REVIEW: The House Guest by Alison James

The House Guest by Alison James

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 16th November 2023

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Amazon

Published: 1st November 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She thinks she can steal my perfect life. But I know her secret…

I open the creaking oak front door of my beautiful country house to see a woman with glossy red hair and flawless make up. She introduces herself as Alexis and tells me she’s a distant relative. My husband Hugh welcomes her in. Because everything has been so tense between us lately I feel I can’t say no…

We drink wine and Alexis shares the truth about her sad childhood. Her green eyes are mesmerising and I can see Hugh is being drawn in by her story. Then she asks for our help. I should feel sorry for her but I don’t trust her. There’s something about her perfect smile that makes my stomach flip. Before I can speak, Hugh invites her to stay. I’m suspicious. Why does he want her here?

I’ve never completely felt at home in this luxury world that’s so different to my old life. But Alexis seems made for it – swimming carefree in our outdoor pool and cosying up to Hugh. She’s pushing me out and making me feel like I’m stranger in my own home – in my own marriage. Did she plan this all along?

But nothing is as it seems. And Alexis has underestimated me. Because I’ve uncovered her secret. I’m not just going to let her steal the life I’ve worked so hard for. I’ll do whatever it takes to stop her…

An absolutely addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. For anyone who loves Ruth Ware, Freida McFadden and Claire McGowan.

MY THOUGHTS:

OK firstly, scrap the book's description because quite honestly it's nothing like how the story goes at all. There is no DNA test result and the red haired beauty on the doorstep doesn't ask for help and the narrator of the piece does not open up to her suggested. And then what is this secret that is discovered? I have to wonder if the proofreaders have read the same book I have because the descriptions are often way off course.

Secondly, you're going to need to suspend belief when reading this tale. And I mean REALLY suspend belief. It all starts out innocuously enough but then it just gets nuts and I mean really way-off-base-never-going-to-happen-in-a-million-years in all probability. Once you take this on board, you're in for a fast paced entertaining, if not idiotic, ride.

Mullens End. It's a beautiful 18th century Queen Anne stately home in which Juliet and her husband Hugh reside. Hugh is the last of a thin line, a very thin line, of Mullens and while he is not the last branch on the tree he is the last on his branch. The home was built in the 1700s but purchased by Hugh's great grandfather in his attempt to stake his claim in the landed gentry and in doing so, crafted a will in which Mullens End is not entailed (much to his ancestor's chagrin) but is tightly bound in a legalese version of such in that only direct descendants of the Mullen line can inherit Mullens End with a life tenancy. Meaning Mullens End can never be sold. And then there is the fact that it is Grade 1 listed meaning no alterations can be made without permission. Thankfully, there is a trust which pays for the exorbidant costs of running a stately home attracts.

So Juliet and Hugh live rather comfortably albeit modestly at Mullens End. The plan was that Juliet provide Hugh with an heir to inherit the grand home as the trust dictates but alas that was not to be, leaving Hugh the last Mullen perched on his branch of the family tree. But their life is good, even amidst the dreaded Open Days such as the one at the beginning of the book that had Juliet dreading. But everyone loves a stately home and their stunning gardens which have been kept immaculate thanks to their gardener Pete. And thankfully it's only once a year they have to open their gardens up to the public.

It's at a dinner party Juliet and Hugh are hosting that they receive an unexpected knock on their door. On the doorstep is a young red haired beauty who introduces herself as Alexis Lambert, the heir to Mullens End, and as she's between flats at the minute has popped in to introduce herself, wheeling her large suitcase in behind her and plonking herself down at the dinner table. As Juliet awkwardly presents the roast lamb to their guests, Alexis informs them that she's vegan which sends Hugh off looking for something veggie for their unexpected house guest.

If you think that's awkward, stick around for the rest of the mucky story because it gets a whole lot more convoluted and murky than that! Again, that whole believability thing. Still the tightly-woven plot makes for plenty of twists (believable or not) and a compelling read that is both entertaining and suspenseful.

The characters are a crafty bunch. None of them are particularly likable. Even Juliet, who is probably the most likable, is so rigid and practically unemotional it's hard to connect with her. And Hugh is so self entitled and spoilt, he expects everything to fall into place according to what he wants. Alexis is naturally devious. And Belinda is decidedly shifty. What I love though is the narratives are divided into seven parts throughout and four separate perspectives with each character becoming the protagonist in their own narrative, and therefore allowing each one of them to develop with the right amount of depth and authenticity. This only adds to the complexities within the already complex plot. And makes for such delicious reading.

There is, however, a downside. Unfortunately I must make mention a TRIGGER WARNING here with the death of a beloved dog. And not just a death, but a cruel one, which I find unnecessary to any story and I always down-rate one that includes one. Granted, it wasn't prolonged or mulled over for long and passed within a page or so but it was mentioned within three separate narratives from their respective perspectives, and I had to relive the poor dog's cruel demise all over again.

But that aside, THE HOUSE GUEST is a fun an entertaining thriller that you really do have to suspend belief but it's such fun who cares at the end of it? I did love the ending which was so much more than satisfactory. If not for the dog death, this was a close 5 star read.

I would like to thank #AlisonJames, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHouseGuest in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

Social Media Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

REVIEW: The Woman in Carriage 3 by Alison James

The Woman in Carriage 3 by Alison James

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th May 2023

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Amazon

Published: 22nd May 2023

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

An ordinary journey. A shocking secret. And the perfect murder…

Breathlessly, I rush into carriage 3 just as the train doors slam behind me. It’s the same train I get home every night – the 18.53 – and I always sit in the same seat, with the same people. Each journey is fairly uneventful. Except this one…

A passenger drops dead and shockwaves ripple through the train. The lights go out and we’re left waiting in darkness, trapped until further notice. Is it an accident, or something more sinister?

The unwritten rule is you don’t talk to your fellow commuters, but the group of people huddled around me all seem like nice, normal people. I just hope they don’t notice my dishevelled hair or smell the alcohol on my breath. Because my life is far from perfect and there are things I’ve done I’m not proud of.

But as we all get to know each other, I wonder if I can really trust them? Or are they all hiding dangerous secrets…

Was someone in carriage 3 involved in the passenger’s death? And if so, how far will they go to stop the rest of us finding the truth?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will keep you up late into the night. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Perfect Couple, you’ll be gripped.

MY THOUGHTS:

An ordinary journey will end in murder...

I wasn't quite sure what I expected from this book but it wasn't ...well...this! I guess from the title, the cover and the brief description I assumed it would be something along the lines of "The Girl on the Train" or thereabouts. Boy, was I wrong! About the only thing that book and Hattie had in common was their drama began on their commute and their love of wine or anything alcoholic. Any other similarities ended. THE WOMAN IN CARRIAGE 3 was NOT "the girl on the train".

I really don't know where to start with this one as there was so much packed into the story I almost got whiplash despite the slow pace. Hattie pretty much destroyed her relationship and her well-paid job because of penchant for alcohol. Turning up drunk at work and having sex in a cupboard with a colleague at a drunken party will do that. So her boyfriend moved out and she gave up their flat and moved back home with her parents. 

Now she is temping at a dead-end job and doing the regular commute on the 18.53 train out of Waterloo every evening. She sits in the same carriage, she sees the same people, the same faces, but she doesn't engage with them. She saves those moments for hook-ups in bars and faceless sex with strangers with barely any memory the morning after. But one day, the train is halted when a passenger is taken ill and the commuters in carriage 3 begin to chat with one another to pass the time. They exchange names and pleasantries and before long have formed a WhatsApp group for "The 18.53 Crew" as they now refer to themselves as.

Hattie didn't intend on making friends with any of them. But they were so friendly that over time she thought what harm could it do? Besides which, she found herself increasingly attracted to one of them - Casper Merriweather - with his Jude Law looks and his boyish charm. Every evening she found herself unwittingly looking for him and was disappointed when he wasn't amongst the commuters. She befriended Bridget, a dowdy public servant who didn't share her penchant for alcohol so meeting up for a drink was out of the question. And yet, still she found herself confiding in her. Particularly about her attraction for Casper. And it seemed the attraction was mutual.

It isn't long before the two hook-up and a relationship (of sorts) begins. Hattie falls head over heels for him and stupidly went along with anything he suggested. Hook-up at her place? Sure, no problem. Drop everything to meet him the day before a big interview? Not a problem. Fly off to Mexico to begin a new life with him? But of course! Hattie, I soon discovered, was so easily manipulated with a drink or two and a roll in the hay. But when she wanted to got back to his? A bit awkward. Casper confesses to being married and on the cusp of divorcing his wife to be with Hattie. Does anyone still believe that line?

Then one evening on the commute home, one of their "crew" dies suddenly right before Hattie's eyes. Everyone in their group was on the train except Casper who often worked late. The death was thought to be cardiac arrest...but a post mortem revealed doubts. Was it a heart attack or was it murder? The investigation that follows takes Hattie on a journey that would totally change her life and that of her outlook also.

THE WOMAN IN CARRIAGE 3 was quite a slow burn. In fact nothing much happens for the first half of the book, except for Hattie hooking up with various males before falling into bed with Casper and her drinking herself into oblivion regularly. The woman drove me mad! She was a complete train wreck (pun intended). As for the other characters, none of them were particularly stand out except for Julian and Lewis. I would have liked to learn more about Julian and he sounded far more interesting than Hattie. And I quite liked Lewis who pretty much remained in the background until the second half of the story.

The story didn't pick up until Part Two where things were ramped up a notch and the tables were turned and a couple new characters were added. But they were fairly transparent and the story was a tad predictable I found and I easily figured out the twists.

Told in multiple perspectives, the story itself I found was rather long-winded but did end up redeeming itself with a somewhat satisfying conclusion. This wasn't one of Alison James' best thrillers but it wasn't too bad.

I would like to thank #AlisonJames, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWomanInCarriage3 in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

Social Media Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

REVIEW: The New Couple by Alison James

The New Couple by Alison James

Genre: Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 26th September 2022

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Amazon

Published: 27th September 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The perfect marriage. The perfect house. The perfect secret…

As I step through the cherry-red door of my new home, I know I should feel like the luckiest woman alive. I have a handsome husband, a beautiful daughter and now the house of my dreams. And to everyone else my life looks perfect…

When the neighbours stop by to welcome us, I tell them my name is Stephanie Hamlin and, under the watchful gaze of my husband Richard, I introduce him and our curly haired little girl Poppy. I smile as wide as I can and desperately hope I can fit in to this exclusive place with its pretty communal gardens. Because I’ve risked everything to be here.

Behind closed doors I try to relax, to unwind in the huge clawfoot bath and forget about my complicated past. It’s hard being the new couple on the street when you’ve got secrets.

Because the truth is, my charming husband isn’t really my husband.

And I’m not Stephanie Hamlin…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. If you love Behind Closed Doors, My Lovely Wife and The Perfect Couple, you’ll be hooked.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Alison James' tense domestic thriller THE NEW COUPLE.

A slow burn story that gives the reader just enough to keep them engaged, THE NEW COUPLE has fairly unique twist to this tense domestic thriller with a difference. I wasn't sure what to think at first as the pace was a little slow and it seemed to go in a different direction than the premise suggested. But it does pick up and things start to fall into place before too long and ends up being something of a sticky situation for all involved as well as an interesting turn of events.

The prologue opens the story giving the reader the air of something sinister but then it about faces when we meet Jane Headley, a fifty-something resident of the affluent south west London area of Sycamore Gardens, who watches with interest the new couple moving into number 12. It seems the property, formerly owned by a retired couple who moved away to warmer climes, had been donated to the charity service who then placed the Victorian semi-detached home as the prize in a lottery sweep. The lottery is won by Richard and Stephanie Hamlin who had been saving to purchase their own home for some time. Together, with their 9 month old baby daughter daughter, the Hamlins swiftly move into number 12 Sycamore Gardens with an air of mystery about them.

The couple, who moved in with nothing but black bin bags filled with their belongings, keep to themselves mostly but Jane is quick to welcome them to the neighbourhood but receives a less than favourable welcome for her trouble. When she notices they had no highchair for young Poppy she offered to source one for them to borrow until they could get their own, but was refused. In fact, the couple didn't seem to have anything for the baby. No cot, nappies, toys...nothing. 

And then one day, a knock at her door heralded young Stephanie with the gorgeous golden curled Poppy in her arms asking her to baby-sit. Thinking it will just be for an hour or two, Jane is happy to help out. But then Stephanie is gone for almost six hours and upon her return mumbles an apology of sorts but offers no explanation. Soon Jane finds herself becoming an unpaid babysitter while she disappears for hours on end, especially when Richard is so clearly at home. This spikes Jane's interest and she begins to play amateur detective to find out a little more about this mysterious couple.

That's when she notices Richard beginning to pay nocturnal visits to one of their other neighbours and taking full of advantage of another's absence to copulate. But whatever is going on here really isn't any of Jane's business and her husband Fergus would be the first one to tell her to leave it. But Jane just knows that something isn't quite right about the new couple.

Then we meet another couple - Keren and Liam - but how do they fit in? I'll say this, with their entrance the story certainly ramps up a notch or two. The pace picks up and twists begin to come fast and are soon made clear as things start falling into place. But...just exactly where is it all going? And where will it all end? The lives of everyone involved entwine with colossal consequences...but how and why? 

A slow burn to begin with, the pace doesn't really pick up until Part Two but don't worry, that is only a dozen chapters into the story and it is then that some of the bigger twists are revealed. And gradually, the pieces of the puzzle start fitting together and things begin to make sense. The first part is pretty much Jane and her suspicions with not a whole lot happening but then everything is turned on its head and I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it.

Although it wasn't my favourite of the authors, THE NEW COUPLE is still an entertaining read with a unique plot that surprised me and a satisfying end. I would have preferred a faster pace but it was enough to hold my interest until it did pick up, so I wasn't disappointed.

Definitely worth a read for fans of domestic thrillers.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

Social Media Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: The Guilty Wife by Alison James

The Guilty Wife by Alison James

Genre: Psychological thriller, Psychological drama, Suspense, Mystery

Read: 14th June 2021

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Amazon

Apple

Google

Kobo

Published: 22nd June 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

At a luxury resort in the Maldives, two newlywed couples are on honeymoon. On the surface, they seem to have it all. But behind the filtered photos and fake smiles is the truth…

Tansy isn’t really in love.

Daniel is trying to escape the biggest mistake of his life.

Nikki’s past is catching up with her.

Arne’s heart is about to be broken.

They all have secrets. And before the honeymoon is over, their happiness will be shattered.

Because one of them is going to die…

This dark, addictive thriller will have you gripped until the final, shocking twist. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, The Guest List and The Wife Between Us will be hooked by the latest page-turner from US top five bestseller Alison James.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Alison James' latest psychological thriller THE GUILTY WIFE (previously titled "Happily Ever After").

First of all, the luxury resort was not in The Maldives (which is off the coast of India) but Mauritius (which is off the coast of South Africa) - the only similarity being that they are both in the Indian Ocean. I was kind of disappointed that it wasn't in The Maldives, as the premise promised, as I've always wanted to go there so it would have been nice to visit via a book. Sometimes one has to wonder if whoever writes these premises has actually read the book, some of them are so way off base. 

But that aside THE GUILTY WIFE, which I believe was better of titled with it's original "Happily Ever After", turned out to be not what I expected. Particularly as the setting for this rather complicated psychological thriller takes the reader on a whirlwind ride across continents from England, Mauritius, Australia and Thailand. I felt jet-lagged just reading the book!

Two hours before she is due to marry Alistair, Pippa Bryant turns up to the registry office already crowded with their guests clad in jeans and a t-shirt to call off their wedding. Realising that while they are comfortable together, they aren't actually in love anymore. So since her parents paid for their luxury honeymoon to Mauritius, which was non-refundable, Pippa decides to enjoy the holiday on her own. But she soon discovers that being alone in a resprt rife with honeymooners is not quite as much fun as she had anticipated. 

Surrounded by loved-up couples, Pippa hones in on the only other vacationer who appears to be on their own - a seemingly grumpy middle-aged man who rebuffs her attempts at conversation. She tries to befriend him but he isn't receptive though he does introduce himself as James Cardle. After a bit of web-surfing she discovers that Cardle is a private investigator from London. So what is he doing on Mauritius? Or rather, who is he investigating here? Determined not to spend her entire holiday alone and armed with a bottle of wine one evening, Pippa turns up at Cardle's hut to share a couple of drinks together. As they enjoy a playful banter, they hear a couple of screams followed by the appearance of one of the honeymooners, a look of shock on his face. Pippa and Cardle follow the direction in which the man, Daniel Halligan, was pointing and are shocked by their discovery.

We have two honeymooning couples who are hiding their own secrets...but is it enough to have one of them killed? So who of the players do we have that could be involved? 

Tansy - wealthy and beautiful Australian/Filipino and social media influencer who makes a living out of sponsors gifting her their products for her to sprout them to the world via social media. Her honeymoon was a gift from one of her sponsors and she is there, not to enjoy the first forays of wedded bliss, but to document her entire honeymoon with live coverage for her fans. As with anything Tansy, the honeymoon is fake, as she arrives with her hair stylist and makeup artist to ensure she looks her best for her fans. Back home in Australia, she is a the founder and proprietor of Hiraya Shakes, a green health food shake she promotes as having cured her of lupus while recruiting "angels" to sell for her therefore making money off them.

Daniel - Tansy's new-suffering husband, who left Britain some years before to backpack around Australia before settling in Sydney. He is escaping his second worst nightmare, an ill-fated property venture that has all but bankrupted him and from which his new wife had rescued him. He spends their honeymoon sipping drinks by the pool and going on catamaran trips to see dolphins. Alone.

Nikki - a thirty-something young woman from Britain who has arrived in Mauritius with her husband Arne to enjoy their first days of wedded bliss. She compliments Tansy on a designer dress she is wearing one evening, pouring over its beauty, when Tansy proclaims she will have it cleaned and sent to her to keep, as she has plenty of items by this designer anyway. Nikki is thrilled and gushing her thanks. But Nikki has a secret from her past that is about to catch up with her.

Arne - Swedish and the oldest of the couples, he is a wealthy and successful with possibly a lot to lose. But he loves Nikki and the couple are most definitely loved-up honouring their vows "till death to us part". They are the only couple intent on living the dream of wedded bliss on their honeymoon. Until it all goes wrong...

After the incident, police are called and everyone gives their statements. And then, everyone goes their separate ways. The Halligans flee back to Australia, the Lindgrens to Sweden whilst Pippa returns to England and her mundane job in insurance. She also has to deal with moving out of the flat she and Alistair had shared for nearly six years. But nothing would prepare her for what she discovers the day after she returns...and all at once the late nights, the no sex and the withdrawal of affection makes perfect sense. Alistair had been seeing someone else. And now she is moving in and taking Pippa's place.

Life couldn't get any worse, that is until Pippa finds herself out of a job as well as homeless. But she soon finds a flat above an old coach house and a sometimes companion for an independent elderly lady, and though the rent is cheap, Pippa knows she needs to find herself a job. So she looks up Jim Cardle and heads over to his office offering her services to keep some sort of order to his incredibly messy office and filing system. And soon the pair are jet-setting off to Australia to investigate claims of Tansy's fraud and the possibility of Daniel Halligan's guilt over what happened in Mauritius, given that they fled soon after. Their investigations take them all over Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth with the only capitals not visited being Hobart, Adelaide and Darwin. But their travels didn't stop there...and I got jet-lagged just reading it!

THE GUILTY WIFE begins at a steady pace, I wouldn't say slow, but just a relaxed pace as the couple settle into their honeymoon with Pippa people-watching. You think it will be another predictable run of the mill thriller but that's where you're wrong. Once this tale gets warmed up, the plotting becomes very complex indeed, very clever and very compelling. With a tapestry of circumstances cleverly woven together, we are confronted with blackmail, murder, suicide, fraud and grief to name a few...not to mention vanity, self-absorption and the fakeness portrayed to highlight that things are not always what they seem. And this book is definitely one of them!

There are twists that are unexpected and a lot of jet-setting for Pippa who's teamed up with James to help solve the underlying mysteries. They certainly make a good team as they travel the globe to uncover the truth amidst the lies. There is most definitely a chemistry between them that is hard to ignore and at times becomes intense.

The characters are all well developed with some likeable and one most definitely not so likeable. Throughout the book, we are given glimpses into their stories and what lead them to where they are now and more importantly, to Mauritius. The story unfolds through the eyes and narratives of Pippa and Daniel, but through them we get to know the other players just as well. The book itself is divided into five parts as the story begins with Pippa and Daniel respectively on Mauritius but then goes back a year to Daniel's story in Australia and what lead him to where he now finds himself before moving back to the present day and the underlying investigation. Don't be fooled into thinking it's confusing, because it's not. It is incredibly well thought out and cleverly written. 

My only complaints, firstly the fact that there was a discrepancy with the name of a church, in which a couple had been married citing it being the same church that one of them was then buried, was actually two different names - St Nicholas as the first and the second St Peters and yet it was stated as being the same church. I found it just a small error but within the space of the same chapter it should have been picked up. 

My biggest issue with the book is the ending. I felt the Epilogue was practically a non-event and didn't see why it was even included as there was no real finality to it. As it ended at the bottom of the page, I flicked it over expecting there to be more...and there wasn't. I was a little disappointed given how things had developed to have left it there. While other reviewers are hoping for a second book to pick up where this one left off, I'm fully aware that that's not how these thrillers pan out. They are not a series so therefore there will not be a sequel. And that's why the ending is somewhat disappointing.

I also think the original title "Happily Ever After" is far more fitting than THE GUILTY WIFE, which I don't believe fits, because in the end...no one is happy ever after.

But that aside, THE GUILTY WIFE is a delicious drama that is most definitely a riveting read. The pace begins steadily but picks up to the rate of knots which will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Though it's not her best book, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it to those who enjoy complex psychological thrillers.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

Social Media Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: Her Sister's Child by Alison James

 

Her Sister's Child by Alison James

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 27th November 2020

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Published; 26th November 2020

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She rolls over and reaches for her instinctively: her baby. Her hand hits air and flaps redundantly. She stumbles out of bed and switches on the light. But this only confirms it. The baby is gone. Someone has taken her.

 

Sixteen years ago, Lizzie Armitage woke to find her newborn baby gone. Just days later, Lizzie was dead.

 

Her sister Paula swore she would do everything she could to find the child. If she hadn’t promised to keep Lizzie's pregnancy secret, maybe the baby wouldn’t have disappeared. And maybe Lizzie would still be alive. But, in nearly a decade, Paula’s never found any trace. Until now…

 

When Paula bumps into an old friend from the past, she realises she wasn’t the only one who knew about her sister’s child. Someone knows what happened that day. Someone knows where Lizzie’s baby went.

 

But can Paula find out the truth before another family is ripped apart?

 

A twisty, unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you hooked until the last page. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, Friend Request and The Girl on the Train will love Her Sister’s Child.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Alison James fantastic twisted thriller HER SISTER'S CHILD.

"She rolls over and reaches for her instinctively: her baby. Her hand hits air and flaps redundantly. She stumbles out of bed and switches on the light. But this only confirms it. The baby is gone. Someone has taken her."

The story opens with a woman, which we soon discover is Lizzie Armitage, waking from another drunken stupor to find that her newborn baby is gone. And then just a few short days later Lizzie is found dead in her flat. But became of her baby? Did she even have a baby? No one, not her parents nor her social worker or anyone knew if Lizzie was even pregnant. All except Paula, Lizzie's younger sister.

Despite being banned from having any contact with her alcoholic older sister, Paula Armitage snuck out as often as she could and made her way to the council flat in which Lizzie was living. One day upon arrival, she was shocked to discover the exposed stomach protruding on Lizzie's thin frame. Lizzie was pregnant. And by the looks of it, she was a fair way along. As soon as she realised Paula had seen the bulge, Lizzie begged her little sister not to tell anyone. Not a soul. If anyone discovered she was pregnant they would only take the baby from her and Lizzie wanted her child, vowing the baby would sober her up. 

So Paula scavenged together her savings and went out to purchase babygros, nappies and a Moses basket, packing them into a drawer in Lizzie's wardrobe ready for the baby's arrival. When she left, she promised Lizzie she would be back again in a few days. But then her mother reminded her they were going away for the week, as they always do, to her aunt's in Liverpool. So Paula made a mental note to check in on Lizzie as soon as she returned from their holiday. As it turned out, it rained for most of the time so her mother decided that they should return home to London but before Paula could make her way over to Lizzie's, there was a knock on the door. It was the police. Lizzie had been found dead in her flat.

Paula was devastated, and shocked. Without thinking she asked "What about the baby?" Her mother and the police looked at her and said "What baby?"

Now sixteen years later, Paula is divorced with two teenage children of her own. She visits Lizzie's grave on what would have been her sister's 40th birthday and, still feeling guilty at having kept the pregnancy a secret, promises her that she will find out what happened to her baby. But over the course of time, Paula has found no evidence that a baby had ever existed. All the baby clothes, the nappies and even the Moses basket she was sure she had bought were all gone. Everyone who knew them denies there ever being a baby. Was Lizzie really ever pregnant? Or was it all a dream?

Then one day Paula bumps into an old friend, Johnny Shepherd, who, during reminiscing about Lizzie, asks "So what happened to her baby?" Paula knew then that she hadn't been dreaming. It was real. Lizzie HAD been pregnant. And yet her baby had disappeared. With Johnny's help, Paula is determined to find out what really happened to her sister's baby and uncover the truth behind what happened sixteen years ago.

Alongside Paula's story we also meet Charlie, a teenage girl who finds herself pregnant and, despite her parents cajoling, decides to keep the baby. Against her parents' wishes, she finds the bank account that was set up for her as a baby by her grandmother and sets out to convince the baby's father that they should set up home together. Jake is all for it once he discovers how much money is involved, convincing Charlie on leasing an Audi, despite needing the funds to live on until Jake gets a job. But Jake has no intention of getting a job...not with tens of thousands of pounds ready for the taking.

Charlie thought that the prospect of fatherhood would prompt Jake to take some responsibility but all he seems to be doing is milking her of her savings. Flat screen TV, games console, an Audi sports car which isn't child friendly...and yet he has never attended any of her scans or even acknowledged the existence of the baby, except to make known he only wants a boy. So when Charlie arrives home one day, heavily pregnant, to discover everything of any worth has gone along with Jake she realises she has been a fool. 

And then her waters break...

Addictive and compelling from the start, HER SISTER'S CHILD is fast paced and suspenseful throughout as Paula searches to uncover the truth about what really happened to Lizzie's baby. Did the baby live or die? Was it a boy or a girl? Paula didn't even know. I enjoyed her quest for the truth as her and Johnny teamed up, despite wondering if Johnny had some ulterior motive (I kind of hoped he didn't), and watching it unfold. 

Throughout the story we meet Paula as both an adult and a teenager in chapters from the past (which really should have been labelled as such). She is an endearing young woman who obviously cares deeply for her older sister, despite being forbidden to have anything to do with her. Lizzie is a seasoned alcoholic who ended up stealing from her family to fund her habit in alcohol and marijuana. Her's was a sorry tale of a life which ended at just 24 from an aortic aneurysm, perpetuated by her drinking.

Despite her resourcefulness, Charlie is a sweet, yet naive, young girl who I found myself yelling at much of the time. I could see the situations she was creating for herself and how they would end up, even if she couldn't. Her parents clearly wanted what was best for her and a child at 16 was not it. The money set up for her in the account she used to set up house with Jake was meant for her university education. But needs must and Charlie could not end the life of an innocent child just because it was inconvenient. Her chapters are somewhat depressing as the reader can clearly see how it will all turn out, even if Charlie couldn't.

By the time we reach Part Two and introduced to Marian, it is soon clear how Paula, Charlie and Marian are connected. These chapters are told "in the past" between Marian and a teenage Paula. My biggest gripe with the entire book is that there was no definition between the past and the present in the chapters. When Part Two begins, it should be titled as "2003" so the reader is aware that the following chapters take place in the past. It was a little confusing at first when I was reading with Lizzie being still alive and Paula returning home from school. This is when I realised the story had moved to sixteen years before. Then when we move into Part Three, we have "before" and "now" chapters although both take place in the present day. For clarity's sake, each "Part" should be clearly titled with their actual timeline.

Part One - Present Day

Part Two - 2003

Part Three - Present Day

And to make matters even more confusing, between Parts One and Two, there is something called "Untitled" with chapters one through to four. Well, it was in the pre-released ARC I received prior to publication. I can only hope that this is shifted into the end of the first part as there didn't seem to be any reason for it to stand alone "untitled". But with that aside, HER SISTER'S CHILD is a gripping read from beginning to end.

Told from the three narratives, the main character throughout is always Paula with Charlie and Marian's stories slowly emerging as the plot progresses. As the three women's stories collide, the result is shocking yet brilliant in a way that makes the story even better...if that were possible. Some twists were unexpected and some were predictable but on the whole, HER SISTER'S CHILD is a brilliant twisty thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout.

I have read three of Alison James' thrillers to date and while I wasn't as struck on "The School Friend", I LOVED "The Man I Married" and now HER SISTER'S CHILD. It is a fantastic psychological and domestic thriller that had me almost reading it in its entitrety in one sitting...but I had to sleep.

In all, HER SISTER'S CHILD is a definite read for fans of domestic thrillers and dramas. Thoroughly recommended.

I would like to thank #AlisonJames, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerSistersChild in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

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REVIEW: The Man She Married by Alison James

The Man She Married by Alison James

Genre: Domestic Thriller

Read: 28th February 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 13th January 2020)

★★★★★ 5 stars

WOW! This intriguing thriller is not only based on but also has us pondering the question "Just how well do you know your husband?" It also takes identity theft to such a frightening level that combined with everything else, makes THE MAN SHE MARRIED incredibly hard to put down.

Alice Palmer meets Dominic Gill in a lift. She's at Ellwood Archer to make arrangements for her catering company. He is there for a job interview. The first thing she notices are his eyes - warm topaz and mesmerising. But Alice is hesitant. After being jilted a week before her wedding once before, Alice never thought she would ever meet "the one". But Dominic is attractive, charismatic, kind and charming and despite all misgivings, she accepts his offer for coffee...which then turns into dinner...then dating...until he surprisingly proposes to her three months later.

Their wedding quickly follows on 1st April (I couldn't help but note the irony of the date) and, despite the absence of his family which is easily explained with his mother being ill with a heart condition while his estranged brother remains behind to care for her, Alice couldn't be happier. So what if she sees - and ignores - some serious red flags? They are happy, in love and life couldn't be better.

Even when Alice inadvertently discovers a bank statement with a mysterious reference to "Galea", even when he continues to make excuses as to why they can't meet his family, even when she catches him in a lie and he easily sways her with his charm, even when she follows him to a flat in North Acton, even when she finds a speeding ticket for somewhere he wasn't meant to be, even when their anniversary weekend turned into anything but romantic, even when he turned into someone she didn't recognise, even when she was approached by a mysterious woman with an accent who claimed to have information on who her husband really was...Dominic explained it all away and Alice dismissed any misgivings she may have momentarily had.

But now, it is Valentine's Day and Alice is preparing for a romantic evening for them both. With the fish prepared, the wine uncorked and a text from Dom to say he would be leaving the office in 30 minutes, Alice enjoyed a bath and prepared herself for her husband...and the amazing news she had for him. She was pregnant! Unable to contain her excitement, she snapped a photo of the positive test result and WhatsApp'ed it to Dom, eager for his response. But it never comes. So she calls her friend JoJo to tell her the news. Then an hour passes, two hours, three...something is wrong. She calls Dominic but there is no answer.

Furious with him for spoiling such a momentous occasion, she changes into sweat pants and is dozing when the doorbell rings. She opens the door to police and some devastating news. There's been an accident...and Dominic is dead.

Alice accompanies police to the hospital mortuary with JoJo by her side to see the man she married dead on a slab. There is no doubt it's him. With a small nod, she confirms that yes, it is her husband Dominic. Yet when his estranged brother Simon walks in, he insists "That isn't Dominic Gill. That isn't my brother."

So who was the man Alice married??

The journey then takes us to Australia where we meet a different set of characters in a different set of circumstances that become all too familiar as the deception and lies begin to unearth just what and who Dominic is, or isn't. The consequences are devastating as the truth is slowly revealed.

The man she married was not the person Alice thought he was. And if he lied about that, what else did he hide from her? And how can she find out the truth if all she has to go on is lie after lie?

I have to say, I could have shaken Alice at how completely oblivious she was to the red flags she saw - and ignored - to the many holes in Dominic's story. I could see them as plain as day and just felt like yelling at her "Open your eyes, woman!" But she accepted his plausible explanations and often excused his behaviour. But whatever his reasons, nothing prepared me for what lay beneath his lies and layers of deception.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Alice and Dominic in THEN and NOW chapters that give us, the reader, a clearer picture of things, THE MAN SHE MARRIED is a complete and complex tale filled with twist after twist along the way. Reading from Dominic's perspective gives us greater insight into his past and just who he really is. But who is he, really? Is he a conman? Is he a psychopath? But one thing is certain...despite his charm and his good looks, he is dangerous...very dangerous. And Alice is his perfect cover. This clever tale weaves together his story into Alice's and leaving behind nothing but questions.

Fast paced and gripping from the very first page, THE MAN SHE MARRIED is shockingly dark in parts with twists and the evil that one man does. I must add, that sexual assault features in a couple of small parts of the story for those that may be triggered. It is not a huge feature, but it is there.

After the author's previous thriller "The School Friend" (formerly "The Friendship Pact"), of which I was half-hearted about, I wasn't sure what to expect from THE MAN SHE MARRIED. But this...this is a thriller on a whole other level! It is original, it is twisted but it is brilliant! Just when you think you know what's going on, something else happens to turn it all around again!

A definite recommendation for thriller fans!

REVIEW: The Friendship Pact by Alison James (ARC)

The Friendship Pact by Alison James

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 4th July 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 3rd July 2019)

★★★ 3 stars

So I kept confusing Alison James with Amanda James, thinking this was the same author as the one who penned "Another Mother". I thought it must be coincidence that she has called her main character Lucinda yet again, this time shortening to Lucy rather than Lu in "Another Mother". I also began to think her style in THE FRIENDSHIP PACT was so different to what I thought was her other thriller. But silly me got the two confused and they turned out to be different authors entirely!

Lucy and Adele were friends from different sides of the track who share a secret. When something tragic happens, they make a pact not to tell anyone what really happened at the reservoir. The two girls go their separate ways knowing they would never see each other again.

Now Lucy is married to a successful cardiac surgeon with a beautiful house in an affluent area of London and anything she could ever want. She has the perfect life. Or at least that's how it seems. What no one suspects is that her husband Marcus is an arrogant, dominating and abusive man who controls her every move. He monitors her online activity, her phone use, who she sees and where she's going.

When Lucy decides she's had enough and seeks shelter with a concerned friend, Marcus comes banging on their door and throws a tantrum in front of their friends before being ushered out by the husband. But at 3am Lucy hears a noise outside her door and is shocked to find Marcus creeping into the room, threatening her to remain quiet and not to make a scene and scare the children. She is coming home with him now.

Lucy realises she needs to be smarter in her escape plans if she is to outwit Marcus. Using money from a bank account her parents started for her as a child, which thankfully Marcus knows nothing about, she withdraws money to purchase a pay-as-you-go mobile which Marcus won't be able to track. She then packs a large suitcase and sets off to her father's, citing "a bit of a break". She places the mobile Marcus is tracking in an old mailbox at her father's to make it seem as if she is there, and goes off in search of an old friend.

In desperation, Lucy seeks out Adele. She needs to disappear, and she needs Adele's help to do it. Fake passport, fake driver's licence, new name, new place. It takes almost all of the money Lucy has left in her account but it is worth the cost for her freedom. Adele introduces her to Denny who gets her what she needs....and 8 days in a bedsit in Brighton. After that, she's on her own.

But Marcus tracks her down yet again and drags her back home. This time she is held a complete prisoner. He locks the doors, the windows, removes the landline phones, her mobile, iPad, locks the WiFi network - she has no way of getting out or even of contacting anyone. But one day, she hears the voice "Hey Blondie" through the letterbox and is for once relieved to see Denny. Explaining the situation, he expertly picks the locks and at last she is free.

But Denny has other ideas. It seems that no matter where she goes her husband will always track her down...unless they do away with him for good. Lucy is aghast! What? Kill Marcus? She wants to escape him but she doesn't want him dead! Does she? He tells her to think about it but she doesn't have to. The door is unlocked now and she can just leave! She grabs a bag is on her way down the drive when Marcus returns home demanding how the hell she got out! But he is tired and not on his game. Lucy manages to talk him into discussing things after a good nights sleep. So he downs 3 Temazepams and climbs into bed with promises that they will talk.

But a couple of hours later, she hears him on the phone and she walks in to find him getting dressed. He is on call he says and he needs her to drive him to the hospital. She refuses citing that he has been drinking and has sleeping tablets in his system, but he is adamant. He is needed now. So elects to drive himself. Lucy follow him out the house and down the drive and into the street, where she sees him veering all over the road and into oncoming traffic, before riding up a curb and into a tree then bursting into flames.

With Marcus' death, Lucy's troubles are over. Or are they?

Now an incredibly wealthy widow, Lucy finds Adele back in her life once again. Once best friends, the two women couldn't be more different even more so than when they were children. But she had asked Adele for help to escape Marcus - she couldn't exactly turn her away now. But Lucy quickly learns the mistake she'd made in asking for Adele's help. It seems she has left one prison for another.

THE FRIENDSHIP PACT is told in three parts with flashbacks to Lucy's childhood when she first met Adele and for the year they were friends to the terrible tragedy that separated them. While they were friends for just a year, I don't really understand why Lucy would seek out Adele's help. What of her other friends she made after she left to go to a private school? Surely she made much closer friends there? What made Adele so special?

Honestly, I don't think Adele was much a friend than a bully. She bullied Lucy into a friendship which was then on her terms. I know friendships at that age can be pretty intense but looking back I found it to be just a precursor to her marriage to Marcus. From one bully to another. Lucy was a vulnerable young girl and then woman. She was an only child conditioned in loneliness, and bullies like Adele and Marcus can sense that in a person. So I fail to see why she would seek out Adele.

I also found myself questioning many of Lucy's choices. Why didn't she just go to the police in the first place? She didn't seem like the type of person who wouldn't, so why didn't she? She had friends who would have supported her, regardless of Marcus' standing in the community or as a well respected surgeon. He would have had to let her go or be seen for what he was in the end. And then there were her choices regarding Adele, which I have already covered. I wouldn't have trusted her - why did she?

THE FRIENDSHIP PACT started out fast paced and completely compelling. I couldn't put it down! But at around 75% everything changed and it just seemed a little unbelievable. I mean, really? While Lucy's life seemed to be spiraling out of control, so did the plot. Even the revelations when they came were not shocking - just "oh, ok". And then the ending. Really? That was just too far fetched and implausible.

I do, however, love the cover. But it is a little misleading as the focus of the story is not on what the cover portrays but rather Lucy's battle for escape. The third girl alluded to here is but a small part and only features as a one chapter mention. It does come up again, but I don't think it's the whole story.

Unfortunately, while THE FRIENDSHIP PACT began as a compelling psychological thriller it lacked suspense and believability at the end. Such a shame because it began with such promise.

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