Write Good Reads!

Sister blog to Writesofluid.com, where I blog about everything to do with writing, editing and the media industry. Here, you can see what I am reading for leisure, and what I think of it!

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THE OTHER TWIN by Lucy V Hay, 5/5*****

OK, so I’ve been looking forward to this book for ages - Lucy is a friend and I have been curious about the novel - which is more in line with my favourite types of novels than her YA books - ever since she said she was writing it. But this also made me nervous - would I like it? What if I don’t?

Thankfully, there was none of that. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut crime novel! It has the elements I usually go for in a thriller book: a mystery involving someone from the protagonist’s past and a necessity to revisit that past and desire to investigate. 

However, along with this, it’s also got such a unique vibe. There’s no sugar-coating the locations or the situations of the characters - the protagonist is relatably flawed and we get to see the darker sides of her popular seaside hometown of Brighton. 

I loved the short chapters, which were great for reading whenever I had some spare time - but were also quite the trap because I found myself in the ‘I’ll just read one more chapter’ loop! It takes a while for our protagonist to make some sense of the clues she has, but the narration doesn’t ever feel too slow. 

By halfway through, the layers of the story are starting to narrow and the intensity builds. I found myself constantly theorising as to who what and why, but didn’t hit on the correct solutions, making the twist at the end really satisfying. 

I think I’d need to read it again to fully appreciate all of the layers: particularly the cryptic blog clues, but I love how the identities of the mysterious characters come to light and how it makes scenes from earlier in the book suddenly make sense. You may think the novel is about one thing, when it’s additionally about a whole other thing as well. 

If you want a book that’s ‘the same but different’, then THIS is the one for you. It’s great for fans of thrillers and crime mysteries but is also raw and honest, current (social media presence and exploring relevant topics for today’s society) and will leave you thinking about it and its themes long afterwards.

Paperback is out 3rd July but you can get the Kindle version now - which is what I did! Grab yours HERE. 

DESCRIPTION:

When India falls to her death from a bridge over a railway, her sister Poppy returns home to Brighton for the first time in years. Unconvinced by official explanations, Poppy begins her own investigation into India's death. But the deeper she digs, the closer she comes to uncovering deeply buried secrets. Could Matthew Temple, the boyfriend she abandoned, be involved? And what of his powerful and wealthy parents, and his twin sister, Ana? Enter the mysterious and ethereal Jenny: the girl Poppy discovers after hacking into India's laptop. What is exactly is she hiding, and what did India find out about her? Taking the reader on a breathless ride through the winding lanes of Brighton, into its vibrant party scene and inside the homes of its well- heeled families, The Other Twin is a startling and up-to-the-minute thriller about the social-media world, where resentments and accusations are played out online, where identities are made and remade, and where there is no such thing as truth ...

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THE SECOND SISTER by Claire Kendal 3.5/5 ***

I found this book a little confusing in its opening, but mysterious enough to lure me in. I love the unraveling of mysteries, especially ones where there’s a missing person, so I enjoyed this book. However, it did feel a little slow at times and as a result the ending, though an exciting twist, felt a bit extravagant and did leave me with some questions.

SPOILERS AHEAD

When I say extravagant, I mean that despite the protagonist being more than capable of saving herself, we still have another character come to the rescue at the last minute. The ending answers our questions about who did what, but doesn’t resolve some things such as who the lady at the library was and why she gave information to our protagonist in front of another character. I like that the killer on the run gives leeway for a sequel, but it does feel quite jarring that not everything has been resolved. 

DESCRIPTION:

Ten years ago, Ella’s sister Miranda vanished without trace. Now thirty, the same age as Miranda when she disappeared, Ella has grown to look dangerously like the missing woman. Ella becomes convinced that the man who took Miranda is watching her family. To Ella, this is an opportunity as much as a prospect of fear. It makes her more determined than ever to find out what happened to the beautiful and mysterious Miranda. Because who better than a sister to see what the police overlooked and to understand the missing woman? Especially as the perpetrator leaves new evidence that only Ella takes seriously. Is Ella paranoid, or intensely intuitive? She idolised her older sister, but now she will need to face some difficult truths. How was Miranda, a nurse, able to pay cash for her flat and her luxury car? What made her write a will when she was still pregnant, asking that custody of her child be shared between Ella and her parents? The price of learning Miranda’s fate will be far higher than Ella imagines… 

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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THE KILLER ON THE WALL by Emma Kavanagh, 5/5 ***** I really enjoyed this book - the close community setting and cold season really adds to the atmosphere in this serial killer thriller, and the two main narrations are strong female characters who are easy to get behind and whose points of view are really interesting. We sometimes see events from secondary characters' perspectives, and the suspicions are built upon gradually throughout the plot and with good reasoning. This makes the reveal at the end all the more surprising and hard to believe (in the sense that it's a real twist that you may not see coming). Without giving away any spoilers, I did wonder if readers may feel a bit cheated at the end because of this, but I only felt like this for a fleeting moment. The way Kavanagh has developed the characters and the theoretical insights they bring to the crime case really helps us to see that the outcome makes sense. The fact that all of the characters are very well written, and the plot develops with great suspense, makes this book hard to put down! Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC. DESCRIPTION: The first body comes as a shock The second brings horror The third signals the beginning of a nightmare When fifteen-year-old Isla Bell finds three bodies propped against Hadrian’s Wall, her whole world falls apart. In such a close-knit community, everyone knows the victims, and the man who did it. Twenty years on and Isla has dedicated her life to forensic psychology; studying the brains of serial killers, and even coming face to face with the convicted murderer who turned her world upside down. She is safe after all, with him behind bars. Then another body appears against the Wall. And another. As the nightmare returns and the body count rises, everyone in town is a suspect. Who is the Killer on the Wall?

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Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor, 5/5 *****

Having read If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor a few years ago now, I knew instantly what a beautiful read awaited me in this book that was kindly given to me as an ARC from Netgalley.

Jon has a distinctive style, you see: it’s all about the lyricism and poetry of everyday life. We flit from character to character, animal to nature, and all the while we’re like a fly on the wall looking in on other people’s lives.

Reservoir 13 was no disappointment in this sense. In fact, it was even better given the pull of the plot: a girl’s gone missing. In his first book, we were observing what happened in an urban street one day. In Reservoir 13, we’re following the characters for years as life goes on but the missing girl is still looked for and thought about.

You might find it strange to read at first, but the mystery helps pull the reader in and once you stick with it and get used to the writing style, it’s unputdownable: much like the writing, us readers seem to float along the tide of observation.

If you’re after a mystery or crime with answers, this is not your book. However, if you enjoy the thrill of a mystery and theorising over what happened, then you will absolutely love this novel!

Description

From the award-winning author of If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things and Even the Dogs. Reservoir 13 tells the story of many lives haunted by one family’s loss. 

Midwinter in the early years of this century. A teenage girl on holiday has gone missing in the hills at the heart of England. The villagers are called up to join the search, fanning out across the moors as the police set up roadblocks and a crowd of news reporters descends on their usually quiet home. 

Meanwhile, there is work that must still be done: cows milked, fences repaired, stone cut, pints poured, beds made, sermons written, a pantomime rehearsed. 

The search for the missing girl goes on, but so does everyday life. As it must. 

As the seasons unfold there are those who leave the village and those who are pulled back; those who come together or break apart. There are births and deaths; secrets kept and exposed; livelihoods made and lost; small kindnesses and unanticipated betrayals. 

Bats hang in the eaves of the church and herons stand sentry in the river; fieldfares flock in the hawthorn trees and badgers and foxes prowl deep in the woods – mating and fighting, hunting and dying. 

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SOMETIMES I LIE by Alice Feeney, 5/5 *****

I absolutely loved this read. At first it felt a little tame with just the mystery of how the protagonist ended up in hospital to keep you reading. However, as it progressed it got more and more thrilling because it’s not just about how she got into a coma but how her childhood and recent life lead to her being in such a terrifying situation. As the title suggests, sometimes she lies - but is it just to others or to us too? As we relive her past and recent memories, as well as experiencing the characters who visit Anna whilst in a coma, we are really pulled into quite the creepy mystery. Can’t say much more, really, without spoiling it, but if you enjoy really twisty think-about-it-for-ages-after-to-work-it-out reads, then this will be right up your street. Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

DESCRIPTON:

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me:

1. I’m in a coma. 2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 3. Sometimes I lie.

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KEEP ME SAFE by Daniela Sacerdoti, 2.5/5 ***

The description was what made me want to read this book because the whole idea of past lives is really fascinating to me. As such, I really enjoyed it at first, and found the descriptions of the beautiful Seal Island really breathtaking. Usually, I don’t go for books that are part of a series, but I can definitely see how readers who liked this book will eagerly await the next in the series. However, as the novel progressed, it seemed to be trying to cover too much all at once. Not only did we have a past life, but we were also dealing with ghosts and psychics. I could just about handle the alternate perspectives from Anna and Sorren, given that this was also inevitably a romance (one of those which we know is going to happen and is therefore just a waiting game). However, when we start moving into peripheral characters’ perspectives it just feels unnecessary. I am guessing this is because these characters, like Caty, might have a role in further books, but to be honest the switch to her own romance and her psychic abilities just made me lose focus and interest. I do appreciate the magical nature of the history of the families and the island coming together, but again, having Anna’s family line be connected to Seal and also in a supernatural way really just felt like overkill. A nice read, but not for me.  Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

DESCRIPTON:

My daughter wants to go home... When Anna's partner walks away from their relationship, she is shattered. But it is her little girl Ava who takes it hardest of all. The six year old falls silent for three days. When she does speak, her words are troubling. Ava wants to go home. To a place called Seal. To her other mother... Anna knows to unravel the mystery she must find Seal and take Ava there. She hopes this tiny island will unlock her daughter's memories. But could it also offer a new life... and unexpected love... for Anna too?

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THE BREAK DOWN by BA Paris, 5/5 ***** 

  THE BREAKDOWN is a thoroughly engrossing read. Having loved the intensity of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, I was anxious to see what BA Paris had in store for us this time. It definitely didn't disappoint with its intensity. This time, the illness causing the protagonist's lack of memory and a fateful night when she doesn't stop to help someone on the side of the road who is later murdered: and turns out to be someone she knows, creates all the right ingredients for paranoia. The guilt eats away at Cass, and she fears she was seen by the murderer and will be their next victim. With only her husband, best friend and colleague to help her, Cass feels helpless and out of control as her memory deteriorates further. We really feel Cass's claustrophobia as she spirals out of control, and it's so satisfying to see her regain it when the final twist hits. Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

DESCRIPTON:

If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods and the woman who was killed.

Since then she’s been forgetting everything. Where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby.

What she can’t forget is the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

Or the silent calls she’s receiving and the feeling that someone’s watching her…

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The Girl Before by JP Delaney, 4/5 ****

This is the kind of book you just can’t put down. The premise is really interesting; to get the stunning and affordable house the renters have to undergo questionnaires and observation; literally being monitored and watched through the technology in the house. For the two main protagonists focussed on in the story; Jane, the current tenant, and Emma, the “girl before”, it’s a price they’re willing to pay to get away from their personal problems and make a fresh start. But the proprietor; architect Edward Monkford, is a strange and alluring man, such that we the reader (and the characters) never quite know if he can be trusted. Past tragedies and suspicious circumstances weave together throughout the characters in the book to create a real sense of danger for current resident Jane, and the reader is kept on their toes as well. Throughout the book, we are given sample questions from the questionnaires that the tenants must fill in at the start of their interviews, making us wonder what we would have put, and why Monkford would choose such questions. This book has already been picked up by Universal Pictures, to be directed by Ron Howard, and I can see why - not only are the characters intense but so is the confined setting and the depth of the mystery surrounding the house and its architect. The open-ended conclusion, with a new tenant arriving, is chilling - although I perhaps would have enjoyed a more conclusive ending to Monkford’s role. Still, it leaves the “door open” so-to-speak, for another story...

Many thanks to the publisher for the copy I won through Netgalley!

DESCRIPTION

Enter the world of One Folgate Street and discover perfection . . . but can you pay the price? For all fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl comes this spellbinding Hitchcockian thriller which takes psychological suspense to the next level. Jane stumbles on the rental opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to live in a beautiful ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect, on condition she abides by a long list of exacting rules. After moving in, she discovers that a previous tenant, Emma, met a mysterious death there - and starts to wonder if her own story will be a re-run of the girl before. As twist after twist catches the reader off guard, Emma's past and Jane's present become inexorably entwined in this tense, page-turning portrayal of psychological obsession.

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Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan, 4/5 ****

I really enjoyed this book's curious premise, although I did find the protagonist was portrayed older than her supposed age which irked me a bit and prevented me from being able to fully engage in the plot at first. Nonetheless I did find it a page-turner. It's true that the events feel a little far-fetched but we are able to suspend our disbelief enough to enjoy the unravelling of the truth. I personally would have preferred to see a juicier twist than the revelation we get - there are hints at the potential for foul play by characters other than the kidnapper so I would have liked to have seen a deeper, more disturbing twist to the plot. As such I was left a little deflated after eagerly arriving at the manuscript's end, but would still recommend this book for those who enjoy psychological thrillers.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

DESCRIPTION

Margot Lewis is the agony aunt for The Cambridge Examiner. Her advice column, Dear Amy, gets all kinds of letters - but none like the one she's just received: 

'Dear Amy, I don't know where I am. I've been kidnapped and am being held prisoner by a strange man. I'm afraid he'll kill me. Please help me soon, Bethan Avery' Bethan Avery has been missing for years. This is surely some cruel hoax. But, as more letters arrive, they contain information that was never made public. How is this happening? Answering this question will cost Margot everything . . .

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Tear Me Apart, The Forgotten Women Series (Books 1-4), 5/5 *****

by Lucy V. Hay, Farzana Rahman, Jacqui Canham and Elinor Perry-Smith

I don't normally read novellas; especially those in a series. I'm not sure why - I guess I'm just usually so engrossed in my fave genres of crime and psychological thrillers that I just don't leave room for experimental reading. However, knowing some of the writers, I wanted to read this series, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! This isn't what you might think it is - you might be mistaken for thinking it's just another teen fantasy genre, but actually it's more like a post-apocalyptic thriller - just in small doses from different characters. I absolutely love post-apocalyptic movies and TV shows - gimme The Walking Dead and The 100 any day! Which is why I am THRILLED that this series is an accompaniment to a movie, because I was definitely thirsty for more after reading these four novellas as well as the short story preface. I'd say these novellas are most like The 100, but with a very real feeling to it - no cyber technology - as though it could ACTUALLY HAPPEN. This makes it all the more scary. The premise is brilliant - what if women died out and the remaining few were hunted and kept like precious commodities? With this in mind, you can imagine how intriguing and thrilling it is to hear about life from the point of view of five girls at various time frames after The Fall - the dying-out event. I actually read these in the incorrect order, which I don't think mattered - though I would suggest reading the Sons of Gaia one last as it gives some of the answers to mysteries in the other novellas. I really liked each and every one of the novellas; each with female protagonists that were neither weak and feeble nor invincible. My personal favourite was Darklight, because I felt thrilled by the idea that everything the protagonist thought she knew was a lie; plus the living underground aspect. I really enjoyed the setting of Skyjack, with the battle between "sides" and the mystery of the people who fall from the sky. The inter-gender and more adult aspects of Sons of Gaia had me captivated, as did the reveals of the island, and Djinni was really interesting how it looked at the evolution of prejudice - although I would have preferred a less inconclusive ending on this one. In a nutshell: I want more! When are the next ones coming out, so we can find out what happens to the characters in the next phases of their journeys. Plus, will any of them ever meet?!!! :)

Many thanks to the authors for my ARC! Now get writing more!

Description:

What if 99% of the female population died out? This is exactly what happened when The Fall set in motion the mysterious deaths of women. Since then, wars have been waged and civilisation has completely broken down. Feral packs of young men called Raiders scour the land. Violence and disease is rife. The only way to survive is by dabbling in the black markets – where the highest currency is an increasingly rare commodity: Women and girls. But what of the 1% of the women who are left? What does Φ mean? And who are the Sons of Gaia? The Forgotten Women is a series of novellas exploring four young women's journeys through the brutal post-apocalyptic world after The Fall. Those who are not enslaved might find sanctuary in the Havens and Projects, entreating male allies to help protect them from the threat of Raiders. Or they may band together, distrustful of men, creating female-only colonies, looking for their sisters in arms. But they’re all out there, waiting for us to join them ... Hunted, isolated, it’s not only about staying alive, but discovering who they are in a totally masculine world. The brutal yet poignant post-apocalyptic world after the Fall plays host to a collective storyworld - TEAR ME APART - that includes a feature film, novellas, animated web comics and more. For more information, including still from the feature film, check out www.tearmeapartmovie.com.

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I See You by Clare Mackintosh, 5 stars *****

First of all, can I just say how BEAUTIFUL the cover of this book is? It's not often I get a physical review copy of a novel to read, but I was one of the lucky chosen ones to receive one (thanks TBC!) and I just fell in love with the aqua shades and shiny copper fonts. Lush! The novel... Well. How could Clare top I Let You Go? This was the question on my mind when I heard about this new psychological thriller. It's different, for sure, but just as riveting! It's told from three points of view; one of which, that occurs as very short chapters, is the first-person voice of the antagonist. The concept can pretty much be summed up by one of the lines from these snippets: ROUTINE WILL KILL YOU. Who can see you, as you go about your everyday routines, and what if they had malicious intent? The events and how they unfold are deliciously convincing, from the details of the London underground/overground to the police procedurals. You will think that you have cottoned onto the antagonist several times, only to be thrust in different directions. Not only is the mystery utterly complex, compelling and sickeningly worrying (can I go about my own routines now without wondering what if???) but we also have some fantastic themes underlying it all such as the effects of guilt, regret and the consequences of keeping silent to protect others.

Description:

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation, no website: just a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

Thanks to TBR and the publishers for an ARC of this book 

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Missing Rose by Linda Newbury, 4 stars ****

I really enjoyed the characterisation in this book - both Anna and her mother are still feeling the effects from their pasts and the tension that comes about through this is brilliant. Rose's disappearance remains a captivating mystery up until the climax, with both Anna and her mother each breaking down in the run up; Anna regarding her relationship and her mother regarding her sanity. The only criticism I have is that Rose's character, and the outcome, left questions unanswered. Though it's quite easy to brush bad memories under the carpet, I was disappointed that the outcome in this case remained "cold" and devoid of the sort of emotions you might expect. Yet, despite being a disappointment for me subjectively, this doesn't mean that the outcome is negative plot or character-wise; as I say, it's perfectly valid and really makes you think.

Description:

At quarter past two on a hot summer afternoon, Anna’s beautiful, headstrong older sister Rose disappears. And Anna was the last person to see her. Their parents, Rose’s friends, the police – no-one can find where Rose has gone or who might have taken her. Twenty years later, Rose is still missing. Anna is the only one who still believes she might be alive, and unable to take control of her own life while her sister’s disappearance remains unsolved, she begins to hunt for the truth herself. But the search for Rose will uncover secrets she is not prepared for…

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Baby Doll by Hollie Overton, 2 1/2 stars ***

Being a fan of psychological thrillers, I thought this book sounded right up my street. Having enjoyed "Room" immensely, I thought it was a brilliant idea to explore what comes after an escape, especially when the victim left a twin behind. The escape from imprisonment and the arrest of the captor was all very exciting, but as the novel progressed I found my interest waning a little because the dark and juicy twists I kept expecting never amounted to anything. There were a few surprises along the way that piqued my interest anew but overall I'd have to say I was quite disappointed, with this novel feeling a lot more like a drama than a thriller.

For those interested in family relationships, this is a great book, but for fans of "taut psychological thrillers" as advertised, not so much. In comparison to Room, I found Baby Doll a lot less convincing when it comes to the realities of the escape and the aftermath. Lily's daughter seemed far too "normal" and adjusted, despite later needing counselling.

The narration also wasn't my cup of tea, alternating between family members and the captor. Personally, I would have preferred a single or double-person narrative with a bigger and darker twist that would blow the reader away. I was convinced for a good amount of time that Abby had something sinister to hide, but ultimately this book was about love and what lengths people will go to for it. 

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book

DESCRIPTION

You've been held captive in one room, mentally and physically abused every day, since you were sixteen years old.

Then, one night, you realize your captor has left the door to your cell unlocked.

For the first time in eight years, you're free.

This is about what happens next ...

Lily knows that she must bring the man who nearly ruined her life - her good-looking high-school teacher - to justice. But she never imagined that reconnecting with her family would be just as difficult. Reclaiming her relationship with her twin sister, her mother, and her high school sweetheart who is in love with her sister may be Lily's greatest challenge. After all they've been through, can Lily and her family find their way back after this life-altering trauma?

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Black Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin, 5/5 ***** 

 I could not put this book down - here we have a pacey and captivating story of the mystery of the horrifying thing that happened to a teenager in 1995 and the race in the present day to prove that the man on death row for a serial killer charge was not the culprit after all. Set in the past and present, we are captivated by the protagonist's trauma and the enigmatic and erratic personality of her best friend who supports her throughout it. The book examines psychology and forensics and  weaves the two together deliciously in this case of mistaken conviction. Manipulation is a big theme in this novel, whilst the insight into the main character and how she felt at the time of her trauma and since then into adulthood, really makes us root for her to get to the bottom of the mystery and finally lay ghosts to rest. Highly recommend this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book

DESCRIPTION

Seventeen-year-old Tessa, dubbed a 'Black-Eyed Susan' by the media, became famous for being the only victim to survive the vicious attack of a serial killer. Her testimony helped to put a dangerous criminal behind bars - or so she thought. Now, decades later the black-eyed susans planted outside Tessa's bedroom window seem to be a message from a killer who should be safely in prison. Haunted by fragmented memories of the night she was attacked and terrified for her own teenage daughter's safety, can Tessa uncover the truth about the killer before it's too late?

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The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh, 3/5 ***

Emma Kavanagh's crime thriller is really interesting but perhaps not what I was expecting. Though I definitely enjoyed the premise, did want to find out the outcome of the mystery and found the kidnap and ransom cases fascinating, I didn't feel that the narration and the characters/events gelled all that well. I didn't find it a page turner, instead dipping into the book here and there. I think my interest began to wane a bit when it became apparent that the ransom cases weren't necessarily clues to anything in the present-day plot, which made my interest in them wane. We also have a multiple narration with points of view from the main protagonist cop and her brother, and sometimes the viewpoint of other characters. Without a good anchor, and a deeper understanding of our main narrator, I found it really difficult to root for her to solve the mystery. The motivations just weren’t there, aside from avoiding her husband, whereas I would have liked to have gotten to know her a bit better and why she was keen to work the case. Conflict between her and her brother would have been interesting, too, rather than having them more like friends. Just not my cup of tea, on this occasion!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my ARC copy.

Description

A woman disappears One moment, Selena Cole is in the playground with her children and the next, she has vanished without a trace.

A woman returns

Twenty hours later, Selena is found safe and well, but with no memory of where she has been.

What took place in those missing hours, and are they linked to the discovery of a nearby murder?

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In Too Deep by Samantha Hayes, 4/5 ****

I have enjoyed every one of Samantha Hayes' books; each unique yet hugely captivating. In Too Deep was no different. I enjoyed the perspectives which flitted from mother to daughter as dual protagonists. The mystery of the disappearance of the father was really intriguing and I was kept in suspense throughout the whole book and its gradual revelations. I did, however, work out certain character issues early on and also the big twist, so the second half of the book was a little slow going for me as I felt like I was waiting for the revelations to finally come to light. Nevertheless, I still found the second half a riveting read, especially as some extra revelations I hadn't thought much about began to come to light. This saved the second half for me personally, because it meant that there were still surprises in store. An excellent read, even if the end does leave you with your jaw dropped... There's only one of Samantha's books I haven't yet read and I can't wait to download it and get started!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers (and TBC) for my ARC copy.

Description

The compelling new psychological suspense novel, from the author of Until You’re Mine, Before You Die and You Belong to Me. Perfect for fans of S J Watson and Sophie Hannah.

Your husband goes out to buy a newspaper. He never comes back.

Months later, an unexpected phone call puts you and your daughter in unimaginable danger.

Even if he were still alive, your husband can't save you now.

He told you way too many lies for that.

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The Good Mother by A. L. Bird, 4/5 ****

What can I say? This novel totally had me hooked, after a shaky start. I loved the short, sharp observational narrative tone and the way that the different narrators crept up on you. I loved the mysteriousness of the plot and how you were able to let your imagination run wild with your own theories. It seems so black and white, but then snippets of information cast doubts on your theories before new observations send you back to square one again. The shaky start? Just an illusion that the writer did not portray a character realistically. It bugged me. But trust me when I say to stick with it, because the revelations as the novel progresses will answer all those niggly questions and everything will make sense - it’s so worth it! A. L. Bird’s portrayal of what Susan goes through is bold and brave. I felt myself nodding at some of the deep questions/observations when it comes to mental health and, overall, couldn’t put this book down until I had finished it. A must read for those who like psychological thrillers in the vein of Gone Girl and Before I Go To Sleep.

Description:

The greatest bond. The darkest betrayal.

Susan wakes up alone in a room she doesn’t recognise, with no memory of how she got there. She only knows that she is trapped, and her daughter is missing.

The relief that engulfs her when she hears her daughter’s voice through the wall is quickly replaced by fear, knowing that whoever has imprisoned her has her daughter, too.

Devising a plan to keep her daughter safe, Susan begins to get closer to her unknown captor. And suddenly, she realises that she has met him before.