On a night out something terrible happens, it is a night that could change everything with far-reaching consequences that impacts on the lives of so many.

Told with a dual narrative and two different paths the story follows Jo down both of these paths leading her to separate possible futures. Both start off exactly the same but the different outcomes for the same action couldn’t be more different.

Path One – Conceal and Path Two – Reveal.

What would you do? Truth or lie? Conceal or reveal?

Moving between the two scenarios is seamless and smooth. No confusion or losing track of what’s happening. Its like having two good books in one and both are as good as each other. Sometimes with these dual stories and narratives one tends to resonate more than the other but with this book both are equally as good. Both the Conceal and Reveal stories are so plausible and realistic that it is easy to see that this could actually happen to anyone, which makes it relatable and scary.

Touching on issues like relationships, friendship, trust and lies and an intimate look into one couple’s marriage this book will have you reflecting on your own and you cant help but ask yourself what would I do?

I found it fascinating to see the differences in Joanna’s relationships with friends and colleagues in each timeline, how it effected those relationships, how it changed their lives as well as her own. The characters are all so incredibly well fleshed out and well-rounded that they could so easily be real people making them really easy to relate to.

A really gripping thriller with enough suspense running throughout to keep you glued.

It has been marketed as “Gone Girl meets Sliding Doors” but if you weren’t a massive fan of Gone Girl don’t let that put you off reading this book. Judge it on its own merit as it deserves to be.
It is a book I would defiantly recommend!

Many thanks to the author Gillian McAllister, publishers Penguin UK – Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest, independent review.
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This was a most enjoyable book…written with a ‘sliding doors’ approach...and one I couldn't wait to pick up at any opportune moment.

Joanna and her best friend Laura are on a girls’ night out, when Joanna receives some seriously unwanted ‘attention’ from Sadiq. On her way home, she hears someone behind her…seemingly following her. It must be Sadiq. He’s getting worryingly close and as they descend some steps, it happens: the moment that changes lives forever. Notwithstanding, there are two paths, Joanna can take. The story then pursues, in alternating chapters, each of the paths.

This was brilliantly executed, extremely well written and the characters were very well drawn—Joanna, in particular. I really liked her and her husband’s, Reuben’s, character.

Much as I was enjoying reading these two parallel universes, how the ending was going to evolve was constantly on my mind: but it came together excellently.

It’s quite a thought-provoking book: whatever you might think, you can never predict how you might act in a dangerous, threatening or serious situation.

A very good and satisfying book. Highly recommended.
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I received the digital arc of this book from Edelweiss and publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

First of all, I would recommend this book so don’t let my 3-star rating dissuade you from reading. My rating is influenced by the manner in which the sliding door technique was used in this story. I found that switching back and forth for each chapter was confusing. Maybe it would have worked better if larger portions of the story were told before switching from Reveal to Conceal. Again, the premise is the same so all the extraneous details only added distraction while trying to determine if I was reading Reveal or Conceal.

Joanna Olivia is enjoying some drink and laughs with her hippie artist friend Laura one night. During the course of the evening they entertain an aggressive stranger, Sadiq Ul-Haq, by taking selfies with him. Unfortunately, Joanna’s timid and self-effacing personality only encourages Sadiq to pursue her even after they change seats.

After the two friends call it a night, Joanna begins to walk home alone with the memories of Sadiq’s harassment still on her mind. Her main coping strategy all her life has been denial so she tries to convince herself that she is not being followed. Eventually, her anxiety overwhelms her as she senses a male behind her and quickly turns and pushes the person down the stones steps.

Appalled at her own behavior she becomes perplexed as to what to do. She slowly descends the stairs and notices the man is injured and in need of immediate care. From this point, the book alternates chapters between Reveal and Conceal which describes the two scenarios with which she is given: call for help or walk away.

Ultimately, whichever decision she chooses only serves to isolates her from her family and friends. Her guilt and feelings of remorse start to erode her mind and spirit as she feels she can’t risk telling anyone the “complete” truth. At times she starts to question the truth herself as she realizes there is no easy way out. In the end she if forced to reevaluate herself in a way she never had.

I always tell my kids, if you choose the behavior and decision then you are choosing the consequences. ( )

Oh wow! What Gillian McAllister has created here is nothing short of exceptional - two novels in one in only her second book! I'm sure many an established author would shy away from such a challenge with the others wishing they had written it.

If I had to describe Joanna in one word it would be 'imaginative', so when she hears footsteps behind her after a night out she thinks it is the man she spurned in the bar. As the footsteps get closer, Joanna reaches out and pushes her would-be attacker down the steps she is about to descend. His momentum propels him forward at speed and he lies bent and broken at the bottom of the steps. In that split second, Joanna must decide whether to run or call for help. In a rare treat for readers, Gillian McAllister shows us the journey down both paths that Joanna will follow if she reveals or conceals her crime.

I thought it might get confusing with alternate 'reveal' and 'conceal' chapters but it really doesn't. In conceal, Joanna is eaten up with guilt and her lie snowballs out of control and threatens to crush her under its weight like the boulder chasing Indiana Jones through the tunnel. Even when Joanna reveals her crime she still can't help getting tangled up in a web of lies and her whole defence revolves around the one thing she is lying about: how long she hesitated before raising the alarm.

I do firmly believe that we have particular paths we are destined to follow in our lives. Even though sometimes there may be a fork in the road or roadworks causing a diversion, we ultimately get back on the path we should be on. Joanna's journey is just like this as whichever path she follows, reveal and conceal will merge together at the end but will leave very different casualties in their wake.

Anything You Do Say is such a thought-provoking and hugely entertaining book. At her fork in the road, I felt Joanna's fear and truly believed that she was afraid for her life so I can completely understand why she lashed out like she did. It's easy to say that you would rush to help an injured person, but would you be in such a rush if you thought that person meant to do you harm and may still be a danger to you? It's hard to say how you would react in such circumstances; with that spike of adrenaline and a thudding heartbeat in your ears, what would you do? This is the question that I'm sure every single reader of Anything You Do Say will ponder for many days, weeks, months and even years after reading this outstanding novel.

Oh you've upped the ante now, Gillian McAllister! I'm not sure how you plan to follow this but I can't wait to find out. You had me hooked with Everything But The Truth but Anything You Do Say is so extraordinary that it completely blew me away. This book is going to be a HUGE success so make sure you pick up a copy and see what everyone is raving about.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

I enjoyed the what if scenario of the book.
It was easy to imagine oneself in both situations
I found the two choices easy to follow.
What really didn’t do it for me was the awful characters, I couldn’t relate to or like them.
I think it must be my age but I am really not enjoying books where I don’t like the characters ( )