REVIEW: Dead Flowers by Nicola Monaghan (ARC)

Dead Flowers by Nicola Monaghan

Genre: Crime Fiction, Thriller

Read: 30th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 5th September 2019)

★★★★ 4 stars

Although I am not familiar with the author, I am a huge fan of British crime thrillers, and I always gravitate in their general direction. I'm not sure what it is but British crime thrillers and/or mysteries are just so much better and hugely intriguing. Maybe it's the setting, the history, the characters - I don't know. But if it's British, chances are I'm going to read it!

So without knowing anything about or by the author I wasn't sure what to expect when beginning DEAD FLOWERS...but what I got was a riveting thriller that had me captivated throughout. The concept, the narrative, the plot - it was all very cleverly layered with dark secrets and timely twists to make this a wonderfully gripping read. 

The idea of the central character being a DNA analyst is a novel concept, though I'm not sure when she trained up in that area since she was a police officer prior, rising to the rank of DCI. That part was a little bit vague, but a minor aside. However, the over descriptive narrative involving the DNA testing, I must say had me thoroughly confused as it was way too scientific for my right-brain. I felt that much of that process could have been eliminated without confusing the reader or sending them to sleep in those couple of chapters with maybe just a slight reference to the procedure instead of the in-depth approach.

DEAD FLOWERS opens directly in 1967 Nottingham. The setting - the Loggerheads pub (love the name!). Here, we meet some interesting characters who will go on to be the cornerstone of the story that is yet to come as we the scene is masterfully set. There's Harry MacKenzie (Mac), a Scot who has dreams of being bigger than The Beatles but somewhat of a big mouth; his best mate, Bobby Q, an almost silent partner; Angela, who is seeking an escape from an abusive marriage and has the voice of an angel; Marilyn, Angela's sister who may not have the voice but certainly has the looks; and big Pat Walsh, who "wasn't a man you talked about". Harry also had dreams of owning the Loggerheads and set about buying it from Big Pat where he, Bobby and the two sisters set themselves up in a band called Midnight Roses, playing both covers and originals, hoping that one day they would be famous.

Fast forward fifty years and it's 2017. Sian Love, ex-DCI now doctor specialising in DNA analysis, has recently inherited her uncle's old pub - the former Loggerheads - surprising both her and her family. She was quite fond of her uncle and he would often regale her with his tales - one about his wife that she was never quite sure was truth or fiction. Because for as long as she'd known him he had never been married. And the story often changed so she wasn't sure what to believe. 

Now she is moving into Loggerheads (as she still refers to it) with her German shepherd Elvis, an ex-cadaver dog, when she makes a gruesome discovery. The skeletal remains of two bodies, one partially mummified, secreted behind a door that has been plastered over in the cellar, injuring herself in the process. As an ex-copper familiar with the corruption in the local nick, she doesn't trust the police and is reluctant to get them involved but her Idris Elba-lookalike boyfriend Kris, who is also a DI, insists on doing so and calls it in. 

But before they arrive, sporting her broken ankle complete with cast, Sian sneaks into the cellar to seize a tissue sample from the mummified remains to run her own tests. She's not sure what it will reveal but she doesn't trust the police to conduct a thorough investigation. She is even less confident in their ability to cast a wider net which would then inevitably result in the blame being placed on her uncle Rob for the murders, of which she is convinced of his innocence. 

When she discovers that Detective Superintendent Dominic Wilkinson is the acting SIO on the case, she is less than happy. She's worked with Walker; she knows his style. Suspecting he is in the pocket of many a criminal, Walker is corrupt and she detests him. So when her Family Liaison Officer is revealed to be a Detective Inspector, Sian grows even more suspicious knowing full well that it is outside the remit of a DI to act as an FLO.

Sian doesn't know who she can trust. She barely trusts herself and struggles to do so with Kris and she knows she can't trust the police to do their job! So it's left to her to run the tissue sample she obtained to see what answers they may reveal. But is she prepared for the truth of those answers?

More than once Sian finds herself in danger as she is followed late at night, fearing for her life, in a case that turns out to be personal, uncovering the long buried family secrets and tragedy of the past. The deeper she digs, the more questions she finds. Just who was buried in that cellar? And why?

DEAD FLOWERS is a cleverly written multi-layered mystery that is atmospheric throughout. As the story unravels between the past and the present, there is something of a dark edge laced with menace which just exudes the right amount of suspense and tension.

The musical references in the chapter titles were a nice touch as a sign of the times - late sixties and early seventies - but in some aspects I didn't feel they reflected the content they titled. I won't give an example as that would just create a spoiler. But it was still a fitting nod to the past.

I cannot say I liked Sian a whole lot, especially to begin with. I found her a little closed off, detached, stubborn and somewhat unlikable at first. I know she has trust issues and I get that. But she did grow on me so she wasn't all bad. Elvis, however, was a star! (Thank you, Nicola Monaghan, for NOT hurting him!) Truly, he is...playing a key role!

I love the dual timeline feature, as it brings both stories together in a penultimate climax at the end. But just when you think you have it all figured out, there's another twist or two thrown our way, leaving readers gobsmacked.

I'm not sure where the reference to DEAD FLOWERS comes from; it's not from any song I know. I guess it could be kind of fitting "flowers" for the "dead"...maybe? 

In any case, DEAD FLOWERS is a riveting thriller that weaves both the past and present together in a tapestry like no other, revealing the picture in its entirety with a final twist.

Recommended for those who love their crime fiction dark and thrilling, DEAD FLOWERS is a gripping read.

I would like to thank #NicolaMonaghan, #NetGalley and #Verve for an ARC of #DeadFlowers in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Long Call by Ann Cleeves (ARC)

The Long Call (Two Rivers #1) by Ann Cleeves

Genre: Crime fiction, Police procedural

Read: 29th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 5th September 2019)

★★★★ 4.5 stars

Well known for her Shetland and Vera series, Ann Cleeves is opening yet another beginning with THE LONG CALL and introducing us to DI Matthew Venn. A prolific crime writer, Cleeves captures the essence to the location and the characters with an enthralling plot that continues to surprise from beginning to end. Her unique style is captivated on every page as she addresses and incorporates some of the societal prejudices towards homosexuality as well as the mentally impaired. She does this cleverly and with sensitivity.

The locale is North Devon. In the opening scenes, Matthew Venn is secreted in the bushes of a church on the fringes of his father's funeral. He knows he would not be welcome there, his mother blaming him for his father's death with his "marriage to a man". And yet he hovers to say his goodbyes.

Matthew was raised in a strict fundamentalist religious sect called the Barum Brethren. But his faith was questioned upon going to university in Bristol and his eyes being opened to life of a different kind. Rebelling against the restraints of the Brethren, upon his return Matthew publicly shunned all that he had been taught and lead to believe. As a result, he became an outcast - not only to the Brethren but to his family also.

His decision to join the Police gave Matthew the structure he had been brought up with and for which he now craved. The order and the routine was something he was familiar with and without it he became anxious. As a result of his upbringing, Matthew is socially reserved with a conservative wardrobe of suits and ties and a need for cleanliness. Jonathan, on the other hand, is his polar opposite dressing in shorts, t-shirts and sandals, is messy and loves to entertain. A perfect match, they compliment each other.

Now settled in Barnstaple - the same town in which his mother still lives as well as the members of the Brethren community he rejected - little does Matthew know that the investigation he is about to begin will bring him back into contact with that life that will bring his full circle.

A body has been found on a beach at Crow Point just short of the home Matthew shares with his husband Jonathan. There is no name and no ID - nothing to identify him except for the tattoo of an albatross on his neck. And the only witness to the murder - a herring gull with its long mournful cry. The man is soon identified as Simon Walden, a recovering alcoholic with a past, who volunteered at the Woodyard - a multi-use community centre run by Matthew's husband, Jonathan.

As the story unfolds, we become more familiar with the Woodyard and its characters therein as we meet a social worker, an artist, a priest and some of the people who attend programs that are run there. In particular, the day centre for the mentally disabled and those with learning difficulties where 30 year old Lucy and 42 year old Christine attend - both who have Down Syndrome.

Things begin to get complicated when Matthew and his team discover that not only did Simon have ties to the Woodyard, but that some of the board members of the Woodyard have ties to the Brethren. Matthew begins to wonder if he should recuse himself as SIO due to a conflict of interest. But a murder investigation doesn't come along every day in Barnstaple...and a case like this is what he thrives on. 

Then one of the women with Down Syndrome disappears and Matthew receives a call for help that he never thought he would. Tensions mount and the intensity rises as Matthew and his team - DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May - frantically try to find out what happened to Christine and why she was taken. And then Lucy disappears while out with her father. Who has taken these women and what do they want from them? Could the motive be something more sinister?

As the investigation gains momentum, so does the pace as the team sift through information, clues and red herrings to get to the truth. Everyone appears to be hiding something as it all begins to feel incredibly secretive and sinister. But someone knows something. They secret is to find who that someone is...and to uncover what it is they are hiding.

There are so many facets to this story - as well as Venn himself - and the key is trying to figure out how it is all related. I remained blinded throughout without a clue as to who was doing what and while there was no real earth-shattering reveal, when the pieces began to fall into place only then did it complete the full picture.

I really enjoyed this story, despite its slow start (although it wasn't too slow), and I loved the intricacies of each story that was cleverly interwoven with the others. The humanity characterised in each person and their stories was beautifully and sensitively written. To see the sunshine in the smile of someone with Down Syndrome, their innocence and their kindness, amidst the more sinister tale that is woven within.

I really liked Matthew and Jonathan, and I look forward to learning more about them in future novels. I love how Matthew is not your typical brash, aggressive, alcohol drinking, divorced detective. He is compassionate, empathetic and sensitive whilst also being complex and a deep analytical thinker. I like that he is in a loving relationship, one that compliments him and not works against him and vice versa. I also like that this first book gave us the perfect introduction to Jonathan and his position in the community - both professional and personal. I also like that Matthew and Jonathan are so different and yet they compliment each other perfectly with grace and understanding.

Another character I look forward to seeing more of is DS Jen Rafferty. She's a single mother of two teenagers having escaped an abusive ex-husband in Merseyside. We caught a glimpse of her life outside of the police force which I thought was a nice touch, and no demands on her to fulfill her duties as a police officer rather than spending time with her children. I like that Cleeves has tried to find that balance. DC Ross May is someone we don't particularly take to at first, but as the story unfolds and the investigation barrels towards the end, we see a different side to Ross than what is at first portrayed. As a young DC, he is someone who wants to be part of the action now without the benefit of learning through experience. I think he could become a good asset to the team if he keeps his impatience in check. And I hope we don't have any of that in-house fighting that is all too stereo-typically common.

And the victim? Although he had his secrets, he had made a serious mistake for which he was desperately trying to redeem himself...and it cost him his life. From what we could see through others' perspectives in hindsight, he seemed a decent enough bloke trying to make amends.

And of course, there were your genuinely unlikable and horrible people. Some of which I'd hoped were guilty in one way or another and held accountable for their sins, if not their abhorrent behaviour.

I wonder if we will see much in the future about the Brethren and the part it has played in Matthew's life. It is a tough topic, but a very interesting backstory to have, as the Brethren are a very strict and secretive community. They don't allow outsiders, they live a simple lifestyle (some without technology), and they truly do shun any member who dares to leave their tight-knit sect - including family. I think it's an interesting subplot to include to a major character's backstory. I look forward to seeing how this develops.

As in true Cleeves style, THE LONG CALL is a character-driven police procedural with an intricate plot that keeps you guessing. An old-fashioned type murder mystery that builds, weaving an intricate tapestry that erupts in a vast array of colour to reveal the final picture.

Recommended for fans of British mysteries and of course Cleeves' own fan base, THE LONG CALL is a brilliant introduction to a new series I can't wait to delve further into.  And of course, recent news that THE LONG CALL has already been optioned for TV and is currently in development from the makers of Shetland and Vera, is fantastic! I look forward to seeing the portrayal of Matthew Venn and his team.

"Fans of @AnnCleeves's absorbing crime novels will be thrilled to hear that a TV adaptation of her new book The Long Call - the first in a brand new series - is in development from the makers of Shetland and Vera. https://pic.twitter.com/NceXNR3NGD

— Waterstones (@Waterstones) August 28, 2019"

I would like to thank #AnnCleeves, #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheLongCall in exchange for an honest review.

The Other Daughter by Shalini Boland COMING 5th November 2019!

*COMING SOON*

5th November 2019

Shalini Boland's newest thriller

THE OTHER DAUGHTER

Nine years ago her daughter was taken. And now she’s back. 

Two-and-a-half-year-old Holly is playing happily in a pink plastic playhouse, while her mother Rachel sips coffee and chats with a friend nearby. It should be an ordinary day for all of them. But, in the blink of an eye, it turns into every family’s worst nightmare.

Holly is taken by a stranger and never found.

Nine years later, Rachel is living a quiet life in Dorset. She’s tried to keep things together since the traumatic day when she lost her eldest daughter. She has a new family, a loving partner and her secrets are locked away in her painful past.

Until one afternoon when Rachel meets a new school parent Kate and her teenage daughter Bella. Rachel’s world is instantly turned upside down – she’s seen Bella before. She’d recognise that face anywhere – it’s her missing child.

And she will stop at nothing to get her back… 

Single by K.L. Slater COMING 25th November 2019!

*COMING SOON*

25th November 2019

Kim Slater's newest thriller
SINGLE

‘I keep feeling like I’m being watched – dropping the boys off at school, choosing wine at the supermarket – but when I turn around there’s nobody there…’ 

When single mother Darcy’s son falls from a rope bridge at a local playground, life stands still. She clutches his small, limp body, frozen, until a pair of strong hands push her aside, and she watches as George, a local doctor, saves her son’s life.

George is a single parent too, and with his twinkling hazel eyes, easy charm, and lack of wedding band is almost too good to be true, but coffee becomes lunch, lunch becomes dinner, and soon they can’t go an evening without seeing each other. When he invites her to move into his beautiful home with its sprawling garden for her boys, Darcy doesn’t hesitate.

But as Darcy is settling in, she receives a bunch of flowers with a chilling message. George says they’re from an obsessed ex-girlfriend, Opal, and days later Opal turns up at Darcy’s son’s football match. She claims to have shocking information that could threaten George’s custody of his daughter.

Darcy doesn’t know who to trust, but she’s starting to suspect that, whatever the truth, she might have put her beloved boys into terrible danger… 

*******************************************************************************

SINGLE is available for pre-order at Amazon now.

REVIEW: The Sleepover by Carol Wyer (ARC)

The Sleepover (DI Natalie Ward #4) by Carol Wyer

Genre: Crime fiction, police procedural, thriller

Read: 27th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 5th September 2019)

★★★★★ 5 stars

When I first began the Natalie Ward series, I wasn't sure what I made of her. Incidentally, I did begin at the second book "Last Lullaby" and still have yet to read the first one "The Birthday". However, as each book progressed, so has the backstory surrounding Natalie and her family. And boy, is it getting interesting now!

THE SLEEPOVER is the fourth outing featuring the no-nonsense DI Natalie Ward and is a riveting thriller from start to finish. Faced with a tough and complex case involving a suspicious house fire and the death of a 14 year old girl, Natalie continues to juggle her professional life whilst her personal one is falling apart.

When 14 year old Roxanne Curtis rows with her mum Cathy over a boy, she decides to play pull the wool over her eyes and tell her she's off for a sleepover with her best friend Ellie. The girls are neighbours and have grown up together, so her mum doesn't question it, as the girls are often in and out each other's homes every day. But little does Cathy know that Roxy is lying and has other plans...or that it will be the last time she sees her daughter alive. With everyone out for the evening, Cathy puts her feet up and looks forward to a quiet night in.

In the early hours of the morning, DI Natalie Ward is called out to a suspicious house fire in an affluent part of town where the charred remains of a body is found. Forensics are already on the scene as fire investigators begin looking into what caused the blaze. 

Then the body is identified as 14 year old Roxy Curtis. But what was she doing in a Victorian mansion on the exclusive Linnet Lane? A far cry from the crime-infested Stockwell estate where she lives with her mother, stepfather and two brothers. And what connection did she have to Gavin and Kirk Lang who owned the incinerated house in which she was found?

Determined to get to the bottom of why Roxy was there when she was meant to be on a sleepover with her best friend, Natalie and her team begin the task of tracking down suspects and connecting the dots. When it is discovered that Roxy had been admitted to hospital with some unusually suspicious injuries in the past, they begin to look closely at her stepfather Paul and her three brothers Charlie (17), Seth (18) and Oliver (21).

However, if there is one person teenage girls confide in, it's their best friend. So Natalie tasks DS Lucy Carmichael with trying to crack Ellie who is being somewhat evasive and is obviously hiding something. But Ellie hadn't counted on feisty little 5 year old Boo who spills a few tidbits Lucy's way and it is with these bits of information she can use to coax the truth from Roxy's tight-lipped friend.

Natalie becomes increasingly frustrated as it's clear everyone involved is either lying or holding back important information. And if there is one thing Natalie hates - it's lying.

Then Roxy's mother Cathy disappears.

When another body is found the following day in the canal at the end of Linnet Lane, close to where Roxy died, the team are shocked to discover it is Cathy. Then it is revealed that she didn't drown but was strangled and the investigation takes on an even greater importance as Natalie widens the net and her list of suspects. So what was Cathy doing there and why was she killed?

As Natalie and her team delve further into the investigation they appear to find more questions than answers...and no way of connecting anyone to either crime. The Lang brothers were not universally liked but neither, as it appears, were Roxy's brothers, Seth and Charlie. Was the Lang's property targeted and Roxy just collateral damage? Or did the Langs try to pull an insurance scam? Did the Curtis brothers play a part? But how did Cathy's murder figure in?

Then another body is found - an apparent suicide - who was known to the Curtis' and a friend of Roxy and Ellie's. What did this boy have to hide? It seems the focus should be closer to home. Can Lucy finally get Ellie to talk at last? 

Meanwhile on the home front, Natalie has some problems of her own. Her husband David had been made redundant some time ago and found comfort in online gambling. Unfortunately, he ended up gambling away most of their savings and even took out a loan - which he also lost. Promising Natalie that he'd quit, the two are barely speaking as he continues to struggle with his addiction and hiding it from Natalie. She's warned him time and time again that she will not tolerate lying.

Added to that are her teenage children. Leigh is 14 and just a couple of months ago, amidst a case involving missing teenage girls, she ran away leaving Natalie frantic that her daughter had fallen victim to the killer targeting teenagers in an online dare. Leigh was found unharmed but Natalie and David were growing further apart. Now Natalie's 16 year old son Josh has just completed his exams and preparing to enter sixth form but lately has become increasingly uncommunicative and even argumentative. He is sullen and silent, playing games online till all hours and sleeping all day. When he disappears one night while David drinks himself to oblivion, Natalie is furious that she must pick up the pieces once again. With her colleague Mike's help she tracks down her errant son.

Over the series we have learnt that Natalie had a brief affair with Mike and we are privy to the fact that she still struggles with those feelings. Aside from being colleagues - Mike works in forensics - he is also her husband David's best friend. After finding Josh and his friend at a rave, the boys are now asleep in the back of her car, Mike and Natalie quietly share a moment. But she's warned David time and time again that she will not tolerate lying...so what will she do when David discovers the secret she harbours?

A tense, fast-paced thriller THE SLEEPOVER had me turning the pages long into the night and I could not discover the truth quick enough. Waiting for Book 5 is not going to be easy...lol

THE SLEEPOVER is one of the best yet in this series - complex, intriguing and riveting. It keeps you guessing right to the end with all the possible suspects. But it doesn't stop there...

If you love crime fiction, particularly police procedurals, then the Natalie Ward series is a must! Through each book you will watch each character grow that when you pick up the next book, they will all be like old friends. And yet we are still teased with tidbits from Natalie's past with her estranged sister and why she finds lies so hard to forgive.

I thoroughly recommend THE SLEEPOVER but advise you start from the beginning to get the full picture of Natalie's personal life and the tie-ins with the cases she has investigated. It will give you a greater appreciation and understanding. 

Now...bring on Book 5!

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSleepover in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Who Was Jack the Ripper? by H Division Crime Club (ARC)

Who Was Jack the Ripper/ by H Division Crime Club

Genre: True Crime

Read: 24th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Pen & Sword (Hardback)

(release date: 31st August 2019)

★★★ 2-3 stars

For true crime lovers, particularly those with some knowledge and an interest in the infamous Victorian murderer, WHO WAS JACK THE RIPPER? is a detailed account of what was then known as the Whitechapel murders in 1888. 

Written by the members of H Division Crime Club, a group of experts who have researched and studied every aspect on the subject for decades, provide us with as many facts as possible to support what is essentially circumstantial evidence at best on each of the potential suspects.

Focusing on the victims and 11 possible suspects, we are taken on an intricate journey for a closer look at the each of the persons of interest and how they (possibly) relate to the murders. Each chapter is written by a different member on each occasion, presenting us with a history of each suspect, possible connections to one or more of the victims or to the area itself along with reference to written accounts, statements or files from the time. Each person gives us a fresh perspective, some even debunking others arguments included in the book, in an effort to shine a different yet distinct light to the evidence already presented. I thought this was cleverly done, as each gave us their thoughts and the facts as they see them, to support their theories.

And let's face it. This book is full of what is essentially theories and hypotheses based on tireless and extensive research over many many years. After 130 years there is no way anyone can prove without a shadow of a doubt just who Jack the Ripper really was. It will certainly go down in history as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time.

The arguments - albeit, theories - put forward by each person were incredibly informative and interesting. But on the whole, I found the book to be long, probably because I read it practically in one sitting, and this is a book that really cannot be read in such time. The reader needs to take their time with each theory and absorb each chapter rather than try and take it all in because to do so would be a struggle. There is a lot of information to absorb that it will just all become enmeshed together if you try to read it all at once.

Although I admit to being confused by a couple of the chapters - regarding Kaminski/Kosminski/Cohen - my head was swimming as I tried to get a grip on what the author was stating. Even now, I can't understand the link to these "persons of interest" and the Ripper.

So WHO was Jack the Ripper? That is the million dollar - or million pound - question!

WHO WAS JACK THE RIPPER? is incredibly well-researched, and while it is not for everyone, it is a must read for ripperology fans.

I would like to thank #HDivsionCrimeClub, #NetGalley and #PenAndSword for an ARC of #WhoWasJackTheRipper in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Best Friends Forever by Dawn Goodwin (ARC)

Best Friends Forever by Dawn Goodwin

Genre: Psychological thriller, domestic thriller

Read: 22nd August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 15th August 2019)

★★★★ 4.5 stars

WOW! What an emotionally charged thriller this is, in the end, somewhat heartbreaking. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is the first book by Dawn Goodwin I have read and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the emotional roller-coaster I was on with Anna and Vicky throughout that I wasn't sure where or how it was going to end.

Before I go any further, I MUST state that there are a couple of triggers that may effect some.

Rape

Child abuse

Animal cruelty

So where do I start? BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is the story of the lifelong toxic friendship between Vicky and Anna as they grow from teenagers into women now approaching their 40s. Given that they were 13 in 1986 my rough estimate is that they were 39 at the climax surrounding the London Olympics in 2012. Having been friends since high school, I really couldn't understand how such a friendship could really stand the test of time. But they are completely co-dependent on each other and as they grew older, so they continued to be.

Anna is, to put it bluntly, a bitch. She is devious, manipulative and always craves attention - none of which she gets at home. As an only child, her parents are distant but rich. Her mother is a flaky alcoholic while her father is a habitual philandering womaniser. 

Vicky is the complete opposite of Anna. She is quiet, meek, insecure and submissive - perfect for Anna to control. And Vicky allows it because she couldn't bear to lose the one and only person who has ever loved her. So desperate for love are both of these girls/women that they are willing to do almost anything to maintain it. There couldn't be anything more toxic.

The story begins with Vicky pondering recent events when she receives a phone call from David, Anna's husband, to say that Anna is dead. Vicky is shocked and devastated to lose the one person who knew and loved her. But did she really? Honestly? Could what they have had really be called "love"? There are times I'm sure she hated Anna but at the same time she couldn't be without her. They were like a drug to each other. It was pretty toxic.

So in the aftermath of Anna's death, David is struggling to cope. His world has fallen from beneath him and he spends his days in an abyss of grief. His mother Louise stays with him for a few weeks to help him get back on his feet but there comes a point when David must learn to pick up the pieces himself and move on - for the sake of their children, Harper and Lewis. But David is still struggling to keep things together and when Vicky stops by to see how they are doing she finds the house littered with takeaway containers and dirty dishes with the children glued to the TV, amusing themselves, and David lost in a void amidst it all.

Vicky takes charge and moves in with them to bring order back into the children's lives while David goes back to work. He finds that Vicky's presence is a Godsend as she manages to keep the place going, the children happy and everyone fed - something he struggled to do. He is so impressed he ends up asking her to to stay on as the children's nanny, for which he would pay her, as they adore her and he admits that he use the help. It's the perfect solution for everyone. Or is it?

It's no secret that Anna liked everything to be perfect. She wanted the perfect life, the perfect husband, to live in a perfect house with the perfect children and have the perfect job. She worked hard to make this happen so everything would remain...perfect. So when she died suddenly, Anna's perfect life ended...leaving Vicky with the chance to have a taste of that perfect life she left behind.

But Anna was far from perfect. She was a complete bitch that had me twisted in knots throughout most of the story. A despicable person, I felt nothing but contempt for her. She was an entitled narcissist who was so obviously a sociopath. She had no remorse for anything she did or who she hurt, trampling over anyone to get what she wanted. To her, their feelings were not her problem. Even as a wife and mother, Anna was bored. She just could not see how lucky she was...because she wanted more. And what Anna wanted, Anna got. But what made me hate Anna even more was her brutal attack on her mother's cat in such an uncontrollable rage that Vicky had to stop her. But it was too late...and Anna still didn't care.

My heart ached for Vicky. I could relate to her and identify with some aspects of her personality as a quiet, meek and somewhat insecure young girl who just ached to be loved. So low is her self worth that even when she has been wronged she will still apologise and blame herself. Her young life goes from one trauma to another as she just yearns for acceptance. And when abuse she endures at home becomes too much to bear, Anna hatches a sinister plan to help Vicky escape. But it came with a cost which bound Vicky in a whole new way to Anna, who never missed the chance to hold it over her whenever she wanted Vicky to do her bidding.

This manipulation extends into their adulthood and made me just loathe Anna. Many may not like Vicky because she could appear weak when succumbing to Anna at almost every whim...and when she didn't, Anna would sulk and remind her of that one thing from her past. As if Anna herself was completely guiltless. However, if Anna did anything she taught Vicky how to be deceitful and manipulative...and this plays out in the days, weeks and months after Anna's death rather brilliantly as Vicky becomes too close, too obsessed and too desperate for that perfect life. Has she slipped up? Has she gone too far? Either way, still haunted by the secrets of her past, she continues to be influenced by Anna's transgressions.

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is cleverly written in the past and present as we witness the evolution of their friendship, with a rather dexterous touch included in the form of letters to Anna from Vicky in the present day. Since no one else knew each other as well as they did it was rather ingenious of the author to have Vicky confide in Anna once again, despite the fact she would never read them.

This toxic tale from start to finish is both intriguing and chilling that hynotises the reader, as Anna and Vicky both play with fire and we simply can't look away. With secrets and lies, toxicity and drama, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is fast paced, gripping and unputdownable. 

But the question remained...who wanted to kill Anna?

The only problem I had with this book was the end. Oh, it was satisfactory but it did leave you with questions...and I like things tied up in a nice little ending. This...well, it was different...an ending with a twist. It wasn't a bad ending but, for me, it wasn't perfect.

I wasn't sure what I expected when I dived into this book, but it wasn't this! I had heard mixed reviews about it so therefore I expected it to be mediocre but it was anything but! I loved it and loved to hate Anna! The  more I read, the more I hated her. And the more I hated her, the more I wanted Vicky to have the last laugh. But does she? Grab yourself a copy, read it and find out! You know you want to.

4.5 stars - due to poor Murphy and the "OK-but-not-perfect" ending.

I would like to thank #DawnGoodwin, #NetGalley and #Aria for an ARC of #BestFriendsForever in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Night Called by J.M. Hewitt (ARC)

The Night Caller (DS Carrie Flynn #1) by J.M. Hewitt

Genre: Psychological thriller, crime fiction

Read: 19th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 15th August 2019)

★★★ 3 stars

The first in a new series, THE NIGHT CALLER is a debut thriller by J.M. Hewitt featuring DS Carrie Flynn. The synopsis for the book is a little misleading, however, as it refers to the disappearance of Carrie's own sister some twenty years prior which, while giving the impression that it was to feature heavily, was merely only highlighted as a part of Carrie's backstory. It did, though, offer some promise of a future revisit to the her sister's case in the closing pages.

I was quite excited to begin this new series as I do love to get to know the main players as they develop over the course of a few books. But if I was expecting it to be like any other police procedural I would be disappointed. And I was, on that point. And even after finishing it yesterday, I'm still unsure how I feel about it. It was part police procedural, part thriller, but part something else. And yet I am still undecided.

A serial killer is roaming the canals in Manchester with twelve victims - all male - in the past 6 years. Dubbed 'The Pusher' for his particular MO (modus operandi) of pushing his victims into the freezing black waters of the canal, DS Carrie Flynn has been tasked with the job of catching him. Throughout the investigation, Carrie is haunted by the image of a man she caught a glimpse of at one of the scenes the previous year and believes that he is the man they are after. The memory of a distinctive tattoo he bore and his self-assured smile torments her knowing that he had been so close.

Emma Robinson is at home pondering what time her son Jordan will be home when she catches sight of a scene of a story unfolding on the late night news. Behind the reporter is an item, a scarf, left hanging on a rail by the canal...distinctive to those know it for its bright lime green thread stitched down its centre. Jordan's scarf. Four year old Nia from next door had stitched it as a surprise for Jordan, unaware she was ruining an expensive Armani item. Emma's blood ran cold. Just hours before she had warned Jordan to be careful as The Pusher was still out there, his hunting ground - the canals. But Jordan had brushed her off stating he only went for gay men...and he certainly wasn't that! Now it looks as if Jordan was The Pusher's latest victim, as Emma grabbed her coat and raced down to the canal to see for herself.

Jade is Emma's neighbour and probably her best friend. She had first arrived as a 15 year old pregnant schoolgirl, moving in with her Nan who lived in the terrace next door to Emma. As Emma herself had been 16 when falling pregnant with Jordan, she and Jade soon became friends with a mutual bond and understanding of their shared predicaments...despite their 10 year age gap. Then tragedy struck when Jade fell from the roof and lost the baby. Her parents, who had banished her for the duration of her 'confinement', now saw that the problem had resolved itself and Jade was to return home. But Jade didn't want to go back home. She enjoyed living with Nan and her time with Emma and Jordan. So when Nan had a fall and broke her leg, it was agreed that Jade would stay on and help out. Then when Nan died suddenly, Jade - now 22 - was distraught with grief but found solace in the unlikely of places. But that was short-lived when she discovered she was, once again, pregnant. With the threat of having to leave her home that had been in her Nan's name, the council then agreed to transfer the tenancy over to Jade with the prospect of her becoming a single mum. And then Nia was born.

From her living room window, Jade watches Emma come and go next door, and with Jordan missing, believed to have been The Pusher's lates victim, she is unsure with what to say to her friend. Emma, who is in denial that her son could be dead, spends most of her time trawling the areas surrounding the canals in the hope that she can find Jordan.

Then throw in Jordan's father Martin, who has never met him, with questions as to why was he never told about him; a young man called Lee who for all intents and purposes appears to be the only person to know anything about Jordan; and a nosy curtain-twitching neighbour who sees more than she lets on, and who has secrets of her own. Each character has their own important part to play in this very different thriller.

We do also get a glimpse from The Pusher's POV as well throughout with the odd chapter. He has his own story to tell...and where he fits into it all.

While the narrative is written in the third person throughout, it is The Pusher's that is the only one in the first - giving it that more personal perspective and a connection to him. Everyone has their own perspectives in this story but it's The Pusher's we see inside of.

One of the problems I think I had with this book was with Carrie. She is meant to be the main character but instead she was more of a peripheral one. It was too difficult to connect with her because we don't get a whole lot of insight into her - just a sprinkling here and there. The synopsis dangled the promise of the disappearance of Carrie's sister but that had nothing to do with anything here. We didn't even see a lot of detective work either. And although Carrie Flynn is meant to be the prime protagonist, the story features primarily around Emma and Jade - with them being the main characters in this story. It did give it a different angle and edge to it, but I hope in future books featuring Carrie she is given the main lead. After all, it IS meant to be her show. 

But probably my biggest issue was the glacial speed in which everything seemed to move. For a thriller, it was incredibly slow and somewhat convoluted in parts. I enjoyed some of it but not all of it. There was far too much going on at times. And I feel terrible when I don't enjoy a book as much as I had hoped I would because I know that the author has put so much work into writing it and reviewing it will be difficult. I didn't NOT enjoy it, but I didn't love it either. As this is the first in the series, I am hoping we get to see more of Carrie in the future and the characters featured in her cases are the peripheral characters. It was an interesting perspective to take but it made it difficult to connect with Carrie because we just didn't see enough of her to really know her.

Psychological in nature, THE NIGHT CALLER is filled with twists that, although I guessed at about 10% into the story, made for an incredibly interesting read once it got going. Two major reveals I guessed at such an early stage with a third about halfway through. Despite my own hunches as to what the revelations would be being correct, this never ruins it or dissuades my enjoyment of the story. 

I must say that Jeanette did a wonderful job in her vivid descriptions of the canals. I found myself looking deep into the black waters and seeing nothing but blackness. There was a real eeriness about those canals and she brought that to life in vivid array. Her ability to make that aspect come to life with just a few paragraphs brings more to the story than if pages and pages were written to describe the one scene. I am not a fan of overt description, which can put me to sleep if there is too much of it...like a documentary. I like dialogue, interaction, backstory rather than a whole chapter devoted to the description of an empty warehouse.

Although I saw it coming long before it happened, I enjoyed the ending, as heartbreaking as it was, but it was fitting. This would have to be the first book in which the reader feels empathy for the killer. There is also a lesson to be learnt in the dysfunctionality of some families in the mistakes Emma made bringing up her son as well as Carrie's obvious strained relationship with her own mother.

If I was asked about its genre I would have to say that THE NIGHT CALLER is one part police procedural and two parts thriller. It's certainly different. A chilling story that will bring out a range of emotions as you watch everything unfold.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, I think so. While I found it very slow in parts, the story does have promise...as does the series with this being its introduction. I recommend you go into it with an open mind. You may enjoy it more than I did...and I really wish I did enjoy it more than I did. There were parts I really enjoyed while others I just felt moved too slowly. Even now, I am still unsure how I feel about this book in its entirety. But don't take my word for it. Grab yourself a copy and check it out! You may be surprised!

I would like to thank #JMHewitt, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNightCaller in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: We Were Sisters by Wendy Clarke (ARC)

We were Sisters by Wendy Clarke

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 8th August 2019)

★★★ 3.5 stars

Despite not having read Wendy Clarke before, I was excited to bury myself into WE WERE SISTERS as it sounded positively enthralling! And it was...until the end. 

We begin with Kelly walking her twin daughters to school for their first day, an anxious time for every parent, but for Kelly it is even moreso. Suffering from severe OCD and anxiety, Kelly finds herself counting cars, steps and everything in between to ensure her girls have the perfect first day as they walk with baby Noah in his pram. Isabella, a gregarious and outgoing girl, is jumping with excitement and exuberance at the new adventure whereas twin Sophie, quiet and withdrawn, is hanging tightly onto her mum in tears and is terrified the prospect. 

Upon arriving at the school, there is the usual confusion and hubbub with finding the right class and introductions with the teacher and trying to prise Sophie from her, that when she walks back out of classroom Kelly finds that Noah's pram is not where she left it. Flying into sudden panic, Kelly searches frantically with teacher Mrs Allen's help, finding baby Noah happily gurgling in his pram at the door to the next classroom. Maybe Kelly went to the wrong classroom is the given explanation but Kelly is not so sure. Even more so when she reaches in to comfort her baby, she finds a locket beneath him. It's not her locket but an identical one...belonging to her sister Freya, who was wearing this very locket the day she died when she was a teenager.

Despite having a wonderful relationship with her husband Mitch, Kelly feels she cannot share her fears or concerns with him for fear that he may think she was delusional. Instead she tries to focus on Noah and enjoying time with him while helping the girls adjust to school. 

But then things start to become rather sinister. Noah's pram and the locket was only the beginning of more terrifying things to come for Kelly that she can't explain. Symbols drawn in the condensation on the window; waking to find the back door wide open; things being moved or appearing from nowhere; newspapers not ordered are delivered with her horoscope or Freya's circled. It all begins to get too much as she starts losing time whilst Noah lays screaming and she stares into nothingness. And then there are the nightmares. Of the Gemini tree in the woods near where Kelly grew up; of finding Freya hanging from that tree.

When she tries telling Mitch, as predicted, he thinks she is imagining things. She hasn't been herself lately and the pressure with three month old Noah is making her delusional. That's what he thinks anyway. But Kelly knows different. And no amount of counting is helping to ease her anxiety.

Parallel to the present day, we have Kelly's story from her childhood to unravel, which is not a happy tale at all. As an only child, her mother takes in foster children in an effort to find "the perfect child" that will make her husband happy. A dysfunctional concept, to say the least. 

On her 8th birthday, Kelly wishes for a sister which comes true just moments after blowing out her candles with the arrival of the strange and elusive Freya. Kelly's mother busily fusses over the new arrival whilst simultaneously dismissing her daughter and ordering her around. Her parents are fostering the 10 year old but Kelly still refers to Freya as her sister for which her mother continually admonishes her. But ever since her arrival, Freya has remained silent refusing to utter a word. But Kelly doesn't let that dissuade her. She is just happy to have a sister at last and hopes that this one stays. However, Kelly's childhood is not a happy one and is somewhat dysfunctional...so it was no surprise that things were inevitably going to go wrong. 

Then when tragedy strikes, Kelly's life falls apart. For her, it is so unspeakable that she moved away and now keeps that chapter of her life firmly closed. Not even Mitch knows the story...but we are privy to her memories as we watch both stories unfold.

Told in the past and present from Kelly's perspective, we discover that both Kelly and Freya hold a minefield of secrets between them. The mystery surrounding their past is intriguing and as the story unfolds their secrets gradually come to light, sending shockwaves throughout the tale.

I found myself becoming impatient with Kelly almost from the start. Actually, from the second page. Her constant counting drove me mad. I don't know how someone with OCD really copes with their condition as to an outsider it really is frustrating. And I guess I found Kelly frustrating throughout much of the story and yet I also empathised with her. She was an unreliable narrator which added to the mystery surrounding her and Freya, as well as her parents. It left you wondering what really happened and was Kelly really seeing it all for what it was? Or was she just imagining things? I switched between liking and disliking her throughout, she was that frustrating. But I can tell you, from the beginning, I did not like or trust Freya. AT ALL. Everyone else just sort of blended into the story, as well as being mostly unlikable. In fact, I'm not sure I like anyone particularly in this story.

A tense and complex plot that showed promise, WE WERE SISTERS is thoroughly engaging throughout but I was disappointed to find it fell a little flat by the end. I felt there had been so much tension, so much build-up, so many questions that by the time I reached the end it was all a little anti-climatic. I was like, really? That's it? The ending really didn't do the rest of the story justice, in my opinion, because the rest of it was so sinister and atmospheric it was really an enjoyable read. I guess I felt a tad cheated at the end. As someone else described it, the ending was kind of more "Oh" rather than "OHHHHHHHH!!!"

I did guess some of the reveals and with others I was way off but as always it never ruins the story for me. I just enjoy the ride. But in this case, as shocking or as heartbreaking as some of the reveals were, the end result - in my opinion - just didn't live up to the rest of the story. But don't let that deter you. WE WERE SISTERS is an intriguing and engaging story which I did enjoy for the most part.

I would like to thank #WendyClarke, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WeWereSisters in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Guilty Mother by Diane Jeffrey (ARC)

The Guilty Mother by Diane Jeffrey

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 6th August 2019

Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 2nd August 2019)

★★★★ 4.5 stars

Although I have other books by Diane Jeffrey on my shelf, THE GUILTY MOTHER is the first of her's I have read. While it builds to an edge-of-your-seat thriller, it doesn't begin fast paced; more of a slow burn. But the tension does rise gradually and keeps you guessing throughout.

Somewhat different to what I expected - although I'm not sure what I did expect - THE GUILTY MOTHER is a crime story about a woman who was convicted for murdering one of her twin baby daughters. Even as the story unfolds, you find yourself asking - "did she or didn't she?"

Melissa Slade was in prison for killing her 3 month old baby daughter.

But her story doesn't begin there. Nor does it end there. It begins with her second marriage to Michael Slade and the birth of their twin girls - Ellie and Amber. But all is not well in the Slade household. Melissa has a teenage son - Callum - to her first husband, whilst Michael has a daughter - Bella - to his first. Melissa isn't coping with motherhood the second time around, possibly suffering post natal depression. A friend suggests a nanny. What they get is a French au pair, Clementine - young and barely out of her teens.

Clementine favours Ellie, a happy baby who is no trouble at all. Leaving Melissa trying to deal with and bond with Amber, who is always crying and colicky and never seems to settle. Why Clementine never sees to Amber is beyond Melissa, for it would be nice just to give her a break for once. After all, she was hired to "help" Melissa. And Melissa needs help with Amber. But she is left to see to her on her own. Despite the constant demands, Melissa adores both Ellie and Amber and would do anything for them. Of course, husband Michael is no help...leaving one to wonder, just what does he do?

When it is suggested they have a dinner party, Melissa isn't sure. She is still tired and Amber is still fractious. Still, it goes ahead with just a couple of close friends. Clementine has Ellie...but it's been ages since Melissa has heard a peep out of Amber, who would normally be screaming the place down by now. Concern filling her, she goes to check on her daughter. It is quiet. There is no sound from her cot. Amber lay there on her tummy - still, lifeless and cold. Melissa screams and the guests come running, but it's too late. Amber has been dead for a while.

But if Melissa thought her world had fallen apart then...it was about to get a whole lot worse. But what could be worse than finding one of your twins lifeless? A victim of cot death?

Just a few short weeks later Melissa would find out...when she discovers her second twin has suffered a similar fate. But this time, there are anomalies. Ellie was suffocated. And Melissa was arrested, charged and tried for her murder. And found guilty.

Now in prison, Melissa has one final chance at appealing her sentence when new evidence has come to light that had been concealed from the original investigation and subsequent trial. Evidence to suggest that the second post mortem was suspect...and which supports the findings to be in conjunction with those in Amber's death.

So what were the prosecution hiding? Did Ellie die from cot death as well as her sister?

That is the basis of Melissa's last ditch appeal and Jonathan Hunt, a journalist with the local paper, is tasked with uncovering the truth having been on the case 5 years before with the original investigation. But he is reluctant to do due to personal reasons, which are reveal in due course, but his editor is having none of it. Together with his protege, Kelly Fox - who, unbeknownst to her and everyone else, has a personal connection of her own to the case - they do some digging into the old case files, chase up family members and witnesses to try and piece the puzzle together and uncover the truth.

And then they receive Melissa's diary that she has been writing whilst in prison. But do they believe all that she has written? Is it the truth or her version of the truth? After all, these writings are based solely on her memories from five years ago.

Is Melissa Slade manipulating everyone? Or has she been the victim of a miscarriage of justice?

Slowly, chapter by chapter, pieces of the puzzle are revealed from the alternating perspectives of Melissa, Jonathan and then Kelly. Each had a personal connection and each had a tragedy that was triggered by the ensuing events. Each trapped in a whirlpool of secrets and personal tragedy, the secrets and stories uncovered in this story are simply chilling.

I enjoyed each of the characters and their perspectives of the story. Melissa was somewhat of an enigma and while it was difficult at times to connect with her, that was her role in the story. Still I found all three to be relate-able and well-developed and I loved delving into each of their personal stories. The relationship between Jonathan and Kelly was engaging and comfortable and I liked the way they worked together; they complemented each other. I was completely engaged from start to finish despite the long chapters.

But the question remained - was Melissa innocent or guilty? Did she kill one baby and not the other? Did she kill both babies? Or was she innocent altogether?

Throughout the story, I constantly changed my mind as to who may have been behind the death of one or both babies. There are some questionable and/or detestable characters throughout as well as some completely endearing ones too. It's hard to know which way to look...but I had my suspicions. Long before it became evident. Whilst I guessed correctly, I didn't foresee the motive...which, when it becomes clear, will just break your heart.

For me throughout the story, I couldn't help but draw parallels to the world-renowned case of Lindy Chamberlain and the disappearance of her 9 week old baby daughter Azaria in 1980 here in Australia. She said a dingo took her baby; yet everyone believed she had murdered her. As in this book, Lindy was found guilty in a trial by media. And as in this book, I believed Lindy to be innocent as I believed Melissa to be. Despite the overwhelming evidence, in my opinion, it was all circumstantial.

THE GUILTY MOTHER is so full of secrets and lies, you never knew what was going to happen next as each revelation keeps you on your toes throughout. It is easy to be held hostage to such an intriguing story and the twists delivered make it a compelling and thrilling read.

...and that Epilogue just took my breath away!

Also published as "The Appeal", THE GUILTY MOTHER will have you questioning who do you believe? Is she innocent or guilty? You be the judge as I encourage you to discover it for yourself. But I guarantee, in the end you will be left with jaw dropping revelations that will have you scratching your head. Not in confusion, but it was as simple as that.

I would like to thank #DianeJeffrey, #NetGalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheGuiltyMother in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Perfect Lie by Karen Osman (ARC)

The Perfect Lie by Karen Osman

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 10th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 8th AUgust 2019)

★★★★ 4.5 stars

Having thought I had read Karen Osman before - but I'd actually confused two different authors with books of the same name - I delved into THE PERFECT LIE with eagerness. Of course, it turns out that it was actually Amy Bird's "The Good Mother" I had read and not the one by this author, so therefore she is knew to me. Still that did not deter me as plundered through the pages.

It begins with Claire who is happily married to high school sweetheart Chris with two sons Josh 17 and Jamie 5. Now with her youngest child starting school, she decides to return to work as a lawyer with the firm she co-set up with her good friend Julia. However Jamie is a more challenging child than Josh, who had been her perfect child, had ever been and therein lies the perennial problem of juggling her demanding job with being a good mum to her children and meeting their daily needs. When the offer of a neighbour's daughter as a childminder comes up, the solution becomes ideal with everything yet again falling into place. Her life once again seems perfect.

But just as soon as she is back at work, Julia hands her a case that will bring her past back to haunt her - in more ways than one. A rape case, in the victim accuses two men of the offence means long hours and long days with Claire going over testimony and statements in preparation for her day in court. Claire wants to pass the case on to someone else but the client had been specific - they wanted Claire. Why? What did they know about her past that would warrant her being the ideal voice for the victim?

When Claire starts bringing her work home, it seems she can no longer keep her professional and her personal life separate, as Chris shows little understanding for her needs or predicament. Even his promises to help out with the children more were empty as he continued to work late night after night despite Claire having her own meetings and late nights to contend with. The childminder may have been ideal for their situation but even she couldn't stay half the night. But Chris refused to see beyond his own needs and his own job to bear any empathy or understanding for Claire's. In his opinion, she should give up the idea of working altogether and remain at home.

The fact that she was working on this rape case only fuelled his cause, remembering full well what had happened to Claire back when they were in high school. She didn't need the reminders; she didn't need this case; she didn't need to work.

When the narrative backtracks some three decades to the late 80s, we meet the teenage Claire who appeared, in some ways, very different from the woman she became. As a teenager, whilst faced with the usual fickle demands of her peers, she also longed to be part of a popular clique - The Queen Bees - but at what cost? Having been dared to kiss the most unpopular guy in school, Paul Jones, on a date that she must instigate, Claire found she actually enjoyed his company. But what was to be her first dare as the initial initiation into the clique turned out to be an attraction she couldn't understand - and which would not be acceptable to the others - Claire found she could not keep away from Paul, meeting up in the library whenever they could. So they embarked on a secret relationship which would cost her, if revealed, her reputation and her place in the group as a Queen Bee she had worked so hard for.

After months of secret meetings, it seemed only natural that their relationship should progress to the next level. Or should it? But when one day, the door suddenly opens to the unused drama room and Charlotte, the head Queen Bee, is shocked by what she sees. Pants round his ankles with Claire's knickers on the floor, Paul is wrenched off her and Claire is taken away in tears and the arms of her friends.

Then news travelled. Stories told. Opinions made. What had been a beautiful thing, albeit secret, was now made into a sordid atrocity. Such was the shame that Paul and his family had to move away, as the school turned him into a pariah. Then abandoning school altogether as well as his dreams of becoming a doctor, Paul grew a chip that became so embedded on his shoulder...unable to escape the shame of what had been done to him. He trusted her; he loved her; and she had betrayed him.

As an adult, with her reputation still held in the highest regard, Claire finds herself faced with a terrifying prospect. Her son Josh is accused of accused of a crime of the most abhorrent nature and suddenly she finds herself under attack and everything she tried to forget in her past is back to destroy her in a final retribution.

And now, the perfect life is coming undone with the perfect lie...

Narrated in both the past and the present, mainly by Claire, we do get to hear the whispers of another more sinister voice sprinkled throughout - so malevolent in its creepiness - with the final word set to turn everything on its head. As soon we learn more about the event from the past is not what it seems. The final twist is just brilliant and ultimately heartbreaking.

I enjoyed watching how the characters interacted with one another, despite disliking several of them. They were well written and each played their parts well. I'm not sure which Claire I preferred - teenage or adult - as both were a little self absorbed at times though her ability to look beyond what others see as a teenager and accept the unpopular boy at school as he was was a little overshadowed by her fickleness to remain with the "in" crowd. I would have preferred her to stand up for him, but having been a teenage girl myself, I know how improbable that concept could be to someone of that age...when acceptance is everything. And then, the lie.

I really liked Josh. He was nothing like most teenage boys portrayed - he really was a perfect child. Jamie may have been cute but I find the demands of small children annoying, and he could be at times. Chris was an obtuse self-absorbed prick, in my opinion. Whatever did Claire see in him? Despite Charlotte's claim of "imagine the perfect babies you would make!" in her fickle teenage brain. I didn't like any of the Queen Bees, least of all Charlotte. I hated those kinds of people when I was that age, I hate them even more now. They were basically bullies. And had they not been, and could accept what was, then maybe none of what happened would have happened. In the end, while the responsibility was ultimately Claire's doing, I still think those girls had a lot to answer for as well.

While THE PERFECT LIE does begin as a slow burn, don't give up because when it picks up it REALLY picks up...and you won't want to put it down until the very last page.

Although I did predict much of what took place - both past and present - I didn't foresee the outcome of this highly addictive read. It certainly didn't ruin the story for me as I love to try and piece the clues together myself whilst devouring an intriguing read such as this.

It does leave you questioning, what could have happened had there not been that perfect lie? Would the past have then directed the future in what became THE perfect lie? You really are left with pondering the reality of how so many lives can change on the basis of a lie.

With secrets, lies, deception and the most unimaginable betrayal, THE PERFECT LIE is simply brilliant in its execution and its ending.

I would like to thank #KarenOsman, #NetGalley and #Aria for an ARC of #ThePerfectLie in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell (ARC)

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 13th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 8th August 2019)

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 14th August 2019

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42448034-the-family-upstairs

★★★★ 4.5 stars

UPDATED REVIEW!!

It's no secret that Lisa Jewell has gained notoriety within the thriller genre and most definitely within the publishing world in general. Her ability to mesmerise readers with intriguing plots and captivating storytelling makes her one of the most successful voices of the domestic thriller. So following the success of her previous bestsellers, she has set the bar pretty high with THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS and the hype leading up to its release. It was only natural that I anticipated a masterful tale complete with riddles and twists and complexities to keep me gripped right up to the end. So...what happened?

Imagine inheriting an eight bedroom property in the heart of Chelsea - an incredibly affluent area of London abundant with multi-million dollar homes. Would it change your life? 

Libby has always known she was adopted and upon turning 25 she had always expected to receive a token of some kind from the trust of her biological parents. She did expect this. Upon receiving notification of her bequest she is shocked to discover that she has inherited the massive house - 16 Cheyne Walk in Chelsea - that once belonged to her parents. A house that is shrouded with a mysterious and tragic history. Libby had no idea just what she would discover when she opened the door to the dilapidated boarded up old house. Within its walls are the secrets it holds and has never told.

When Libby was 10 months old - known then as Serenity - she was found alone in her cot in the upstairs room of the Chelsea mansion. Her parents - Henry and Martina Lamb - were found dead and decomposing, an apparent suicide with apparent links to a cult. Her brother and sister, Henry and Lucy, were nowhere to be found. Nor were any other members of the household living there at the time.

Lucy is a single mother with two children to different fathers - Marco and Stella - and a dog, Fitz. She lives hand to mouth in the south of France, sleeping in doorways and under motorway bridges. But life hasn't always been this way. She was once the daughter of a wealthy family and lived in a beautiful mansion in Chelsea with her brother Henry and their parents - Henry and Martina Lamb.

Henry is a budding sociopath, somewhat quirky, and maybe a little crazy. But deep within him is something just a little off. Maybe his brain is wired differently because while he can appear charming and attractive at times there is a darker side of him that you don't want to mess with. And is everything as it appears? Was he a victim of circumstance? Or is there more to the story that he has neglected to share with us? 

Between them - Libby, Lucy and Henry - they are the three voices of this somewhat twisted tale of complexities. In typical dual timeline fashion, the story unravels in the past and present, manipulating the reader in classic Jewell modus operandi. 

Lucy's story is a painful one which she keeps locked firmly in the past but it is clear from the start, that whatever happened within those walls all those years ago, have made a huge impact on the woman she is today. And slowly but surely, through hand to mouth and perseverance, she finally makes it back to England with one goal in mind. The baby is 25. 

Henry is a little different. From the moment David and Sally Thomsen took up residence with Birdie and Justin in their house, along with their children Phineas and Clemency, Henry has felt a burning attraction to Phin, despite being only 11 years old at the time. He is obsessed with him, watches him, emulates him; wants to be like him. And one night, he becomes Phin. But despite his odd tendancies, it is through Henry we see what is really happening at 16 Cheyne Walk. It is through Henry's eyes, you get a real sense of what life was like for the children within that house. And while you may not connect with him, you do feel for him and the others.

When Libby inherits 16 Cheyne Walk, she fully intends to sell it. What does she need with a huge mansion in Chelsea with all those rooms and no one to fill it? But before she does, she wants to know what happened there. She wants to uncover its secrets and learn what truly happened to her parents on that night 24 years ago and what happened to her brothers and sisters. She teams up with Miller Roe, who originally covered a story about the house and what happened within its walls, as they begin their search for the truth. Little did she know, that delving into such secrets would result in uncovering even worse secrets that had been buried even longer than she had been alive. 

Now I had begun reading this book when I had heard it involved animal abuse, and while I can tolerate abuse of almost every other kind, I cannot stomach the abuse, torture or painful deaths of animals in graphic detail - especially dogs. I got five chapters in, had met Fitz the dog, and before long I was envisioning him meeting an untimely torturous end. When I posted my original review on Twitter, tagging and apologising Lisa Jewell, she contacted me and was saddened I felt I couldn't continue the book based on what I had been advised about animal abuse. She then went on to tell me the exact nature of the "animal's demise" and assured me that is as graphic as it was. 

So feeling somewhat relieved after speaking with the author herself, I decided to give it another and picked it up from where I left off. I soon became completely encapsulated within the story and didn't want to leave. And when I did reach the point of the said animal's demise, I found it featured very very briefly in the story - no more than half a dozen lines - and that it wasn't graphic at all, as it was really only mentioned in passing. I was also relieved to discover that Fitz made the journey to England with Lucy and the children, and remained alive and well throughout. I don't believe I am giving away any spoilers when I say that.

Needless to say, I was so glad that I decided to give THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS another go, and boy, was I ever!! The entire tale was enthralling, psychological, twisted and creepy. There are many twisted characters in this book - some of whom you will love to hate! And one of which will remain with me for some time to come for his complete need for control of everyone, whilst reaping everything for himself. He so got under my skin and will remain there for some time to come.

THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS is a creepy and disturbing tale with that ominous and atmospheric feel that encompasses the reader completely. For me, I found that it was a completely different tale than one of which Jewell has delivered in the past.

Lisa Jewell is a master storyteller and her tales are always encapsulating - claustrophobically so - but intriguing. And THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS is no different...except that it feels even more claustrophobic given the direction of the storyline. But don't take my word for it - grab a copy yourself and jump right in! You won't be sorry...

I would like to thank #LisaJewell, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK and #Cornerstone for an ARC of #TheFamilyUpstairs in exchange for an honest review.