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Rachel Abbott
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Only The Innocent (Tom Douglas Thrillers Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Rachel Abbott (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 45,468 ratings

Every moment of Sir Hugo Fletcher’s life has been chronicled in the British press: his privileged upbringing, his high-profile charity work to end human trafficking—even his two marriages. But when the billionaire philanthropist is discovered murdered in his London home, tied naked to a bed, the scandal is only a shadow of the darkness lurking off-camera.

Laura Fletcher returns from an Italian vacation to find her husband dead and her home under siege by paparazzi. Is she shocked? Yes. But is she distraught? Not exactly. Especially when Chief Inspector Tom Douglas reveals his suspicions that Hugo’s killer is female. Laura always knew she wasn’t the only woman in Hugo’s life. And she knows she wasn’t the only one with a motive to kill.

The deeper Douglas digs, the more sordid details about Hugo Fletcher he uncovers. And yet nothing compares to the secret Laura guards, a secret that could bring the guilty to justice—or destroy an innocent life forever.

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  1. Book 1 of 12
    Tom Douglas Thrillers
  2. Print length
    470 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Thomas & Mercer
  5. Publication date
    February 5, 2013
  6. File size
    2.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  1. “The slow, relentless destruction of self-confidence is something that is impossible to explain.”
    Highlighted by 436 Kindle readers
  2. When shame is your own, it’s hard enough to bear. When other people are witness to it, it becomes intolerable.
    Highlighted by 309 Kindle readers
  3. The quiet but inexorable breaking down of self-esteem is much more sinister—it’s violation of the soul.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Rachel Abbott has proved with this debut that she is a cracking writer. The book is a complex layered web, every chapter adding more and more layers of intrigue that pull you in further. I love thrillers and have read many of them, and this one stands out as one of the best. Amazing stuff.” ―Rachel Dove, The Kindle Book Review

“Abbott carefully constructed a world of mystery, depravity, sex, violence, manipulation and intrigue on so many different levels that I can honestly say you truly have to read until the last page to understand and appreciate the complexity of the story.” ―Karen DeLabar, Writing on the Rocks

About the Author

Rachel Abbott was born and raised in Manchester, England, and trained as a systems analyst before launching her own interactive media company in the early 1980s. She sold her company in 2000, and in 2005 moved to the Le Marche region of Italy. She lives there today with her husband, dividing her time between writing her second novel, cooking, and dabbling in web design.



Sarah Coomes was trained at The Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art, London. She has worked as an actress extensively in theatre, film, and television. She has won numerous awards for her own comedy and play writing, including The Westminster Prize. She lives in London and Los Angeles.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0091TMAK4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas & Mercer (February 5, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 5, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 470 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1611097843
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 45,468 ratings

About the author

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Rachel Abbott

Rachel Abbott

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Rachel Abbott's debut thriller, Only the Innocent, was an international bestseller, reaching the number one position in the Amazon charts both in the UK and US. This was followed by the number one bestselling novels The Back Road, Sleep Tight, Stranger Child, Nowhere Child (a short novel based on the characters from Stranger Child), Kill Me Again, The Sixth Window, Come a Little Closer, The Shape of Lies, Right Behind You and Close Your Eyes. The new thriller in the Tom Douglas series - No More Lies - was released in February 2023.

In 2018 Rachel released the first book in a new series - And So It Begins. This was followed by The Murder Game in 2020 (The Invitation in the US).

Rachel's novels have now been translated into over 20 languages and have sold over 5 million copies.

In 2015 Amazon celebrated the first five years of the Kindle in the UK, and announced that Rachel was the number one bestselling independent author over the five-year period. She was also placed fourteenth in the chart of all authors. Stranger Child was the most borrowed novel for the Kindle in the first half of 2015.

Rachel now lives in Alderney - a beautiful island off the coast of France - where she devotes her time to her love of writing fiction. For more information, see Rachel's website at www.rachel-abbott.com, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
45,468 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a compelling psychological thriller with well-developed characters and expert writing. They appreciate its interesting subject matter and empathetic approach, with one review noting how it keeps readers guessing throughout. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it fast-moving while others describe it as slow-paced.

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736 customers mention "Suspenseful"617 positive119 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful with a compelling plot that keeps them engaged through its twists and turns, making it one of the best mystery/psychological thrillers.

"...Overall this is a very good book, well written and interesting, it starts steadily and gently racks up the tension until you have to read more and..." Read more

"Very suspenseful. Loved it. Excited to read the next in the series. This is second book I e read by this author and I’m definitely a fan." Read more

"...liked the DI & all of the officers working with him & the story moved along well...." Read more

"...This is one of the best thriller stories I have read. Gasp! When you find out who the murderer of Hugo is !" Read more

569 customers mention "Readability"519 positive50 negative

Customers find the book readable, describing it as a satisfying and interesting read, with one customer noting it was a cliffhanger.

"I recently read an amazing new book A CHANCE TO LIVE (a psychological thriller & family drama) in which good artistic people are..." Read more

"Very suspenseful. Loved it. Excited to read the next in the series. This is second book I e read by this author and I’m definitely a fan." Read more

"...I had high hopes that this would be a spectacular read. The opening pulled me in & I was all in on this murder mystery...." Read more

"Excellent book with so many elements and the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil!..." Read more

296 customers mention "Writing quality"244 positive52 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its expert and different style, with one customer specifically mentioning the absence of typos and poor grammar.

"...Overall this is a very good book, well written and interesting, it starts steadily and gently racks up the tension until you have to read more and..." Read more

"...Still, I would read another by the author. Her writing was good but here the format nor the characters much engaged me." Read more

"...I loved the device of the letter writing and the introduction of what may become an ongoing figure in her next and future novels, Chief Inspector..." Read more

"...The author was brilliant in how Hugo’s manipulations were presented." Read more

179 customers mention "Character development"146 positive33 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, with numerous personalities tied up in the plot, and find the heroines particularly believable.

"...their lives ... Her description of settings is masterful, her characters have depth, and the story line is a watercolor image of sadness leading to..." Read more

"...A real testimony to the author and the fascinating characters she offers. This was really a unique reading experience and I really enjoyed it." Read more

"...As I read, the author’s strong portrayal of the characters presented, and an understanding of emotions, made this book one of the best mystery/..." Read more

"...I also enjoyed her characters, especially the police detective who investigates the murder...." Read more

47 customers mention "Information quality"40 positive7 negative

Customers find the information in the book interesting and engaging, with one customer noting how it kept them guessing throughout, while another mentions how it kept them thinking about all the possibilities.

"...It also shows how love and devotion can win through and give real meaning to life when everything else seems to fall apart...." Read more

"...Very forceful book. Expertly written with expert knowledge of crime, law, human psyche...." Read more

"...I also enjoyed her characters, especially the police detective who investigates the murder...." Read more

"This debut novel promises a great beginning for this author's career. Starting with the murder, the story proceeds slowly setting the scene...." Read more

32 customers mention "Page turner"32 positive0 negative

Customers describe this book as a page turner, with one customer noting it's mesmerizing from start to finish, while another mentions how each page presents something new.

"...In fact I found it to be a page turner. For me it was just enough detail without being raunchy...." Read more

"Scary! Page turner! I only give 5 stars to my favorite books but this is a good read...." Read more

"...Every book I've read by Rachel Abbott has been an all night page turner! Wonderful author!" Read more

"This book was indeed stunning. Every single page was mesmerising...." Read more

31 customers mention "Empathy"28 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's empathetic portrayal of the human psyche and emotional depth, with one customer specifically noting the portrayal of a mentally abused wife.

"...There are fascinating relationships amongst various people. I loved Laura and Imogen and Laura’s mom Stella...." Read more

"...haunting memories of characters unseen in the public eye, with empathy for the women who try to make the best of a marriage, and with recognition..." Read more

"...Loved Chief Inspector Tom Douglas for his dogged approach and the fact that he was not just an investigator but a human too...." Read more

"...’s strong portrayal of the characters presented, and an understanding of emotions, made this book one of the best mystery/psychological thrillers I..." Read more

78 customers mention "Pacing"48 positive30 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it very clever and a fast read that picks up quickly, while others describe it as slow and tedious.

"...Overall this is a very good book, well written and interesting, it starts steadily and gently racks up the tension until you have to read more and..." Read more

"...It wasn't exactly what I expected. I think it took longer to play out than necessary and had several characters that weren't necessary either......" Read more

"...I was not disappointed. A clever mix of whodunnit, where, and why served me well...." Read more

"...The pacing, the imagery and the fine writing combine to make this an unforgettable novel." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Amanda Pelesky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good story, sensitive subject matter
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this story, but there are topics involved that may be triggers for some readers, like domestic violence, incest, and sexual abuse. It isn't exceptionally graphic in the way it's written, but the story does center around these issues, so it may not be a good choice if those topics distress you.
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  • Lauren
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I recently read an amazing new book A CHANCE TO LIVE (a psychological thriller & family drama) in which good artistic people are forced to conceal a secret and the stress drives them to extremes. But when the investigating detective eventually solves the mystery he is forced to choose between duty or compassion.

    Rachel develops this theme in her book in which Tom, the main detective, investigates the murder of a famous philanthropist and soon identifies some suspects. The problem is how to prove anything, so this story is more about why and how they did it? The well devised plot includes the dark issues of sexual perversion and psychological abuse. How this undermines the victim's self confidence, but also how they can behave out of character when pushed too far. It also shows how love and devotion can win through and give real meaning to life when everything else seems to fall apart. Tom eventually has to make the choice between duty or compassion.

    I would have rated this book as 5* had there not been a few weak points. The main suspect reveals details of her sad marriage via letters to her friend, which is an unusual and intriguing idea but was a bit overdone. Furthermore, a detective visiting her home conveniently finds one these letters left lying around and gathers vital information. This theme of visiting detectives gleaming critical information in her home was taken to extremes when detectives on two separate occasions overheard careless family conversations that revealed crucial information.

    Overall this is a very good book, well written and interesting, it starts steadily and gently racks up the tension until you have to read more and find out what happens. A gripping read that I thoroughly recommend.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Susan Ingram
    5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic!!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Very suspenseful. Loved it. Excited to read the next in the series. This is second book I e read by this author and I’m definitely a fan.
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  • Anissa Annalise
    3.0 out of 5 stars Written Well But Not Terribly Engaging To Me
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    So this is how I chose to close out my reading year of 2013. I had high hopes that this would be a spectacular read. The opening pulled me in & I was all in on this murder mystery. I really liked the DI & all of the officers working with him & the story moved along well. I was even intrigued with the tiniest bit given of a girl alone in a dark house just waiting. It felt foreboding & of course the murder must be tied to it somehow. The momentum kept up for a bit as we meet the wife & her long banished from her life, BFF. And then the detour happened in the form of letters given by Laura to Imogen in order to explain her relationship with her, now murdered, husband, Hugo. It was like hitting a brick wall & then having one's face scraped across in slow motion. Also, it felt like it came out of nowhere. Instead of following a murder mystery being unravelled by the police, we were taking a detour to show the steps that eventually led here. The shift was jarring & far longer than I expected & sadly, didn't hold my interest as much. A lot happened but I kept thinking, "So when are we getting back to the actual investigation?" And when we did it really plodded along. I haven't yet worked out why the letters were given to Imogen to read instead of Laura just telling her everything. They were together in the same place afterall. It felt much like an info-dump & I found it difficult to invest too deeply in most of it though it was not wholly uninteresting.

    An exchange between Laura & Tom six months on in the investigation captured my sentiments exactly:
    Laura: I can understand that , Tom. I expect you want something with a little more action. This case must be getting a bit dull for you."
    Tom: Oh, it's certainly dull. It's been dull for the past six months, actually.

    In resolution, there's a happenstance discovery of a confession & I wasn't much annoyed, I was just glad that it was nearly over. Three stars because I was definitely in to the end but I didn't love the trip. Still, I would read another by the author. Her writing was good but here the format nor the characters much engaged me.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Chantal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy interesante
    Reviewed in Spain on April 13, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Me ha gustado mucho. El inglés está bien escrito. Se entiende bien. Refleja bien los personajes. Se hace dinámico. Es el primer libro que leo en inglés y no va a ser el último. Muy útil para aprender gramática y vocabulario.
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  • Ndeye Diawara
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real page turner
    Reviewed in France on September 22, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book by chance, just because I liked the summary and I found it absolutely fantastic. It is just impossible to put it down and the characters grew on me all along.

    The characters develop in a very interesting way and by the end of the book you almost "feel" for them. Even though it is a pretty dark story she didn't sink into melodrama.

    A great book!
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  • Lizzie G
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Australia on October 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This was a really excellent book with a great storyline and believable characters. I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down. Well done Rachel Abbott for this wonderful book.
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  • Nicole
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the read! Very well-done mystery.
    Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book! This is the second book of Rachel Abbott's i have read and this one didn't disappoint. It was well-paced (I didn't get bored but the story-line was detailed enough that I didn't feel like information was missing or lacking). Characters were developed well so that you ended up caring about the outcome. Well done and definitely worth a read!
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  • AlessandraMARS
    5.0 out of 5 stars suspence
    Reviewed in Italy on August 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    mi è piaciuto moltissimo! ricco di suspence e di svolte inaspettate, un thriller psicologico che mischia presente e passato senza mai fare confusione.
    Report

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