Audiobook
£0.99
with membership

Hardcover
£10.67

Paperback
£4.00

Learn more

Read now

£3.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

Sold by Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.. This price was set by the publisher.

Add

audiobook for £10.79 £12.99

Read with our free app

You've subscribed to ! We will pre-order your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships and Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Colour:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

C.L. Taylor

The Escape: The gripping, twisty thriller from the #1 bestseller Kindle Edition

by C.L. Taylor (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

5,836 ratings

See all formats and editions

The Sunday Times bestseller returns with her most thrilling book yet, An unputdownable read for fans of Into the Water and The Girlfriend.

"Look after your daughter's things. And your daughter…"

When a stranger asks Jo Blackmore for a lift she says yes, then swiftly wishes she hadn't.

The stranger knows Jo's name, she knows her husband Max and she's got a glove belonging to Jo's two year old daughter Elise.

What begins with a subtle threat swiftly turns into a nightmare as the police, social services and even Jo's own husband turn against her.

No one believes that Elise is in danger. But Jo knows there's only one way to keep her child safe – RUN.

The Sunday Times bestseller returns with her biggest and best book yet. The perfect read for fans of Paula Hawkins and Clare Mackintosh.

Praise for C.L. Taylor:

‘A gripping and disturbing psychological thriller’ Clare Mackintosh

‘Absorbing and disturbing’ Alex Marwood

‘Loved it’ Fiona Barton

‘Claustrophobic, tense and thrilling’ Elizabeth Haynes

C.L. Taylor's book 'Every Move You Make' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-04-01.

Print length

434 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Avon
Accessibility

Learn more
Publication date

23 Mar. 2017
File size

2.2 MB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled

See all details

Report an issue with this product

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01M4KB9E5
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ 23 Mar. 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008118082
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: 19,817 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 205 in Heist Crime
- 327 in Irish Crime
- 428 in International Mystery & Crime (Kindle Store)
Customer reviews:
5,836 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

C.L. Taylor

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

C.L. Taylor is an award winning Sunday Times bestselling author of ten gripping psychological thrillers including EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for autumn 2024, THE GUILTY COUPLE, (Richard and Judy Book Club 2023) and SLEEP (Richard and Judy Book Club 2019).

C.L. Taylor's books have sold over two million copies in the UK alone, hit number one on Amazon Kindle, Audible, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play, and have been translated into over 30 languages and optioned for TV.

Her books are not a series and can be read in any order:

2014 - THE ACCIDENT / Before I Wake (U.S. title)

2015 - THE LIE

2016 - THE MISSING

2017 - THE ESCAPE

2018 - THE FEAR

2019 - SLEEP

2020 - STRANGERS

2021 - HER LAST HOLIDAY

2022 - THE GUILTY COUPLE

2024 - EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE

2025 - IT'S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND

She has also written two Young Adult thrillers: THE TREATMENT and THE ISLAND.

Her crime short story collection, TELL THEM NO LIES, is published as Cally Taylor. She also has a women's fiction story collection, SECRETS AND RAIN, under the same name.

* NB: Any short stories published on Amazon by CL Taylor are NOT published by Cally. It's an American CL Taylor.

Customer reviews

5,836 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find this book to be a brilliant psychological thriller with a gripping storyline that keeps readers reading until the very last page. The book is full of twists and turns, and customers describe it as a heart-racing read that's hard to put down. The writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting it's the author's best work. Customers disagree on the character development and pacing, with some loving the characters while others find them one-dimensional, and some appreciating the fast pace while others find it dragging.

Select to learn more

Readability Storyline Suspenseful Twists Gripping Writing style Character development Pacing

163 customers mention ‘Readability’148 positive15 negative

Customers find the book to be a fantastic read, particularly enjoying it as holiday reading material.

"Good read. Not my favorite by c.l Taylor. Still kept me gripped with the good unexpected plot twists. Just not as gritty as the others" Read more

"...in one sitting (not because its a short read) but because its a good read and this is one of those stories, says it all really and I'd recommend..." Read more

"...This was a great read that kept me gripped until the end...." Read more

"A great book that you dont need to concentrate on, easy to follow, but makes you think and want to read more to get the answers.. gripping" Read more

94 customers mention ‘Storyline’73 positive21 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, finding it compelling with an exciting ending that provides lots of answers to the plot.

"Great story. Shame about the pronunciation...." Read more

"Not my favourite book of C L Taylor. Whilst a good story it didn’t grip me or have much suspense as i had hoped." Read more

"Good story with believeable characters. A fast moving story and easy to read put down and pick back up." Read more

"I found this story jumped about too much and the characters did not gain my interest." Read more

84 customers mention ‘Suspenseful’69 positive15 negative

Customers describe this book as a brilliant psychological thriller that is enthralling and exciting, with one customer noting it's captivating from beginning to end.

"Never read anything other than a gripping read from this writer. Consistently good. Never fails to get you wanting more, more, more!" Read more

"Gripping read. Didn't want to put it down." Read more

"Was looking forward to reading this expecting a good thriller ,unfortunately the only thing it is is sleep inducing...." Read more

"...Wow a Nail Biting rollercoaster of a book. Had me gripped from start to finish. On a par to my favourite CL Taylor book The Accident...." Read more

40 customers mention ‘Twists’38 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's twists and turns throughout the story.

"...Without giving too much away her story is full of twists and turns it's hard to work out who's the bad character in the book...." Read more

"This book has some great twists and turns. I read it after reading The Accident, which I loved, but thought this book was even better...." Read more

"This book was absolutely amazing - hard to put down. Full of twists and suspense. A fantastic read! Would definitely recommend." Read more

"Another fantastic hit from this author. So many twists and turns. It will constantly keep you guessing. Can't wait to read more." Read more

31 customers mention ‘Gripping’23 positive8 negative

Customers find the book gripping, describing it as a can't-put-down book that they couldn't stop reading.

"...This book is absorbing and gripping and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Worth every one of its 5 stars...." Read more

"I love this author and this book confirms why. Gripping from the first page, and plenty of twist in the plotline." Read more

"Another hard to put down book." Read more

"This book was absolutely amazing - hard to put down. Full of twists and suspense. A fantastic read! Would definitely recommend." Read more

31 customers mention ‘Writing style’27 positive4 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, describing it as brilliant, with one customer noting it's compulsive reading.

"...Well written, great characters. Enjoy." Read more

"...Brilliantly written and surprising twists Can't wait to read more" Read more

"Very well written and couldn’t put it down. Always gripping and lots of twists." Read more

"...hooked this time round does not mean others wont be, this book is well written, it is fast paced but it lacked the usual mystery I so love...." Read more

38 customers mention ‘Character development’17 positive21 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book, with some loving them while others are not keen on them.

"...other 1 star reviews that this book is quiet boring and the characters unlikable, I can't get myself to finish it!!..." Read more

"...would recommend anybody to read this book,it was uncomplicated & great characters, I'm reading another of her books called " The Accident" another..." Read more

"Dreadful - badly written, unbelievable characters..." Read more

"...Very good story line and believable characters 10/10" Read more

34 customers mention ‘Pacing’20 positive14 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some praising its fast pace that keeps them wanting more, while others find parts of the story dragging on.

"...round does not mean others wont be, this book is well written, it is fast paced but it lacked the usual mystery I so love...." Read more

"...I found some of it a bit far fetched and unbelievable to be honest." Read more

"...I woke up thinking about Jo a d Elise! Fast paced and heart rending plot!" Read more

"Dragged on a bit, became quite boring" Read more

Reviews with images

See all photos

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

Gilbster
Wonderfully immersive
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 March 2017
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Wonderfully immersive piece of writing that has had me continually pondering exactly what may be the truth, all the while absorbed in this fabulous book.

There is a great deal of tension from the first page, which is just what I want from this sort of book, and the sense of danger, or there being something not quite right with all the presented information doesn't leave me at all.

Jo Blackmore appears as though she could be a rather unreliable narrator, given she admits to a few mental health problems including panic attacks and a form of agoraphobia. She often seems rather paranoid, right from the start, so it is really hard to know whether you should be believing everything she says. However as she is the main point of view, I found I was taking everything at face value, while the depths of my brain was working on if there were any holes.

Whatever you feel about Jo, there is one thing for certain, she believes her daughter, Elise is in danger, and that she is too, and she isn't really sure what to do, as it seems that no one else believes her, and very slowly her life is turning into a living nightmare, and she decides that life on the run is for the best...

Having learnt from previous books by C.L. Taylor, I made sure that I set aside a day to read this where I would be ideally uninterrupted so that I could relish every second I spent reading The Escape, and I finished it far quicker than I was expecting. I completely lost track of the time, and read it in one sitting and found the writing to be compulsive reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next at all times.

I feel as though I had been alongside Jo on this journey, and that her ups and downs were mine. I feel exhausted for having gone through what she has, even if I was only reading about it. This is possibly the best book C.L. Taylor has written, probably eclipsing even The Lie in my affections.

This is everything that the author does well, writes a compelling story that draws you in, until it becomes a part of you. I am so impressed by The Escape and can't believe that I have finished it already, and will have to wait ages for another book by the author.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Read more

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
The Cat's Mother
A good 'cat and mouse' thriller that had me gripped
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2022
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I enjoyed this book where our main character, Jo, has to be one step ahead all the time to save her daughter from being taken away by her husband and/or the authorities. We know Jo is a good mother and doesn’t deserve to lose Elise, but Jo can’t work out why she is being set up or why she is being pursued by some scary woman for something her dodgy husband has done. Jo is actually quite an irritating character at times and you really want her to grow a backbone. She suffers from agoraphobia but makes some really stupid decisions that shouldn’t be as a result of this condition. But if she didn’t make these stupid decisions, there wouldn’t be a story.

I got through the book pretty quickly as each chapter ended with me wanting to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, the book alternates from Jo’s narrative to her husband’s point of view so I sometimes had to look back to see how Jo’s chapter ended. I did find it a bit irritating that Jo’s sections are narrated in the first person but all other characters in the third person and in some cases the text changes from the past and present tense on the same page, which doesn’t flow well.

Overall though, a good read and I enjoyed it.

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Jennyinneverland
Bit underwhelming but kept me reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
If you’ve been somewhat awake for the past few months, chances are you’ve seen The Escape floating around and people raving about it left, right and centre. C.L Taylor is a hit with book bloggers and readers alike for her gripping thrillers but silly ol’ me over here had never read one before. I had originally bought this book for my mum for Mother’s day (and Cally very kindly sent me some signed stuff to go with it) but as she was reading something else, I thought it would be a good chance for me to give it a go and finally see what all the fuss is about with these books.

The Escape is about a woman named Jo who has a young daughter, Elise and suffers from anxiety and agoraphobia. Her relationship with her husband is strained, due to her mental problems and after miscarrying a child years before, her step-dad is extremely ill and her mother refuses to speak about her childhood and her real dad. Jo’s life takes a turn when one morning, a woman called Paula asks her for a lift but upon entering her car, she very chillingly pulls out one of her daughter’s gloves and tells her she should make sure she looks after her daughter.

From then on, things continue to happen to put Jo on edge, even more so than she is already. The house is ransacked, she’s arrested on suspicion of drug possession after the police find drugs in her home which aren’t hers and her marriage is over as she learns she can’t trust anyone. She flees the country, goes into hiding and goes back to her childhood town in Ireland, where she stays in a B&B with a landlady who has secrets of her own. All she wants to do is keep Elise safe and out of danger. But who is the actual danger?

Okay, I’ve been a bit apprehensive to review this as quite frankly, I don’t want to offend the 107 5 star reviewers on Amazon but… Let’s start with the basics, as gripping and immersing reading goes, this probably gets 12 out of 10. You will honestly fly through this as that’s just how the writing goes. There is no question to C.L Taylor’s writing abilities here and I could not fault the way she makes you keep turning and turning and turning those pages until your fingers ache. It’s tense and claustrophobic and pulls you right in.

The actual storyline was where my problem lies. There’s nothing wrong with the story; I personally found the book to be in 2 very clear cut halves, with the first half shocking me and sending shivers down my spine and the second half, well, not. The more I knew, the less shocked I was. I wasn’t expecting the “twist” but I wasn’t particularly… gobsmacked by it. What I’m saying is that I was a little underwhelmed with where things went, after such a promising and exciting start to the novel. I always say that I’m rarely shocked by things in books and this is one of those perfect examples.

I also found everything that was going on to be a bit, “bitty”. Which I know really isn’t a word and it’s hard to explain like, the book didn’t really focus on one or two things, I felt like I was here there and everywhere with Paula, her husbands job, her mental health issues, her mum, her step-dad, the landlady, the landlady’s tragic past and whilst at the end, most of it does all fit into the bigger picture somewhere, I couldn’t help but feel some of it was unnecessary and really didn’t add a whole lot of depth to the story.

Overall, I just felt the storyline fell a bit flat and wasn’t as deep and compelling as I had hoped. I also had a problem with how unlikeable Jo was and although I felt for her with her mental health problems she was facing and clearly struggling so much with, she was so frantic and all over the place throughout the entire novel I just wanted to scream at her to stop and slow down. She made me dizzy. But it was important how the author shows that agoraphobia isn’t just one clear cut, ‘you can’t leave your house and that’s that‘, which so many people assume.

I’m going to leave it there because this review is a tad on the long side now but really, I was a bit disappointed with some elements of the book but the writing style and the way the author grabs you would not deter me from picking up the author’s previous books and giving them a try.

Read more

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report