The book unfolds through multiple timelines and perspectives, which took me a little while to settle into. Once the threads began to weave together, though, I found myself completely absorbed. Jewell has a knack for dropping small clues that make you feel clever for a moment before she pulls the rug out from under you. I thought I had the mystery worked out more than once, only to realise I was nowhere close. The final twist landed particularly well, adding a sharp edge to the ending without feeling gratuitous.

What struck me most were the themes running quietly beneath the suspense. Childhood trauma, complicated family dynamics, and the ways people carry their pasts into adulthood all play a part. Jane herself is an interesting protagonist. I didn’t always warm to her, yet I found her determination compelling, and her relationship with her stepchildren added warmth to an otherwise dark narrative. Her son‑in‑law ended up being my favourite character, bringing a grounded presence to the chaos. I also enjoyed the eerie atmosphere surrounding Thornwood, the house at the centre of everything. Jewell paints it vividly, making it feel both ordinary and deeply wrong at the same time.

This isn’t the fastest or most action‑heavy thriller Jewell has written, but it is one of her more layered ones. Readers who enjoy slow‑burn mysteries, morally messy characters, and stories that reveal themselves piece by piece will find plenty to enjoy. I can easily imagine Jane returning in a future book as an amateur investigator, and I’d happily follow her again.

In the end, It Could Have Been Her delivered exactly what I hoped for. It kept me guessing, kept me thinking, and left me satisfied. Sometimes that’s all you need from a good thriller!

Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for the opportunity to read this book.