Book Review: You Had It Coming by B. M. Carroll

You Had It Coming is the tenth novel by author B.M. Carroll, published in 2021.

Her first seven books were published under her full name Ber Carroll, while her later three, including You Had It Coming, are published under B.M. Carroll. This is to reflect the change in tone of her novels, from more lighthearted reads to darker thrillers.

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Genre: Thriller

Author: B.M. Carroll

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2021

Plot

When paramedic Megan is called to the scene of a shooting, she knows she will do everything she can to keep the victim alive. However, when she arrives she is shocked to discover the victim is a man she knows. A man she despises. Why should she save the life of someone who ruined hers?

Meanwhile, Jess is also still trying to come to terms with what happened 12 years ago. When she receives a text message from Megan she is surprised. The two former friends haven’t spoken in years. When she hears of the shooting, she thinks the same thing as Megan – you had it coming.

However as they’re thrust into the middle of a murder trial, all past secrets are revealed. Who can be trusted? Who did shoot this man? And did he really have it coming?

You Had It Coming Book Review

You Had It Coming was a fast-paced, gripping novel. It immediately grabbed my attention and I was keen to know what really happened the night of the shooting.

I liked the three main characters. Former friends Megan and Jess were both realistic characters and I found it interesting how the two women reacted differently when trying to live with their trauma. Bridget, placed in charge of the murder investigation, was also another relatable character. I liked how the author balanced her professionalism with her worry about her teenage children.

The story was well written yet wasn’t full of pretentious prose. It just made you want to read a little bit more. There were a lot of potential suspects, a few too many if I’m being honest but this perhaps makes the investigation that bit more realistic. There were clues and misdirections throughout, however, I was disappointed that I predicted the twist quite early on. I thought it was quite obvious so I was hoping I was going to be wrong.

I did like the moral dilemmas the novel presents. Does anyone really deserve to die? Are things ever as black and white as they seem? Similarly, I appreciated that the author took great pains to emphasise that young girls should be able to wear what they want without being at risk of being assaulted. I thought the conversations Bridget had with her own children were well done and echoed what I would like to teach my own kids. The author, via Bridget, also made relevant observations about men’s mental health and the importance of speaking out.