REVIEW: After the Silence by Louise O'Neill

 

After the Silence by Louise O'Neill
Genre: Psychological thriller
Read: 30th August 2020
Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd September 2020

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

Nessa Crowley's murderer has been protected by silence for ten years.

Until a team of documentary makers decide to find out the truth.

On the day of Henry and Keelin Kinsella's wild party at their big house a violent storm engulfed the island of Inisrun, cutting it off from the mainland. When morning broke Nessa Crowley's lifeless body lay in the garden, her last breath silenced by the music and the thunder.

The killer couldn't have escaped Inisrun, but on-one was charged with the murder. The mystery that surrounded the death of Nessa remained hidden. But the islanders knew who to blame for the crime that changed them forever.

Ten years later a documentary crew arrives, there to lift the lid off the Kinsella's carefully constructed lives, determined to find evidence that will prove Henry's guilt and Keelin's complicity in the murder of beautiful Nessa.

In this bold, brilliant, disturbing new novel Louise O'Neill shows that deadly secrets are devastating to those who hold them close.

MY REVIEW:

I really hate it when a premise to a book promises something so much more than the book itself actually offers. Such was the case with AFTER THE SILENCE by Louise O'Neill. What was meant to be about the ten year anniversary of the murder of Nessa Crowley ended up something far more discombobulated to the point of boring and uninteresting.

Ten years have passed since the brutal murder of Nessa Crowley during the Kinsellas party and no one has every been charged or convicted of her murder. Now a documentary team of two from Australia have arrived to hopefully shed some light on that fateful night in an attempt to uncover what really happened.

Keelin and Henry Kinsella are prime suspects, having been vilified by the local residents of the island of Inisrun, where they live. Their children have grown up and lived in the shadow of Nessa's murder, their daughter escaping to boarding school in Scotland at age 11 simply to escape the notoriety and be somewhere where no one knows her family or what happened. Alex has withdrawn and keeps to himself. 

Keelin is a native of the island, having escaped an abusive marriage with her young son Alex. Apparently  a fortune teller had predicted that her husband would only have daughters so therefore his birth proved that Keelin had been unfaithful to him. Upon returning to the island, Henry took an interest in her and provided her the comfort and security she longed for.

But the Kinsellas are not liked on Inisrun. The resentment of the locals towards them is palpable, made loud and clear. Keelin is now an outcast to the island she was born on, having sold herself out by marrying a Kinsella.

And then on the night of her 37th birthday party, young Nessa Crowley was found murdered in their garden with the suspicion placed firmly on Henry and on Keelin for somehow protecting him.

I thought I was reading a murder mystery thriller but it felt more like a noir version of Days of our Lives. I really didn't care for anyone. Not one character. Henry is coercive and attention-seeking. Keelin is submissive and weak. Alex is a shadow who'd rather not come out of his room. Evie is a stubborn teenager who knows it all. Noah and Jake, the film makers...didn't really form an opinion of them in as far as I read. Because to be honest, I couldn't finish it.

But one of my biggest gripes in AFTER THE SILENCE is the prolific use of the Irish tongue. While I understand that the story is set in a part of Ireland where Irish is the primary spoken language, many readers are not proficient in such a language so for them it is completely foreign. Either there was the constant use of the native tongue or Keelin drifting off into fairyland, as she so often did.

AFTER THE SILENCE is a difficult read in my opinion. If not for the mere fact that I struggled to reach 20% before chucking it in through sheer boredom and for want of something far more thrilling. While this book is not for everyone due to it's content matter, it wasn't for me for other reasons entirely. 

Having been promised thrills and mystery, I felt cheated with only boredom and frustration. 

I would like to thank #LouiseONeill, #NetGalley and #Quercus for an ARC of #AfterTheSilence in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Louise O' Neill is from Clonakilty, in west Cork. After graduating with a BA in English Studies at Trinity College Dublin, she went on to complete a post-grad in Fashion Buying at DIT. Having spent a year in New York working for Kate Lanphear, the senior Style Director of ELLE magazine, she returned home to Ireland to write her first novel.

She went from hanging out on set with A-list celebrities to spending most of her days in pyjamas while she writes, and has never been happier.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: Deny Me by Karen Cole

 

Deny Me by Karen Cole
Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense
Read: 29th August 2020
Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 30th April 2020

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

From the bestselling author of Deliver Me comes a gripping new thriller with a twist you'll never see coming!

Thirty-two-year-old Jessica is newly divorced and has returned home to live with her parents whilst she puts the pieces of her life back together. But Jessica isn't the only one with problems, as her mother, Jean, has recently been diagnosed with dementia.

Shortly after Jessica's arrival, one of the neighbours falls to her death, in what appears to be a terrible accident. However, Jean claims that the woman was murdered by her husband and that she witnessed the whole thing.

With Jean's memory rapidly deteriorating, her family dismiss her story, believing Jean is confused. But when Jessica learns that the couple next door's marriage may have been in trouble, she begins to wonder if her mother did see something after all.

Jessica is determined to discover the truth, but soon uncovers much more than she bargained for...

MY REVIEW:

Having enjoyed Karen Cole's previous book "Deceive Me" I was looking forward to sinking my teeth into DENY ME. And I have to say, I think I loved this one even more!

He said it was an accident.

She said it was murder.

How far would YOU go to discover the truth?

Jessica Delaney has recently returned to England after her life fell apart in Spain. Leaving her controlling partner Matteo behind and a job she loved teaching, she returned home after spiraling into anxiety and depression after a mental health episode. But upon her arrival she discovered her mother, Jean, is suffering from Alzheimer's and her condition is gradually deteriorating.

One night after learning their neighbour's wife had fallen to her death from a window in recent weeks, Jean declares the woman was pushed and that she saw it happen. But given her gradual decline with dementia, how much of what Jean says can be believed? Is she confused? Or is she a witness to murder? 

Jess believes her mother knows something but her father Brian and her brother Howie dismiss her claims as the dementia talking. But Jess is not so sure. Is her mother's claim just fantasy mingled with reality? Or are her memories confused with the present? Whatever the case may be, Jean appears to be truly frightened of something or someone.

Then when Jess receives a call that her mother has taken an overdose of her medication, Jess rushes to the hospital only to arrive too late. Her father is devastated but Jess can't help but feel something is wrong. Her father always doled out her mother's medication for her - how could she overdose on it intentionally or accidentally? Unless... Jess has a horrible feeling that her mother's fears weren't completely unfounded. 

Just days before, Jean had started to tell Jess something that she had kept secret for years, whispering fearfully that "he wants me dead" and "I know too much". But her father walked in, ending their conversation. What was her mother about to tell her that was obviously so important? Jess thought she would get another opportunity to find out but sadly her mother died before she could ask her about it. But before she did, Jean had given Jess her jewellery box claiming that a lot of memories were stored in there. Was her mother trying to tell her something?

Knowing her previous mental health breakdown will preclude anyone from accepting her belief that her mother knew something, Jess decides to investigate but will she get more than she bargained for? As her quest for answers takes her back to the past Jess wants to know the truth, but she can't possibly prepare herself for what she'll uncover...

Told solely in Jess' narrative, DENY ME is a fast paced quick read that will have you turning the pages at the speed of light. Jess battles her own demons whilst on a journey for the truth with a number of events that not only affect her but also her family and friends. 

The topics of mental health and dementia are dealt with sensitively and accurately and, as I am no stranger to either, I found myself in tears as I drew parallels to my own experiences. Watching Jean's confusion mingled with her moments of lucidity were both accurate and heartbreaking. As the dementia adds another dimension to the story, like Jess, we also question how much of one's memories real or imagined or mingled with reality? And did that make her mother's claims all the more real or a figment of her imagination?

Filled with family drama and secrets, DENY ME is a compelling and captivating thriller that will have you questioning everyone and everything. I hovered between two characters as the guilty party but still had it figured out before the shocking reveal came. It was clever and well written and I enjoyed every moment of the ride. 

My only flaw I found with it was...how on earth did Jess get a passport without ever seeing her birth certificate? Because if she had...? Just a slight unanswered question that is a little fuzzy. And as such, the Spanish back story may have been better to have been left out altogether in that case. The same could have still taken place in England without the need for a passport, leaving the validity of that question dangling.

But nevertheless, DENY ME is an engaging and twisty psychological thriller that is addictive throughout. Right up to that shocking end. Packed with enough twists to give you whiplash and whether you see what is coming or not, that Epilogue will leave you breathless!

Definitely recommend!

I would like to thank #KarenCole, #NetGalley and #Quercus for an ARC of #DenyMe in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Karen Cole grew up in the Cotswolds and got a degree in psychology at Newcastle University. She spent several years teaching English around the world before settling in Cyprus with her husband and two sons, where she works at a British army base as a primary school teacher. She recently completed the Curtis Brown writing course where she found her love of writing psychological thrillers.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks

 

Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks
Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 26th August 2020
Goodreads
Amazon
Published: 30th April 2020

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

GOSSIP SPREADS FAST.
LIES CAN BE TOXIC.
SECRETS CAN KILL.

When an office fire ends in murder, three women are first in line for questioning.

What is Laura trying to hide?

What is Mia trying to protect?

What would Janie risk for revenge?

Laura has returned to work at Morris and Wood after her maternity leave, only to discover that the woman she brought in to cover for her isn’t planning on going anywhere. Despite her close relationship with the agency’s powerful CEO, Harry Wood, she feels sidelined—and outmaneuvered—as she struggles to balance the twin demands of work and motherhood.

Mia was only supposed to be a temporary hire at Morris and Wood, but she’s managed to make herself indispensable to everyone. Everyone, that is, except Laura. If people only knew why she was so desperate to keep her job, they might not want her to stay.

Janie gave up everything to support her husband and the successful agency he runs. But she has her own dark secret to protect…and will go to any lengths to keep it safe.

They never thought it would come to this.

But nothing can be hidden forever...

MY REVIEW:

I really enjoyed the last Heidi Perks book I read "Come Back for Me" so naturally I was excited to read THREE PERFECT LIARS. However, this book just didn't do it for me. It was slow paced and took me a while to get into.

Meet Laura, Mia and Janie. All three women who are all determined, who all have a mission of some sort and who are all linked...although they don't realise it yet.

Laura returns from six months maternity leave to discover Mia, her temp who was covering for her during that time, had not only been given a permanent position at Morris & Wood but had taken over her biggest and most important client account. When she had interviewed Mia for the position six months prior, Mia had given no indication that she was looking to park her feet under her desk indefinitely...or even permanently. In fact, the complete opposite. Mia just wanted a temp position to tide her over before moving on. At least, that's what she said. 

Now Laura is set on not only retaining her position in the company but getting back her major account. So set on this outcome, she becomes consumed with catching Mia out to the point of being obsessed. It's all she can talk about with husband Nate whenever she's home that he has grown tired of her constant tirade over Mia. What about their baby son? While she's battling it out with her boss Harry at work over Mia, she is missing out on precious time with her six month old baby son Bobby. Is Mia really worth that?

When Mia saw the advertisement for maternity cover at Morris & Wood advertising agency, she knew she would do whatever it took to get that job. And keep it. Then when Laura went into labour four weeks early, Mia picked up the slack, proved her worth and made herself indispensable. Everyone loved having Mia around. She was fun, she was a laugh and she was an all round nice girl. Is it any wonder she still remained when Laura returned six months later? 

But Mia has a secret. The real reason she took this job which no one else knows. Not even her family. It was important that she had to see it through.

Janie is the wife of Morris & Wood's CEO, Harry. Five years ago, she was a successful defence barrister in London but Harry had decided to branch out and open an arm of the agency in Lymington on the south coast. So therefore it was decided that Janie and the girls move south, rather than have Harry commute all week. Janie just accepted this as it was meant to be. But after her last case, Janie wasn't sure she could continue in her line of work. She was disillusioned and disheartened...and she needed to get away.

And then a name from Janie's past walked into Morris & Wood one day and her world came crashing down again. Miles Morgan. What the hell was he doing here and what did he want with Harry? After everything, how could Harry do business with him?

Two months after Laura returned from maternity leave all three women stood on Lymington Quay on the other side of the river watching the illustrious mirrored building of Morris & Wood go up in flames. Which one of them did it? Which one of them had the biggest secret to hide? Which one of them was the biggest liar?

But none of them were prepared for a body to be pulled from the flames. All three women watched in shock and horror. Which one of them was now a murderer?

A clever tale is spun weaving every intricate detail in this elaborate plan gone wrong. THREE PERFECT LIARS is the story of three women whose lives intersect in a way they never thought possible as it draws you into its secrets and entangling you further.

I didn't really like either Laura or Mia and with Janie - I didn't either like or dislike her. She was just neutral. I don't think her character was built quite as much as the other two. While I didn't much like Laura, I hated Mia coming in and stealing her job and wondered why she had done so. It certainly did look as though she had something in for Laura, so I couldn't blame Laura for feeling that way. But at the same time, I also grew tired of her constant complaining about "Mia this and Mia that". But really, all three women I really didn't care much for.

Told from the perspectives of all three women leading up to the fire, as well as in police interviews in the days after, THREE PERFECT LIARS is a slow burn where the tension builds as events unfold. The format in which it was written was cleverly done, although I felt the police interviews SHOULD have been in completely separate chapters to break it up a little more and separate events rather than have them tacked on the end of chapters.

What let this book down was the ending. While the tension was palpable throughout as it built slowly, the conclusion was a little anti-climatic. I guessed the identity of the culprit just shortly before it was revealed as it all of a sudden became clear to me. But it wasn't that that was disappointing, but rather what came after that. Suffice to say, there are times when someone has just been through enough. I can't say anymore without spoiling it.

Despite my reservations, THREE PERFECT LIARS is a good read and I still relatively enjoyed it. And while I didn't either love or hate it, I have no hesitation in recommending it to fans who love a slow burn thriller.

I would like to thank #HeidiPerks, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK and #CornerstoneDigital for an ARC of #ThreePerfectLiars in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Heidi Perks was born in 1973 and has always loved reading and writing for as long as she could remember, making up stories and poems and even magazines she would sell to unsuspecting family member for 20p. She somehow managed to get through her GCSE's and A levels while spending most of her lessons staring out of the window and creating other worlds in her head.

Heidi graduated from Bournemouth University in 1997 with a BA (Hons) in Retail Management, and then, moving to London, enjoyed a career in Marketing before leaving in 2012 and returning to Bournemouth to focus on both bringing up her family and writing.

Heidi successfully applied for a place on the inaugural Curtis Brown Creative online Novel Writing Course and after that dedicated her time to completing her first novel, Beneath The Surface.

She has a huge interest in what makes people tick and loves to write about family relationships, especially where some of the characters are slightly dysfunctional.

Heidi lives by the sea in Bournemouth with her husband and two children.

Kim's Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Apartment by K.L. Slater

 

The Apartment by K.L. Slater
|Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 25th August 2020
Goodreads
Amazon
Published: 28th April 2020

★★★★ 3.5 stars  (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

It’s an opportunity she can’t refuse. The woman before her tried…

Freya Miller needs a miracle. In the fallout of her husband’s betrayal, she’s about to lose her family home, and with it the security she craves for her five-year-old daughter, Skye. Adrift and alone, she’s on the verge of despair until a chance meeting with the charismatic Dr Marsden changes everything. He’s seeking a new tenant for a shockingly affordable flat in a fashionable area of London.

Adder House sounds too good to be true… But Freya really can’t afford to be cynical, and Dr Marsden is adamant she and Skye will be a perfect fit with the other residents.

But Adder House has secrets. Even behind a locked front door, Freya feels as if she’s being watched: objects moving, unfamiliar smells, the blinking light of a concealed camera… and it’s not long before she begins to suspect that her dream home is hiding a nightmarish reality. Was it really chance that led her here—or something unthinkably dark?

As the truth about Adder House starts to unravel, can Freya and Skye get out—or will they be locked in forever?

MY REVIEW:

As an avid fan of Kim Slater, I was naturally excited to read THE APARTMENT and if I were expecting another domestic thriller then I'd be disappointed because this book is a step away from Kim's usual style. It is creepy, atmospheric and tense throughout centred on an illustrious apartment in the affluent and highly expensive area of Kensington in London.

If something seems too good to true then it probably is.

Freya Miller grew up in the foster care system, not knowing or caring who her parents were. To say she has trust issues would be an understatement. Particularly after her husband of a decade leaves her for her best friend. So when he decides to go for full custody of their 5 year old daughter Skye, citing that she needs a more stable environment, Freya is livid but is spared the ordeal when he tragically dies before he can. Now she has to sell the only house Skye knows and find somewhere else to live fast.

So when she is approached by an older man in a coffee shop who then offers her an apartment in his building as a way out of her means, and at a price she is able to afford, Freya hesitates before accepting his kind offer. For me, that would set off alarm bells! I mean, no one would offer something that is so obviously too good to be true without a great big whopping catch attached to it. That's just how life is. No one does anything for nothing. For a start, she knows nothing about this man, Dr Marsden. Is he even a doctor? She googled him but found nothing at all relating to him. Another alarm bell. The fact that the apartment is in Kensington, and a stone's throw away from the home of Prince William and his family, where even the air that you breathe is out of her budget would be yet another red flag. Why would anyone offer her an apartment in such an affluent area for next to nothing? Because she and her daughter are "the right kind of people"? What does that even mean?

Even so, Freya and Skye move in to Adder House (that name alone has me thinking of snakes!) the following weekend with the help of her friends Brenna and Viv. Of course Dr and Mrs Marsden are on hand to help as well and don't seem at all pleased that her friends are there to assist. In fact, the strange elderly couple like to involve themselves in their tenants' lives just a little too much. And there is something a little off about the Dr and Audrey Marsden...a touch of the Addams family about them.

Freya and Skye are no sooner settled when strange things begin to happen. Noises in the walls. Furniture being moved. A camera suddenly installed. Voices from another room. Screams. Buzzing. Scraping. Soon Freya starts to feel trapped as she worries about her mental health and begins to feel paranoid. Is she being gaslighted? Or is there something more sinister hidden in the walls of Adder House?

When she hears whispers of another woman and her daughter having lived there before them and a tragedy that claimed the life of the young mother, Freya starts to wonder what happened to them. But Dr Marsden claims that no one else has lived in their apartment and that they are the first. Is he telling the truth or is he hiding a more sinister truth? One thing is for sure...behind the doors of Adder House NOTHING is as it seems.

And then just as we're getting comfortable, there is a tale from the past. One hundred years ago in 1920, the story of young mother Beatrice and her 11 month old baby son Douglas unfolds in several alternating chapters through a journal and several old recordings from a Professor John Watson detailing the stages of an experiment I found to be, whilst simplistic, somewhat cruel and barbaric. In fact, I was horrified. These chapters added an even more eerie feel to the already creepy story.

As with Kim's books, THE APARTMENT is told in Freya's first person narrative so we get to feel her fear and paranoia building as if it were the reader housed in that creepy apartment. One thing I have discovered is that while they are generally called "flats" in the UK, in the more affluent areas they are referred to as "apartments" for that more upscale feel. And Adder House was definitely that, situated in the extremely wealthy area of Kensington.

With a nice steady pace, THE APARTMENT is an enjoyable quick read I devoured in a matter of hours. The chilling aspect within the pages has you turning them at the speed of light to uncover the truth of what is truly going on.

I love Kim's books and THE APARTMENT is no different, although I must admit the ending left me feeling a little cheated, I guess you could say. It wasn't at all what I expected. Although having said that, I don't know what I expected. I guess a conclusion where everything neatly fell into place as with Kim's other books. The tension was extremely palpable throughout but when it came to the climatic build at the end, I admit to wondering the purpose of it all. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was an incredibly engaging read. It's just that ending....was a little unbelievable.

Still, THE APARTMENT is a creepy thriller that will appeal to a wide audience. Just don't expect the usual Kim Slater style...because this isn't it.

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #TheApartment in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents and collected an impressive stack of rejection slips. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating in 2012, she gained literary agent representation and a book deal. As Kim says, 'it was a fairytale ... at the end of a very long road!'

Kim is a full-time writer. She has one daughter, two stepsons and lives with her husband in Nottingham.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: This Little Family by Ines Bayard

 

This Little Family by Ines Bayard (translated by Adriana Hunter)
Genre: Domestic thriller, Noir
Read: 23rd August 2020
Goodreads
Amazon
Published: 28th April 2020

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Life is going well for Marie. She and her husband, Laurent, live a comfortable life in a large apartment in the eleventh arrondissement in Paris. Laurent has a good job at a big law firm and Marie enjoys her work at a bank, where she feels appreciated by her clients and colleagues.

Comfortable and secure, and ready for family life, the couple begin to try for a baby. But not long afterwards Marie experiences a shocking encounter which threatens to derail their plans completely, and her world slowly starts to fall apart.

Less than two years later, the family’s apartment is cordoned off by police tape as forensic officers examine a horrific scene in the family apartment. Three bodies around a dining table. Marie, Laurent and their little toddler, Thomas, in his high chair. All three of them have been poisoned by Marie.

This Little Family is a dark and furiously compelling novel about women, power and control, from a bright young star in French literature.

MY REVIEW:

The stewed apples are still sitting on the table but this little family is no longer there to eat them. Death has claimed them all.

A dark, disturbing and somewhat harrowing story, THIS LITTLE FAMILY by Ines Bayard opens with the disturbing scene depicting a family of three - Marie, Laurent and baby Thomas - all dead at the table depicted in horrific detail, having been poisoned by Marie herself. But why? What would lead a mother to take not only her life but that of her husband and baby son? What demons drove her to the edge until she could see no way other way out? 

What unfolds is the story is Marie's story, beginning prior to the birth of Thomas who was a toddler at the time of his death. A career woman working as a financial advisor in a bank while her husband Laurent was a successful lawyer, Marie has come to the decision that it is time for her and Laurent to try for a baby and therefore stops taking the pill almost immediately. This is welcome news for her husband who would love nothing more than to share the joys of parenthood with his wife. 

However, almost as soon as this decision is made, the power is then brutally taken from Marie when she accepts a ride home from her CEO boss. Driving her to within a walking distance from her front door he parks in a dark car park, locks the doors and brutally and mercilessly rapes her in every way possible. The narrative of the event is that descriptive that the reader can feel Marie's pain as well as her shame. Before driving off, he threatens her with losing her job and her husband if she mentions what took place.

Marie's life from then on spirals downward. She loses interest in anything and everything. She doesn't take part in conversations or makes any effort to connect with Laurent, who is oblivious to his wife's pain. Her emotions unravel as she goes through the motions of a life she now feels disconnected from until she stops altogether. The nausea she has felt since the attack has not subsided but if anything has gotten worse as she sees everything as related to her rape. But Laurent, who is blind to her pain, has the nous to suspect what he believes to be plainly obvious. That she is pregnant. He presents her with a testing kit and to her horror, it shows positive. Marie is that absorbed in her own pain that she sees no other outcome than this child is the spawn of that evil attack. But how can she tell Laurent that now when she never told him of the attack in the first place?

What transpires is Marie's continual downward spiral as she convinces herself that the baby growing inside her is the result of her rape and is not Laurent's child. Meanwhile everyone is thrilled for Marie, throwing her parties and celebrating the happy news...which she thinks is anything but. She tries to think up ways to get rid of the child. She even throws herself down the stairs, but the baby survives, although she is left with a broken leg. When the baby is born, she cannot even look at him. The sight of his nakedness horrifies her. She feels so alienated from everyone as they come to first see the baby, and then her. She was just an incubator for a child that she loathes.

Most women at the birth of their child, would bond with them as soon as they look at them. But Marie didn't. She hated Thomas. She hated the sight of him, the smell of him, the look of him and all he reminded her of. She found she couldn't escape him as Laurent went back to work and she was stuck at home with him. He would scream and she would ignore him until she she decided to see to him. She would not let another man - albeit a baby - dictate her life to her. And so she left him unchanged and unbathed so she would have as little to do with him as possible. She did not talk to him, she did not sing to him, she did not play with him. She pretty much ignored his existence for most of the day. Until attention was drawn to the fact that she had been neglecting him when he ended up in hospital with an infection. After that, Marie did only as much as was needed to keep Thomas clean and fed so as to not raise the issue of neglect again. But she found it difficult not to put her hands around his throat and squeeze...or to let him fall from their fourth floor balcony.

Marie's journey into a downward spiral of depression that is both harrowing and heartbreaking to read, is only compounded by the existence of her baby son whom she is convinced is the child of her rapist. From the moment he was born she vowed to make him pay...despite the fact he is an innocent baby. She didn't see him that way. He was the reminder of something so horrific and so brutal that she decided there was no way she could ever love something borne from such an abhorrent act. Her self absorption and self loathing was merely a mirror as to how she felt about herself since that night. How could Laurent love her now? How could anyone love her? Look at her...fat and stretched out of shape thanks to the spawn of evil that came out of her. Her self destruction only gets worse when she discovers that Laurent may have discovered her secret. And it is then that she makes that final decision...

THIS LITTLE FAMILY is an extremely difficult and harrowing read. It explores abuse and the trauma it leaves behind, as well as the emotions of self loathing and ultimately the self destruction of oneself as Marie drives herself to madness. This will not be a story for everyone, and while I thought it was a clever debut, I was also shocked by some of Marie's actions which I really didn't understand. And the sometimes vulgar narrative I found a little unnecessary and uncomfortable. I didn't understand why it was there, given Marie's experience it just didn't make sense to me. And I abhor vulgar expressions used so flippantly as it was here occasionally. To me, there is no need for such expressions.

THIS LITTLE FAMILY is a dark and disturbing read with hardly any dialogue (not one of my favourite styles) being as it is more narrative driven. The narrative is extremely powerful whilst also incredibly brutal and shocking. As the author is French, this book has been translated into English and I have to wonder if some things were lost to translation.

A haunting story that will definitely not leave you in a hurry, THIS LITTLE FAMILY is a fast read (if you can put yourself through the harrowing tale for long enough) and I read it in one sitting. 

I applaud the author for the coup-de-grace in the final chapter. That final lines sent chills through me for the words that Laurent will never hear. A good ending.

Again, I must reiterate that this book WILL NOT be for everyone. It is incredibly descriptive, dark, disturbing and extremely harrowing.

I would like to thank #InesBayard, #NetGalley and #4thEstate for an ARC of #ThisLittleFamily in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Inès Bayard was born in Toulouse, France, in 1991. She lived and studied in Paris for several years before relocating in 2017 to Berlin, where she is currently based. This Little Family is her first novel. 

Adriana Hunter (translator) studied French and Drama at the University of London.

REVIEW: Roses are Red by Miranda Rijks

 

Roses are Red by Miranda Rijks

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Noir

Read: 22nd August 2020

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 26th April 2020

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She wanted a second chance at happiness. She got a first-class ticket to hell.

Lydia Palmer seems to have it all - a thriving business, a beautiful house, a picture-perfect husband and two wonderful kids. But things are different behind closed doors - Lydia is desperately unhappy and wants a divorce.  Then, shockingly, her husband Adam dies. 

When her grief eases, Lydia starts online dating and almost immediately meets Patrick. Handsome, successful, loving, he’ll make the perfect second husband. 

But is Patrick too good to be true? Can you really find prince charming online? 

These are questions Lydia is forced to ask when her world begins to collapse. First, the police say Adam may have been murdered. Then her daughter turns against her, her business disintegrates…

Lydia is convinced that someone is trying to destroy her happiness. She’s wrong. They want so much more than that…

Roses are Red is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up until the early hours. Perfect for fans of K. L. Slater, Teresa Driscoll, and Andrew Hart.

MY REVIEW:

The perfect wife with the perfect life is at the forefront of domestic thriller ROSES ARE RED by Miranda Rijks. Classic domestic noir with unreliable characters, lies and secrets that will have you turning the pages into the night.

On the surface, Adam and Lydia Palmer have it all. Money. Wealth. Success. A lavish restored farmhouse, two children and a life of luxury. But things are never what they seem. Lydia is far from happy. Adam is a serial philanderer and the couple are on the verge of divorce. After discovering the identity of his latest conquest the couple have a massive row afterwhich Adam storms out to go for his nightly swim. And Lydia goes to bed. When Adam hasn't returned three hours later, she goes in search of him...and finds him at the bottom of their swimming pool, having been murdered by electrocution. The police swoop in and investigate, questioning both Lydia and her business partner Ajay. And then the trail goes cold.

Three months later and Lydia's best friend Cassie is encouraging her to try internet dating. After an unsuccessful date and vowing never to use internet dating again, Lydia meets Patrick - a warm and charismatic man who is kind and loving and everything Adam wasn't. Can this man be the calm amidst the storm of her life?

Patrick woos Lydia and by Christmas the couple are engaged, much to the shock of everyone...particularly her 15 year old daughter Mia who is outraged. Patrick wants a quick wedding without the usual fanfare but Lydia isn't so sure. She only buried her husband seven months ago and her children are still grieving. But Patrick is insistent and even manages to talk Mia round, begrudgingly, for she refuses to attend their very small wedding of just five people. Lydia wants her daughter to love her new husband so badly but she also wants her to be happy. Her son Ollie is content enough but becomes rather ecstatic when Patrick spends time bonding with him over computer games. At last, life seems to be good.

Then things start to fall apart...

Patrick travels a lot for work and Lydia finds herself the recipient of prank calls throughout the night. Then her business begins to suffer when she appears on a home shopping show to promote a product her business is selling only to discover the wrong product was sent to the network, which is a cheap knock-off version of the one they sell, and her demonstration resulted in a humiliating display. She is shocked to discover her partner Ajay had changed the instructions and so she confronts him after clarifying her paperwork had been in order but he denies having done so. But why would he do that? Then she discovers that the police have new evidence pointing to Ajay as being responsible for Adam's murder. Is this true? Could it have been Ajay? But why?

Then the silent calls begin again. And noises in the night. Shadows in the dark. A dark maroon car seen driving away from the house, matching Ajay's car. Is he stalking her? Trying to scare her? Before long, Ajay offers to buy Lydia's share of the company which she refuses. Has this been his ploy all along? To discredit her business only to buy her out at way below the market value? Patrick had warned her he might do this and it seems he was right. But is Ajay dangerous too?

But then nothing will prepare Lydia for what is to come... 

Collapsing on the kitchen floor one morning eating breakfast, Lydia is unable to breathe, her tongue swelling in her throat. She knew at once what it was. She is highly allergic to peanuts and she has gone into anaphylaxis. Mia searches for her mother's EpiPen, none of which could be found, screaming in panic before Lydia fades into blackness. Who put the peanuts into Lydia's granola, knowing full well she is allergic? It seems whoever it is wants Lydia dead...and they will stop at nothing. 

Is it Ajay? Or is it someone closer to home?

Told solely in Lydia's narrative, except for the opening chapter, ROSES ARE RED is a fast paced thriller that will have you scratching your head...and not always in a good way. It was well written and was a heart-pounding read but for me it was all too familiar. In fact, I had to stop reading to search for the book that it did remind me of because it screamed of such similarities to Alison James' "The Man She Married", albeit with a few differences. 

My biggest issue with this book though was Lydia herself. How someone with the nous to build a multi-million pound crafting empire could be so gullible...really? How could she be so blind to be unable to see how she is being played? How could she doubt her business partner and friend for over twenty years and take the word of her new husband whom she has known just 5 minutes? For these reasons I found the story a little too predictable and the shock twist promoted with the book really wasn't. ROSES ARE RED wasn't a bad book but it wasn't the greatest either. It was still intriguing and held my interest throughout as I was interested to discover "why", despite the "who" not being such a great shock. There were a couple of surprises but I had figured out the majority of what was happening by the time all was revealed.

What wasn't so cliched as it was real is the whole internet dating thing. I may be old fashioned but for me that's just playing with fire. You don't know who you are talking to, who you are meeting or what you are opening yourself up to. It is scary as hell and incredibly frightening that intelligent people are willing to open themselves up to complete strangers without knowing anything at all about them. Online, people can be whoever they want to be...and none of it is real.

ROSES ARE RED is still an enjoyable read though I don't think the "twist you won't see coming" tagline is at all apt. You can spot it clearly a mile away.

Although I did enjoy the book, it is not one that will stay with me as some books do. It is, however, a perfect read for something quick and mindless that is uncomplicated and still enjoyable. And sometimes that's just what one needs. ROSES ARE RED is a great book to escape into with its fast pace and easy reading style. 

I look forward to Miranda's next book "The Arrangement".

I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #RosesAreRed in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Miranda Rijks lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, their musician daughter and black Labrador. ‘The Obituary’ was her first psychological thriller. She has also written a psychological thriller series featuring Dr Pippa Durrant, a psychologist and specialist in lie detection, who works alongside Sussex police getting embroiled in some scary stuff!

After a degree in Law, Miranda worked in marketing in London and Eastern Europe before setting up businesses in the horticultural, leisure and retail sectors. Along the way, she got a masters in writing and wrote the self-help book, ‘How Compatible Are You?’ and biography, ‘The Eccentric Entrepreneur’. In 2018, Miranda wrote ‘Don’t Call Me Brave’, a novel very loosely drawing upon her experiences of having a rare bone cancer.

She feels extremely lucky to be living the dream, writing psychological thrillers full time! 

Miranda loves connecting with her readers, so feel free to drop her a line.

Social Media Links:

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REVIEW: Can You See Her? by S.E. Lynes

Can You See Her? By S.E. Lynes

Genre: Psychological thriller, domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 21st August 2020

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 22nd April 2020

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION: 

Rachel doesn’t understand how her life has changed so completely. When she was younger, heads would turn when she walked into a room. Her children needed her; her husband adored her.

But somehow the years wore that all away. She was so busy raising her children, looking after her parents… She can barely remember the woman she used to be, the one whose husband told her she was out of his league. The woman she is now just does the laundry and makes the dinner, and can walk into a room without anyone knowing she’s there.

She knows that she hated feeling invisible. She knows that she thought: what would it take for you to see me again?

And now she’s worried that she did something terrible. Because she’s sitting in a room, being asked whether she killed someone.

When no-one is watching, you can get away with anything…

Can You See Her? is an utterly compelling and unputdownable psychological thriller, about how far you can push a woman before she will break. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, A.J. Finn and The Silent Patient.

MY REVIEW:

"There are things I don't know. But I know people are dead, I know I killed them and I know it all started the day I realised I was invisible."

Rachel Edwards is invisible. Well, she thinks she is. When she was younger, heads would turn when she walked into a room. Her husband Mark had always said she was out of his league. And she had great relationships with her two beautiful children, Keiron and Katie.

So when did Rachel become "invisible"?

With Keiron away at uni and Katie taking a gap year, Rachel's life consists of working at the pub and the caretaker of her family at home. When daughter Katie has her 18th birthday party of "just 10 friends" which then turned into at least twenty, Rachel walks into the room and realises everyone is totally oblivious to her presence. She's past her prime, heads no longer turn, she's no one. 

She's become invisible. 

Her husband of 27 years doesn't even look at her anymore, barely even speaks to her. Katie spends most of her time in her room, deaf to her mother's voice...unless food is involved. But neither of them can be arsed to set the table, warm the plates, hang the washing or even flip the switch to turn on the heating while she's out getting fish and chips for tea. No, those tasks are left completely up to her as she is simply the wife and mother, the caretaker for her now unappreciative family.

Becoming obsessed with the spate of knife attacks happening near her home, Rachel begins a scrapbook or sort with clippings of all the victims and their stories. In the hope that she can approach their MP to get the police to do more about these crimes in the area. And yet...she's invisible. Maybe she should take matters into her own hands? After all, she's invisible...

And if she was invisible, if no one else can see her, she could get away with murder. Couldn't she?

Then Rachel starts taking walks at night with their dog Archie and meets people she feels she identifies with and can understand them. She feels their pain and makes connections with them. At last she is not invisible. Not to these people at least. But then these people are found dead or badly injured within a few minutes of meeting her...and Rachel wonders, did she do this?

Now Rachel is in a locked room with forensic psychiatrist Amanda "blue eyes" Frost, detailing all that her life has become and the crimes she has no memory of committing...and yet she must have. Police question her husband Mark, daughter Katie, best friend Lisa and new neighbour Ingrid as they try to determine what is really going on.

It was evident that Rachel was struggling. But was it her sanity? Was she unstable? Or was it just menopause? The internal anger and rage she would feel as her family paid her no attention and basically just took her for granted. And then to make matters worse she began to suspect Mark of having an affair with...Ingrid? Lisa? Or both? How could Mark do this to her? How could Lisa?After all, she knows she is no longer the beauty she once was but to ditch her for the floaty blonde piece next door or her best friend...how could they? Or was Rachel just delusional and imagining things? 

Of course there is so much more, much much more to this story that I have barely touched the surface. CAN YOU SEE HER? is an original and thought provoking slow burning psychological thriller about feelings of self worth, jealousy, revenge and menopause. With a touch of humour peppered throughout Rachel' narrative. I laughed when her husband Mark referred to  her mood being down to her "hormonal whatsits".

CAN YOU SEE HER? is primarily narrated by Rachel in her sessions with the forensic psychiatrist - both in dialogue and the thoughts she doesn't openly share. There are alternating chapters throughout in the form of police interview excerpts with Mark, Katie, Lisa and Ingrid as slowly a picture begins to build of what may or may not have happened.

But nothing will prepare you for the shocking triple twist ending that is quite outstanding that not even I saw coming...on any count! It was sheer brilliance on Susie Lynes' part that makes this truly emotive tale such an intriguing read that, despite the slow burn, I could not put down.

My third book by Lynes, CAN YOU SEE HER? is thought provoking, emotive and even heartbreaking as each twist is revealed. Sheer brilliance.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After graduating from Leeds University, Susie Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen to be with her husband. In Aberdeen, she worked as a Radio Producer at the BBC before moving with her husband and two young children to Rome, where she lived for five years (that sounds amazing). There, she began to write while her children attended nursery. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University. She combines writing with teaching at Richmond Adult Community College and bringing up her three children in Teddington, Middlesex.  She is the author of critically acclaimed psychological thriller, VALENTINA, published by Blackbird books. MOTHER, her follow up, was published by Bookouture in November 2017 then THE PACT, THE PROPOSAL, THE WOMEN, THE LIES WE HIDE and, in April 2020, CAN YOU SEE HER?

Formerly a BBC producer, she turned to novel writing after the birth of her third child.

After her MA in Creative Writing, she became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published three children's books in Italy.

Social Media Links:

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REVIEW: A Dangerous Goodbye by Fliss Chester

A Dangerous Goodbye (A Fen Churche Mystery #1) by Fliss Chester

Genre: Historical mystery, Historical fiction, Mystery, General fiction

Read: 17th August 2020

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★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your lost love never came home after the war. Would you risk everything to find out what happened to him?

1944. While war rages in Europe, Fenella Churche is doing her bit in the green fields of England. But when she finds a letter addressed to her on the scrubbed farmhouse table, she knows the news won’t be good. She hasn’t heard from her fiancé Arthur since he was posted to France on a dangerous undercover mission, and from his very first words she knows he may not be coming back.

I fear this may be my last letter to you, my darling, Arthur writes. Fen won’t give up hope and calls the war office, wanting to know if Arthur is still alive; they refuse to tell her anything. Searching for answers, she returns to his letter, but parts of it just don’t make sense. Through her tears Fen realises that her darling Arthur is giving her all the clues she needs to find out what happened to him.

1945. With the war behind them and nothing left for her in England, Fen travels to the deceptively pretty French village where she thinks Arthur might be, but there’s no sign of him. She’s close to giving up when she finds his silver cigarette case and another letter full of clues. But when the local priest is killed, it’s clear someone wants to keep wartime secrets buried. If Arthur, a brilliant spy, was outwitted and betrayed, can Fen stay alive long enough to find out what happened to the man she loves?

A gripping story of war, mystery, espionage and murder. Fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Charles Todd and Rhys Bowen will absolutely adore this unputdownable World War Two murder mystery.

MY REVIEW:

"If you are reading this, then in all likelihood I am dead."

These are the opening words to A DANGEROUS GOODBYE by Fliss Chester, the charming new historical mystery series featuring cryptic crossword cluer, Fenella Churche. An intriguing debut filled with spies, codes and murder with a touch of Miss Marple meets Father Brown.

West Sussex, 1944: Land girl Fen Churche (yes, like the station) receives a letter at her lodgings with those opening words written by her fiance Arthur, who has been stationed somewhere in France for the past year. Much of his letter would be redacted due to classification but Arthur is wise enough to pepper his correspondence with cryptic clues for Fen to figure out his location. So does this letter mean he is trouble?

Whatever the case may be, Fen knows she must crack the code to the clues he has given her and let them lead her. But what did it all mean?

France, 1945: With the war now over and the British War Office refusing to tell her anything, Fen has decoded enough of Arthur's last letter to lead her to a quaint French village and chateau with a vast vineyard. Although seemingly abandoned in somewhat of a ruined state, Fen manages to gain employment in the chateau's vineyard. Having been a land girl throughout the war, she was ripe for the task. She was immediately roomed with Estelle, a grumpy housekeeper and nursery maid, who didn't take kindly to sharing a room. 

Fen meets the occupants of the chateau at dinner that night - patriarch Clement Bernard, son Pierre, wife Sophie and their two young children, as well as Hubert from the vineyard and fellow countryman, James Lancaster. She's already met Estelle and that reception was more than a little frosty. And she can't help but wonder what does this place and these people have to do with Arthur? Fen is just bursting to ask questions but knows she must bide her time.

The following evening the village hosts a fete in honour of their patron saints Gabriel and Michael. Everyone seems to come alive with feasting and dancing - even churlish Estelle and the grouchy Hubert. She briefly meets Father Marchand and has the feeling he has something to tell her, but the moment passes. The evening ends when there is a scream and Sophie is discovered to have fallen and twisted her ankle.

Breakfast is a subdued affair with a couple of hangovers and an injured hostess. But when Father Marchand joins them for breakfast and is coaxed into an almond croissant, no one expects him to fall down dead after just a couple of bites. It is quickly determined that he was poisoned and the French police arrive to arrest James. Fen does not believe James is a murderer and sets about to prove his innocence, with the mystery of what became of Arthur set aside. Soon after there is another death, however this one is to be deemed an accident...but Fen is not so sure. She does some stealthy investigating to prove otherwise. Until there is a third murder.

The murders are not as straightforward as police had at first thought with all clues leading back to the German occupation during the war and Arthur's presence, and subsequent disappearance, in the village. Fen believes that if she can decipher all of Arthur's clues, then she will be able to identify the murderer and hopefully discover his fate. Joining forces with James, the two set out to lay a trap that they hope will uncover the murderer.

This quiet quaint little French village has turned into an Agatha Christie novel with Fen a Miss Marple and Father Brown rolled into one! Although it could be forgiven for being mistaken for a quaint Midsomer village, if it wasn't for being in France.

Admittedly, A DANGEROUS GOODBYE was somewhat slow to start and although it was marginally interesting in her quest for answers into what became of Arthur, it wasn't until around 40% that the book became much more intriguing...beginning with the first murder. And despite all the murders it is still very much a lighthearted read that is quite enjoyable.

I had no trouble identifying the murderer but I don't think that was down to the author's lack of experience in this genre. A DANGEROUS GOODBYE is meant to be a lighthearted historical mystery with no devious depth to it that we would find in much darker reads. Although, having said that, Ms Christie herself was very adept at hiding the identity of her murderers rather cleverly though I still think the author did a tremendous job of masking the guilty whilst surreptitiously drip feeding us clues through Fen as to who it could be. 

I look forward to seeing where Fen Churche takes us next and I do hope she brings James Lancaster along with her. I think the two make a good team.

Well plotted and easy to read, A DANGEROUS GOODBYE is a light an entertaining read that would appeal to fans of Rhys Bowen, Agatha Christie and Father Brown. I have no hesitation in recommending it.

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Fliss Chester's debut mystery A DANGEROUS GOODBYE.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter. 

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REVIEW: In Darkness, Look for Stars by Clara Benson

In Darkness, Look for Stars by Clara Benson
Genre: Historical fiction, WW2. Post-WW2, General fiction
Read: 19th August 2020
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Amazon

Published: 17th April 2020

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Paris, 1941: Going against her mother’s orders, spirited Maggie devotes herself to the Resistance. Her life is a whirlwind of forged passports and secret midnight runs, helping Jews escape Paris, which grows more dangerous by the day. Under the cloak of darkness, she bids farewell to fellow fighter Emil, who flees the city with the Nazis hot on his heels.

Emil is bound for Maggie’s sister, Cecilia, hundreds of miles away in the south of France. Innocent and shy Cecilia is shocked to the core when Emil turns up, seeking refuge. Up until now, she has lived a sheltered existence: wild and dangerous Emil turns her world upside down. She risks everything to protect him and soon puts her life on the line to aid the secret work of the Resistance.

As each day passes and the war rages on, Cecilia cannot help being drawn to Emil. But as the Nazis close in on them, she faces a terrible choice. Exactly how far is she willing to go for love? And will she be able to live with herself, whatever choice she makes?

England, 1949: Harriet Conway arrives at grand, grey-stoned Chaffingham House to start her job as secretary. Home to the Brouillard family since they escaped Paris after the war, Chaffingham’s opulence has all but disappeared – its curtains faded, its carpets worn, tragedy hanging in the air…

Harriet is soon consumed by the mystery surrounding the family. The daughter, Cécilia, is confined to a wheelchair due to an accident they refuse to discuss and when a strange man turns up asking for Maggie, the door is slammed shut on him. Why won’t Cécilia look her son in the eye? Why will no one utter Maggie’s name?

An evocative, riveting and stirring tale about the tragic realities of war, the fine line between loyalty and lies, and the power of love, even in the darkest of times. Fans of The Nightingale, The Letter and All The Light We Cannot See will be spellbound by this magnificent historical novel.

MY REVIEW:

Not your usual WW2 historical fiction, IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS by Clara Benson is a tale of love, loss, hope, danger, resistance, betrayal, fear and jealousy. Spanning a decade from 1941 to 1950, the story is poignant, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. Once I started this captivating read, I could not put it down...and wouldn't have if real life didn't have a habit of getting in the way.

Paris, 1941: Defying her high society mother's expectations and ambitions, Maggie Brouillard dedicates her life to the French Resistance helping Jews escape capture and certain death. In the process she has met and fallen in love with Emil, a Jewish Resistance fighter, who is so far removed from what her mother considers a suitable match. But Maggie doesn't care a jot. She loves Emil and would do anything for him, as well as helping as many people as she can, working beside the man she loves. But the Germans are gaining ground and getting closer and Maggie knows she must move Emil somewhere safer.

Nice, 1941: Cecilia Brouillard lives a quiet uncomplicated life in the south of France, which has so far escaped the horrors of war, studying and composing music at the Academie. But that is about to be disrupted with the arrival of Emil, at the behest of her sister Maggie to shelter him and keep him safe from the Nazis. However, his arrival plunges Cecilia's life into complete disarray and ultimately danger as he introduces her to the world of the Resistance and freedom fighters. But trusting her sister with Emil's safety would cost Maggie dearly...when Cecilia and Emil fall desperately in love and unable to live without the other. Cecilia lives in fear and shame of Maggie discovering their secret but finds she cannot give Emil up. Then the police raid one of their meetings and they are arrested. Cecilia is released soon after but Emil is sent to a Jewish camp in Poland.

Soon after her release Cecilia discovers she is pregnant and quits the Academie and returns to Paris to her family. But if she thought her mother would welcome her with open arms and take care of her, she was sadly mistaken. Rose was livid to discover Cecilia's condition and immediately sought to rectify it...by any means necessary! As soon as Cecilia discovered her mother's deception, she moved in with her older sister Maggie, continuing her involvement with the Resistance alongside her, with Maggie was still oblivious to her sister's betrayal. Leaving Rose to focus all her energies on young Sebastien, a music protege at 11, and throwing soirees for German officers - an arrangement that was mutually beneficial for both parties. And the promise that Sebastien will outshine his sister Cecilia and rise to the ranks she so far has failed to achieve.

But soon the future becomes frightening and uncertain for all involved, as Maggie and Cecilia must decide where their loyalties lie and how far they would go to protect themselves and each other.

Hertferdshire, 1949: Arriving at the neglected yet grand home of Chaffington House, Harriet Conway has come to take her place as Rose Brouillard's secretary. Home to the Brouillard family since escaping Paris after the war, Chaffington's extravagance has all but disappeared with faded memories to match its decor and tragedy in the air. Rose is aloof, abrupt and extremely self-assured. Her purpose in life is to ensure Sebastien rises to the musical heights to which he aspires following in his father's footsteps and to preserve her late husband, Jean-Jacque Brouillard's, memory with scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and photos spanning the decades of his career right up to his untimely death. The fact that she has one surviving daughter and a grandson is of no consequence real to her.

The years, it appears, have not been kind to Cecilia. She is now confined to a wheelchair due to an accident anyone refuses to discuss, but for Sebastien's vague snide comments. She lives in an extended part of the house in her own apartment with everything she needs and yet she is utterly bereft with a sadness that consumes her that she refuses to leave the house. Even her 9 year old son Rex cannot inspire any happiness, and the boy is consistently disappointed that his mother hardly acknowledges him.

When a man knocks at the door one day searching for Maggie, Rose slams the door shut on him claiming there is no one there by that name, Harriet begins to suspect something is amiss. She soon learns that Maggie is the eldest sister of Cecilia and Sebastian but why won't no one speak her name? What could she have possibly done to be wiped from the family's memories? And what has happened to Cecilia to inspire such desolation?

Chaffingham is clearly shrouded in secrecy with the family so haunted by a past too shocking to speak of. But when Harriet stumbles across a letter, she uncovers a secret that could destroy the family even further. What is she to do? Ignore it and pretend she never uncovered its contents? Or expose the secret and rewrite history?

What a captivating read this book was! Although a little slow to start, it soon picked up pace as become privy to the Brouillard family's tragedies and secrets. The unexpected death of the patriarch. The extravagant expectations of their mother Rose. The instability of young son Sebastien and his failure to meet her demands. Cecilia's disgrace. Maggie's heartbreak. Rose's collaboration with the Germans. Maggie and Cecilia's resistance activities. The betrayal of siblings. The dysfunctionality of one family.

IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS is a beautifully told yet heartbreaking tale told in dual timelines - during the war and post-war - as the story unfolds between the past and present. It is easy to feel compassion for some family members and utter disdain for others as you are encapsulated within their stories. There is an element of mystery that will keep you turning the pages until the secrets are revealed leading to the shocking final act that will leave you breathless.

I do have one critique regarding the title - I cannot see how it fits the story. But that aside, it is an outstanding story that is so beautifully told.

I thoroughly enjoyed IN DARKNESS, LOOK FOR STARS and have no hesitation in recommending it to fans of historical fiction, particularly WW2, although it is not your typical wartime fiction.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Clara Benson is the author of the Angela Marchmont Mysteries and Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventures - traditional English whodunits in authentic style set in the 1920s and 30s. One day she would like to drink cocktails and solve mysteries in a sequinned dress and evening gloves. In the meantime she lives in the north of England with her family and doesn't do any of those things.

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