Book Review - Anything You Do Say, by Gillian McAllister

I’ve just finished reading ‘Anything You Do Say’ by Gillian McAllister — and I absolutely loved it.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its structure. The novel uses a Sliding Doors-style concept, following two parallel versions of Joanna’s life after a single split-second decision.

Walking home alone late at night, Joanna hears footsteps behind her. Earlier that evening, she’d been harassed by a predatory man in a bar, and when she glimpses red trainers behind her, she becomes convinced it’s him. Panicking, she pushes the man away. He falls down a flight of steps and lands motionless below.

Joanna has two choices: call 999, wait for the police, and tell the truth — or leave and hope nobody ever discovers what happened.

The novel explores both possibilities, and what makes it so compelling is that neither path offers an easy escape. Whatever Joanna chooses, there are consequences. In one way or another, she is punished.

I also loved the characterisation. Joanna and her husband Reuben, who is central to Joanna’s dilemma, are both flawed, frustrating people, but that only makes them more believable. The writing itself is beautifully controlled too — deep and immersive without ever feeling overdone.

What impressed me most, though, was the ending. As I was reading, I couldn’t fathom how Gillian McAllister was going to resolve the parallel storylines in a satisfying way. Two completely separate endings, like John Fowles’ ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ didn’t feel right to me in this context— and that’s not what happens here. Yet somehow Gillian ties everything together brilliantly.

As someone who writes psychological suspense, I always admire novels that combine a clever premise with emotional depth and strong execution. This one absolutely did.

Have you ever read a novel with an unusual structure that really stayed with you afterwards?

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