Readers of murder mysteries expect twists and surprises, but IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK really surpasses the ordinary with its clever premise. I can't share that here because it's a spoiler. But please be assured that Clare Mackintosh has written a mystery that is as thrilling as any you might read. 

At the end of the first 75 pages, there is a twist that is completely jaw-dropping. (At least mine did.) The story is divided into chapters, each of which is clearly labeled with the character from whose point of view the narrative is written, which works flawlessly.

"There's so little that can be written about the plot without giving away important details that can’t be spoiled. Suffice to say that this is not a 'typical' mystery. What Mackintosh has created is really unique, and the premise is fabulous."

Mackintosh keeps the tension simmering as we realize how much we don't know, just as Nadeeka Prasanna doesn't know what happened to her boyfriend, Jamie. At the beginning of the novel, Nadeeka is on her way home from work. She suspects that Jamie is cheating on her. He has been acting suspiciously the past several weeks, which has had her wondering what has changed in their relationship. She has two daughters she needs to look out for.

When Nadeeka arrives home, after having been stopped for speeding, she finds a police car in front of her home. She's devastated to learn that Jamie has been killed. And from that point, good luck figuring out who is involved in this twisty tale of law enforcement, underground racist far-right groups, immigration and relationships. How well do we know those around us? How far will the terrorist groups go to ensure their subversive message isn't stopped?

Meanwhile, Lauren Caldwell, a Detective Chief Inspector, is getting married in a few weeks to another member of the force, Fraser Hogan. They work closely together; in fact, she is his boss. But they make it work, and their relationship seems perfect. When Lauren meets Nadeeka, it sets off a chain of events and investigations that will upend all of their lives.

There's so little that can be written about the plot without giving away important details that can’t be spoiled. Suffice to say that this is not a “typical” mystery. What Mackintosh has created is really unique, and the premise is fabulous. But what makes this a truly magnificent read is the care with which she has created the characters, the hints that she drops that we only realize were hints in retrospect, and the timing with which she parses out details. It's all beautifully conceived and written. This is one mystery you won't want to miss.