claire? It's not an unreasonable quest, perhaps, but one for which we at least need to know its significance! Plus, Gareth is able to murder someone on the premises of the women's refuge (the one with 'state of the art" security, remember!) and makes so much racket that his presence is completely ignored. Huh?

Let me posit what I think went on here - and it's a worrying trend I've seen growing recently. An author has a previous success and the publisher obviously wants to capitalise on that. So, does the writer have another book idea? Yes, she has a situation or premise that might make for a good thriller or police procedural and so the deal is signed. But a situation is not enough to sustain an entire novel, not when it ignores the basic tenets of storytelling so that we never see any measure of character development by the protagonist(s) who have to be saved by others, rather than learn to stand up for themselves. Every Move You Make is, to my mind, a promising idea that the author was unable to execute effectively.

When those final, relief-inducing words, "Audible hopes you have enjoyed this program" were uttered, my response was an unequivocal: Absolutely not. This is the worst book I've ever encountered. I see no merit in recommending it, other than to say Emma Gregory should be congratulated on her wonderful narration of the many disparate characters. It's just a pity she didn't have better material to work with.

EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE is not a good MOVE....

If you're making a MOVE to select this book......DON'T DO IT!

The real mystery of this "mystery book" is how this title ever earned great ratings from many listeners. Unfortunately, Audible does not give its reviewers a zero star option. If so, I would have checked that box.

If you enjoy books that feature a horrendous narration, many expletives, abusive men and a very, very slow plot....this book is for you. I gave this book 30 minutes of my time and will be asking for a credit. Sooooo disappointed!

WOW! Great stuff!!

I NEVER write full reviews, but I have just finished listening to ‘Every Move You Make’ and I feel as though I’ve been to the theatre and seen a real live awesome drama which has left me on a high.
Mind you, at the beginning I didn’t think I was going to last the pace. The three main characters took turns at telling sequential chapters, and to start with it felt to me to be really slow and rather boring. But not for long. You must stick with it. The story gradually began to pick up pace till eventually I became totally engrossed in the the events that were unfolding and somehow I was there with the three dimensional characters, living every moment with them. The last few chapters are like a roller coaster. I wanted to know so much what was going to happen, but I didn’t want the book to end... So utterly exhilarating and satisfying at the same time.
I can’t impress on you how totally engrossed in this book I became. Author and narrator have both worked their magic and together have left me sated but I know I’ll be looking for more of the same very soon. You mustn’t miss this.

Deborah Bee is the cure for social isolation

I’m new to this author but owing to terminal boredom in the midst of covid-19 I gave this book a try, I was thoroughly entertained with the dark humour despite the harrowing Domestic VIolence. The narrator was well chosen for the storytelling. I was both gripped by the story, loved the police character and all the residents of the refuge. Some twists and a few eye openers. Blooming brilliant, I’m looking for my next Deborah Bee

Wow

Didn’t want this book to end... best listen so far, and I’ve listened to hundreds of books!! A must read

Narrator something else!

Unbelievably good narration for a very good book. Cannot believe the range of accents and genders this lady can do. Wholly recommend this book.

Binge listened!!

I was so into this story that I found myself with a spotless house, because I was so engrossed in this story that I did all kinds of extra chores whilst listening! Well written, well performed. Definitely recommend!

Grabs you by the neck... and doesn’t let go!

A phenomenal listen! Amazing book, with lots of twists and turns and suspense. Narration was the best I have ever heard, and I listen to a lot of audio books. Download this right now... you won’t be disappointed. My favourite listen this year. Off to find more books written by Deborah Bee or narrated by Emma Gregory. A five star read, across the board.

‘She said’ I said’

I’m only about an hour into this book and I’ve had to turn it off. Whilst the premise so far has got me really interested, and the narrator is fantastic, the whole thing is punctuated with ‘I said’, ‘she said’, ‘she says’ ‘I say’. It’s so irritating and I’m finding myself predicting it and saying it. Every sentence!
Does this continue throughout the story? If so I’ll need to return.

Brilliant narration

Probably the best narrator I’ve heard in years really brought a great story to life. Left me wanting a follow up !

Excellent!

Held me compelled throughout. I never wanted to put it down. The writing and narration are excellent, the characters have real depth. One of my best audiobooks!

Stick with it

Takes a few chapters to get into this book but then I was hooked couldn't put it down. FANTASTIC