The Heatwave by Katerina Diamond
Genre: Psychological thriller
Read: 22nd March 2021
Published: 25th June 2021
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
One summer. One stranger. One killer…
Two bad things happened that summer:
A stranger arrived. And the first girl disappeared.
In the wake of the crime that rocked her community, Felicity fled, knowing more than she let on.
But sixteen years later, her new life is shattered by the news that a second girl has gone missing in her hometown.
Now Felicity must go back, to face the truth about what happened all those years ago.
Only she holds the answers – and they’re more shocking than anyone could imagine.
The heatwave is back. And so is the killer.
MY REVIEW:
A dark psychological thriller, THE HEATWAVE is the latest tale from the venomous pen of Katerina Diamond, who has a knack for delving into the darker side of human nature and their crimes. It is her first standalone and it was quite different from the DS Imogen Grey series, but just as cleverly crafted and just as disturbing. Beginning with a slow build, it tells a sinister tale of a missing girl and an elusive killer that brings the past rushing back into the present.
It's been sixteen years since Felicity escaped her hometown of Sidmouth in Devon. She thought she had put her old life behind her but it's always been there on the periphery threatening to unbalance the life she has built herself with her husband in the Lake District, far away from Devon...and her memories. But when news of a young teenage girl going missing in Sidmouth reaches her, Felicity is so shocked that she drops everything and heads back to Devon in search of answers.
The truth is that Felicity hasn't set foot in Sidmouth since the disappearance of another teenage girl when she was just 16. Heather Torrance disappeared after the fair that summer and was never seen again. The similarities of both cases is not lost on Felicity and with this new disappearance, she feels compelled to return to the past and face her demons once and for all.
Rewind sixteen years and we meet Jasmine, Felicity's best friend. Jasmine lived a privileged life in a beautiful house with the perfect parents who devoted their time to helping others less fortunate than themselves. Every summer, Jasmine and her parents would travel to third world countries with their charity and help people rebuild their lives. But this summer is different. Jasmine's father has had surgery and they are unable to travel this year so for the first time Jasmine is able to spend summer with her friends in Sidmouth.
But then a stranger comes to town. Knocking on her door one day, Tim looks indifferently at Jasmine and asks for her parents. And suddenly, her parents announce that this stranger is moving into their guest house while he paints, builds and renovates the house for them. Jasmine is immediately put on edge. There is something unsettling about Tim. Something dangerous. This man is a stranger. And they are letting him live there? Just metres away from their teenage daughter? What do they know about him?
Then one morning Jasmine wakes to the news that a girl - Heather Torrance - disappeared after the fair the night before. Jasmine was there. She saw Heather. But then she was caught up in her own troubles. She and Felicity had gone to the fair together and while Felicity was lining up for tickets, Jasmine went to the loo but was accosted by their former teacher, Mr Morrell. She freezes. He pleads to hear him out. Mr Morrell was dismissed from his position for advances he made on Jasmine the year before. He kissed her and insisted she had flirted with him. Now he stands there and says he knows she wanted it too. Jasmine is frozen. He is not allowed within a hundred metres of her, or any child for that matter, and yet here he is. Suddenly Tim is beside her. The look in his eyes is like nothing she has seen before. It's threatening and dangerous. But she feels safe now. After that, she asked Tim to take her home. And now Heather was missing.
Then when news reaches her about Mr Morrell's suicide from the clifftop a few days later, Jasmine can't help but wonder if he had a little help. Tim had virtually threatened him. And there was something sinister about him. Did he have something to do with his death? The idea made her feel warm and safe, like he was looking after her. Despite there being something dangerous about him, Jasmine found herself attracted to Tim and was somewhat put out when Felicity flirted shamelessly with him. Felicity had a confidence that she didn't. But still, she felt safe with Tim.
And then...one night she woke to find him stealthily searching her parents bedroom while they were away. Why? What did he hope to find? This was someone her parents let into their home. Someone they had trusted with their teenage daughter while they went away. So what was he really doing here? Who was he really?
Suddenly, Jasmine didn't feel all that safe anymore. But then she uncovers something much more shocking, something she never ever anticipated...and she doesn't know what to do. So she runs to Felicity.
Now all these years later, Felicity has returned to face her demons and the memories of her past. She has returned to Sidmouth to get to the truth of what really happened sixteen years ago to Heather Torrance and the link to Mandy Green's disappearance today. But is she strong enough to revisit the past and get the answers that only she can provide?
A dark and disturbing psychological thriller, THE HEATWAVE is cleverly spun between the past and the present and the tale of two missing girls. Katerina Diamond has that knack of delving into the darker side of human nature and this is no different. She takes us where we would least expect it, though admittedly I had begun to figure it out and piece the puzzle together even if I still didn't have the complete picture. The links between the past and the present become clearer as does the sinister events surrounding Jasmine. I found myself immersed in Jasmine's story moreso than Felicity's. But how the two collide will shock you.
The story is told from the perspectives of Felicity in the present and Jasmine in the past and it is easy to become wrapped up in the tension as both girls try to puzzle out their respective mysteries. The links between the characters and the stories unravel well as secrets are slowly revealed. There are plenty of twists and revelations as well as that shocking surprise at the end. While some of the plot is a little far fetched, this is fiction and it is the probing into the dark side of human nature that makes it so appealing.
My only criticism is the pace. I found it quite slow and uneventful for a good 30% with Felicity pretty much drowning herself in vodka at every turn with a generous side of guilt. I am not particularly a fan of slow builds though I do see their value sometimes. It just makes it harder for me to engage with the story and the characters when the build is do slow. However, having said that THE HEATWAVE does come into itself and delivers that killer ending.
Deliciously dark, THE HEATWAVE is perfect for fans who enjoy slow burn psychological thrillers.
I would like to thank #KaterinaDiamond, #NetGalley and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #TheHeatwave in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
As a child, Katerina was an avid reader from an early age, with a particular affection for Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie.
Katerina is a big fan of television dramas, movies and world cinema. This led to her writing and co-writing several screenplays before joining a novel writing group. After beginning her first novel in 2013, Katerina entered a local writing competition and won. She is now the Sunday Times and Amazon bestselling author of a series of psychological crime novels set in Exeter.
Katerina burst onto the crime scene with her debut The Teacher, which became a Sunday Times bestseller and a number one Kindle bestseller. It was longlisted for the CWA John Creasey Debut Dagger Award and the Hotel Chocolat Award for ‘darkest moment’. The Teacher was followed by sequels The Secret, The Angel, The Promise, Truth or Die and Woman in the Water, all of which featured detectives Adrian Miles and Imogen Grey. The Heatwave is her first standalone thriller.
Katerina now lives in the East Kent Coast with her husband and children. She is a Sunday Times and Kindle bestseller.
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