REVIEW: Who Did You Tell? by Lesley Kara (ARC)

Who Did You Tell? by Lesley Kara

Genre: Psychological thriller, suspense

Read: 5th March 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 9th January 2020)

★★★★ 3.5 stars rounded up

As one of the minority who has not yet read Lesley Kara's debut thriller "The Rumour", I didn't know what to expect going into WHO DID YOU TELL? Upon re-reading the premise before I started, I had to wonder what lead me to request this book as it really didn't sound all that intriguing. But I was wrong.

Astrid's mother named her "Hillary" when she was born because she had such a sunny disposition. But she hated the name. So Hillary then became Astrid which alluded to something far more exciting, setting the scene for the rebellious and disastrous life she'd lead since.

A recovering alcoholic, Astrid has moved in with her mother in the small seaside town of Flinstead, where everybody knows everybody as well as each other's business. She hasn't had a drink for 192 days, regularly attends AA meetings at the behest of her mother and is making friends. Several months ago, her life fell apart with the suicide of the love of her life for which she blames herself and is trying to move past the guilt. Despite everything, she really is trying to put her life back together.

She meets Helen and Rosie at the AA meetings and feels an instant kinship with Helen, who is struggling with her own sobriety. Together they find strength in each other. But with Rosie, Astrid feels uneasy. It's like the woman wants to make Astrid her new "pet project" and to be honest she could do without the constant references to God, about whom Astrid feels indifferent. However, where ever she turns in town Rosie seems to continually pop up and Astrid cannot escape her quick enough. Thank goodness for Helen as the two women forge a friendship and work through their steps together.

When Astrid meets Josh on the beach one morning, their conversations soon lead to coffee then romantic walks which then becomes a relationship she hadn't exactly planned for. He soon takes her home to meet his father in the beautiful house they are renovating.

In her former life (before alcohol) Astrid was a set designer, painting enormous works of art on a massive scale. It was something she loved. So when Josh mentions that his father needs some kind of painting done, she is excited (and a little surprised) when he commissions her with the job of creating something magical in one of the rooms of the house they are renovating.

At last, Astrid feels as if life is returning to normal and her past is finally behind her. With Josh, Astrid feels a sense of normality and happiness returning to her life. With Josh she feels safe. After all, everyone deserves a second chance, don't they?

But what will happen when Astrid finally gets the courage to tell Josh the truth?

But...someone knows the secret from which she is running and they have tracked her down to sleepy Flinstead. The hairs on the back of her neck tell her someone is watching her. The scent of Simon's aftershave tells her he is back. But he can't be...he's dead! But she can smell it everywhere she goes. And then one day she receives a photo with a message on the back...followed by a death notice bearing her name. Someone knows her secret and they are hell bent on making her pay. But only one other person knows her secret...and he is dead. Which begs the question - who did Simon tell?

Shrouded in the depths of alcoholism and its temptations, WHO DID YOU TELL? is a raw account of one woman's path to recovery complete with her vulnerabilities, her depression and her guilt...along with her strength to overcome it. It highlights the pain of the loved ones trying to help her and their almost suffocating need to protect her, as her mother learns to trust her again. I may not have been with her for the entire journey but I was proud of Astrid's strength and courage to resist those temptations as they came her way. Added to this battle was the knowledge that someone was stalking her and persecuting her. And still she resisted.

Secrets, suspicion and suspense from the very first page draw you in to Astrid's story in WHO DID YOU TELL? that you will be turning pages at the speed of light in a rush to get to the truth. Filled with so many twists that just when you think you have it worked out, along comes another to throw you off.

A great mix of thriller, suspense and drama, WHO DID YOU TELL? is a compelling story of one woman's fight with addiction and the secrets of her past. The short snappy chapters make it a fast, gripping read.

WHO DID YOU TELL? will appeal to a wide range of readers.

I would like to thank #LesleyKara, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK #TansworldPublishers for an ARC of #WhoDidYouTell in exchange for an honest review.