REVIEW: The Birthday Reunion by Claire Seeber

The Birthday Reunion by Claire Seeber

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 16th April 2023

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Amazon

Published: 18th April 2023

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The Birthday Reunion: A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with twists by Claire Seeber

 

Four friends. One dream getaway. But who will make it out alive?

When the gold-rimmed invitations arrive through the doors of best friends Simone, Hannah and Vicky they’re instantly taken aback. Their ex-friend Jodie is inviting them to a lavish Mediterranean villa to celebrate her birthday. They haven’t spoken in years since she betrayed them in the worst way. So how did they make the guest list?

They all have their reasons for saying yes. Stay-at-home mum Simone had her dream job snatched away. Hannah lost the love of her life. Café-owner Vicky wants the chance to help a wronged friend. Is the reunion a chance to confront Jodie and the past once and for all?

Arriving at a villa that looks straight out of a movie set, the friends relax by the sumptuous pool as they wait for the other guests to arrive. But as the chilled wine is poured and the three friends reminisce, they see Jodie walking towards them with a look of shock on her face.

Because Jodie didn’t invite them here.

But by the end of the weekend it will become clear who did. Someone else has a reason for revenge. Who will make it out alive?

An absolutely addictive and twist-filled psychological thriller that will have you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies, Lisa Jewell and T.M. Logan.

MY THOUGHTS:

Four friends. One dream getaway. But who will make it out alive...?

When the gold-rimmed invitations arrive through the mailslots of Simone, Vicky and Hannah, the friends cannot believe it. After all she has done to them, has taken from them and thrown back in their faces, their ex-friend Jodie has the audacity to invite them to an all-expenses-paid four day weekend on a remote island in the Mediterranean to celebrate her birthday...when they all knew her birthday was in November. The four friends have not spoken in two decades since Jodie betrayed them all in the worst way. So why is she inviting them to this weekend escape? And why now? And more importantly, what does she want from them?

The journey to the island takes somewhat longer than expected, drawing out the journey and the story a little. The three friends have to spend the night in an old near-abandoned farmhouse villa which is reminiscent of the forties horror movie sets. But as soon as daylight comes, the friends are down at the jetty awaiting their boat to the island. And when they get there...they discover it just as deserted as the old villa from which they've come. But on a much grander scale. Far more luxurious, each with their own room and ensuites, a fully stocked pantry and fridge, all with gorgeous turquoise views and a mosaic infinity pool. There was just one thing missing: the birthday girl herself, Jodie.

But when Jodie does arrive, she is just as shocked and surprised by the presence of her three former friends. So who invited them all here? Who has orchestrated this entire weekend? And to what end?

With no WiFi, weird messages, missing knives and no way off the island...each begins to wonder if any of them will make it out alive. But one of them is hell bent on revenge...but who? And why?

The concept of this story was intriguing but I think for me the telling of it fell a little flat. It takes almost 30% of the book before they even reach the island and the rest of it to remain as confused as ever as to what is really going on. I am all for multiple narratives but even I got a little confused with the constant changeover between the four friends that I had to keep checking back as to which one of them was narrating at times. Particularly as every chapter was in the first person and somehow I always felt it was Simone's voice I heard every time, even if it was one of the others.

The story is also a slow burn of which I'm not particularly a fan generally unless it is done in a way that does hold my interest. This one hovered between doing so and not. And once they got to the the Isle del Diablo (Devil's Island), all they seemed to do was bitch and moan and argue all the time.

It's an OK read for me and I wasn't totally satisfied with how it all ended. Although it was nicely done in the epilogue, I was left somewhat confused as to where everyone stood and what the whole endgame really was. I was left shaking my head in the end, and somewhat puzzled. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me in the end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Seeber is a Londoner who started her professional life as a (bad) actress and went on to become a documentary maker, lucky enough to travel the world meeting amazing people. Also writing features for newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent, when she had her first baby in 2004, Claire started writing psychological thrillers. The Observer called her first novel, Lullaby, ‘a disturbing debut’ whilst the Guardian called it ‘powerful’. Her third thriller Never Tell became a bestseller, and she has been published in more than twelve different languages.

Claire has been CWA Dagger-nominated, also writes for stage and screen, and today studies psychotherapy, as well as (trying to) manage a home of slightly feral children and animals. Luckily her very nice partner helps too. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

SPOTLIGHT: The Birthday Reunion by Claire Seeber

 

The Birthday Reunion by Claire Seeber

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 16th April 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th April 2023

DESCRIPTION:

The Birthday Reunion: A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with twists by Claire Seeber

 

Four friends. One dream getaway. But who will make it out alive?

When the gold-rimmed invitations arrive through the doors of best friends Simone, Hannah and Vicky they’re instantly taken aback. Their ex-friend Jodie is inviting them to a lavish Mediterranean villa to celebrate her birthday. They haven’t spoken in years since she betrayed them in the worst way. So how did they make the guest list?

They all have their reasons for saying yes. Stay-at-home mum Simone had her dream job snatched away. Hannah lost the love of her life. Café-owner Vicky wants the chance to help a wronged friend. Is the reunion a chance to confront Jodie and the past once and for all?

Arriving at a villa that looks straight out of a movie set, the friends relax by the sumptuous pool as they wait for the other guests to arrive. But as the chilled wine is poured and the three friends reminisce, they see Jodie walking towards them with a look of shock on her face.

Because Jodie didn’t invite them here.

But by the end of the weekend it will become clear who did. Someone else has a reason for revenge. Who will make it out alive?

An absolutely addictive and twist-filled psychological thriller that will have you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies, Lisa Jewell and T.M. Logan.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Seeber is a Londoner who started her professional life as a (bad) actress and went on to become a documentary maker, lucky enough to travel the world meeting amazing people. Also writing features for newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent, when she had her first baby in 2004, Claire started writing psychological thrillers. The Observer called her first novel, Lullaby, ‘a disturbing debut’ whilst the Guardian called it ‘powerful’. Her third thriller Never Tell became a bestseller, and she has been published in more than twelve different languages.

Claire has been CWA Dagger-nominated, also writes for stage and screen, and today studies psychotherapy, as well as (trying to) manage a home of slightly feral children and animals. Luckily her very nice partner helps too. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

EXTRACT: The Parents by Claire Seeber

The Parents by Claire Seeber

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 23rd October 2021

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Published: 25th October 2021

DESCRIPTION:

The other parents all seem so perfect. But it’s not long before I realise: I should have never made friends with them…

I knew it wouldn’t be easy for my kids to adjust when we moved to a tiny village where they didn’t know a soul. But after the death of my husband, we needed a fresh start.

Suddenly, we’re outsiders. I know the only way we’ll be accepted is if I throw myself into my new life, so when my son joins a local club, I volunteer to help along with the other parents.

Before moving here, I didn’t know people like this really existed; their lives seem too perfect to be real. Although my own life couldn’t be more different, they welcome me into the fold. For the first time since my husband died, I feel like I made the right decision for my family…

That is until I overhear something that tells me these other parents aren’t as perfect as they seem. Something that turns my world upside down again.

My secret has already ruined my life once. I thought the truth had died with my husband… I should have known that it wouldn’t be buried for long.

A completely addictive page-turner about the secrets and lies hiding beneath seemingly perfect lives. Fans of Big Little Lies, Lisa Jewell and Louise Candlish will be absolutely hooked by this pacey read with a jaw-dropping twist you just won’t see coming.

EXTRACT:

PROLOGUE

Sunday 1 November

The thing was, people agreed later, it was almost impossible to see the movement, the camera footage was so dark and grainy. But once you knew it was there, once you knew what you were meant to focus on, it was impossible to stop looking.

It was the object bobbing in the black water, of course, that drew the eye first. An old wooden pallet? 

Or actually, maybe a big sports bag, which would make sense, given the setting. No, it was definitely an old Puffa jacket, arms spread, made puffier and swollen from the weight of the water it had taken on. Only... if you stared hard enough, you could definitely see, there in the left-hand corner, just at the edge of frame, a figure, moving into the trees. 

Yes, definitely a figure. And then, slinking from the shadows of the dense woodland behind, a huge animal – a dog, presumably, fur glinting inthe moonlight, almond eyes flashing white on the grainy film.

Although... no, it couldn’t be a wolf...Could it?

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Seeber is a Londoner who started her professional life as a (bad) actress and went on to become a documentary maker, lucky enough to travel the world meeting amazing people. Also writing features for newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent, when she had her first baby in 2004, Claire started writing psychological thrillers. The Observer called her first novel, Lullaby, ‘a disturbing debut’ whilst the Guardian called it ‘powerful’. Her third thriller Never Tell became a bestseller, and she has been published in more than twelve different languages.

Claire has been CWA Dagger-nominated, also writes for stage and screen, and today studies psychotherapy, as well as (trying to) manage a home of slightly feral children and animals. Luckily her very nice partner helps too. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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REVIEW: The Parents by Claire Seeber

The Parents by Claire Seeber

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 23rd October 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Apple

Google

Kobo

Published: 25th October 2021

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

The other parents all seem so perfect. But it’s not long before I realise: I should have never made friends with them…

I knew it wouldn’t be easy for my kids to adjust when we moved to a tiny village where they didn’t know a soul. But after the death of my husband, we needed a fresh start.

Suddenly, we’re outsiders. I know the only way we’ll be accepted is if I throw myself into my new life, so when my son joins a local club, I volunteer to help along with the other parents.

Before moving here, I didn’t know people like this really existed; their lives seem too perfect to be real. Although my own life couldn’t be more different, they welcome me into the fold. For the first time since my husband died, I feel like I made the right decision for my family…

That is until I overhear something that tells me these other parents aren’t as perfect as they seem. Something that turns my world upside down again.

My secret has already ruined my life once. I thought the truth had died with my husband… I should have known that it wouldn’t be buried for long.

A completely addictive page-turner about the secrets and lies hiding beneath seemingly perfect lives. Fans of Big Little Lies, Lisa Jewell and Louise Candlish will be absolutely hooked by this pacey read with a jaw-dropping twist you just won’t see coming.

MY REVIEW:

I admit that I was excited to read THE PARENTS as I'd come across Claire Seeber before and had enjoyed what I had read through samples of her books, though I'd read not an entire book by her before. And I still haven't. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this book as I found it boorishly dull with the quintessential version of "Desperate Housewives" gossiping amongst themselves down to the testoserone levels on the football pitch between the deluge of alpha males present. Added to that was the history of the village steeped in heavily witchcraft complete with new moons in Virgo, or something I can't quite get my head around.

THE PARENTS is supposed to be a domestic thriller mystery novel with lashings of suspense but it felt more like a soap opera to me. And I'd rather sit down to an episode "Corrie" or have my tooth pulled than try and wade through the deluge of gossip mongers that Tenderton appears to be rife with. My goodness, Patti always seems to be supercharged, Neil constantly grumpy, Dez flashing his pearly whites at whatever female graces his presence whilst the rest of them seem to bitch it out amongst themselves. Alex, on the other hand, seems permanently perplexed and wondering what the hell she has gotten herself into.

But I digress...

The story begins with an intriguing prologue which offered promise that seemed to deflate once we rewound a couple of months leading up to what obviously inevitably took place.

And so we meet Alex, newly widowed and having moved back from America with her two children Iris (15) and Harry (13). Her introduction is that of her ancient Land Rover, bequeathed to her by her brother Gray who set her up in Primrose Cottage in Tenderton before rushing back off to Africa, which is precariously parked across Neil Borth's garage driveway thus making him irate and cranky trying to shift the immoveable bulk. Salon-owner Patti witnesses the debacle and upon being told the offending motor belongs to "her in the cottage", they venture up the path to knock on the door. Of course, Alex is intent on hiding away in the cottage but her affable son Harry answers the door and welcomes to irate Neil by presenting his mother who was trying her best to hide behind the curtains, out of sight. Sounds almost comical.

And thus was Alex's introduction to Tenderton.

Patti then invites her son Harry to football practice on Saturday. Of course, having grown up in America, the concept was lost on him and merely known as soccer. However, Harry goes along and soon makes friends with the other boys in the under-14s. The parents, on the other hand, are a different kettle of fish. The non-stop chatter of them all gave me a headache...no wonder Alex made her excuses to escape, despite Patti extracting a promise from her to attend her son Ethan's 13th birthday in a couple of days.

And then there was her daughter Iris, who had been on holiday at her paternal grandmother's place in Inverness in Scotland. Upon joining her mother and brother in Tenderton, Iris promptly wrapped herself in her duvet and remained in bed for several days, hissing at her mother to "go away" and "leave her alone". So while Iris refuses to talk to her, Harry seems to be settling in, but Alex is still struggling. The insurance money from her husband's tragic death still has not arrived, some ten months after the event, and she is struggling to make ends meet.

And then there is the village itself, steeped in seventeenth century witchcraft superstitions and old wives' tales (which is more accurately old men's tales told to keep their wives at home and in line more like). While on the surface it appears to be a perfect little village nestled in the Kent countryside, not everything is as it seems...particularly for the football team and their families. Alerted by a WhatsApp group message, secrets about the villagers are being exposed in a vlog that is changing the dynamics and the villagers themselves. First it's the football coach, then the model...and so it goes...

A picture-perfect village with a lot of secrets...who is next to be exposed?

THE PARENTS is rather aptly named since the entire book is about these squabbling, bed-hopping, irate parents who should know better than to behave worse than the children they are supposed to be parenting. The story is about families that all come with secrets and lies, with deception in ripe abundance. With all the squabbles, I felt like I was watching a soap opera with words with one family drama after another...I just couldn't stick around for anymore. By 30%, I had lost patience and didn't care one way or the other what happened or how the story ended up after such a promising prologue.

There are a lot of characters to keep a track of and it was difficult to keep them in place as to who was who at first. While Alex is still grieving for her husband Fraser, she seemed a bit...what's the word?...standoffish maybe. While the rest of the women appeared to be completely wacky, flaky or just unconventional. The men were all just trying to flex their muscles as to who should take over the managerial position of the footall club in the wake of the scandal surrounding Neil coming to light. It's the boys who are left in the shadows of their completely nutty parents.

Slow moving from the off, THE PARENTS is a tad far fetched in places though some of the historical aspects were interesting in how they disposed of women suspected of being witches in the seventeenth century. It seems there was no coming out of it alive for them. Ultimately, while the story centres around the U14s football, it felt more like a "Footballer's Wives" gathering while the men just flexed their proverbial muscles.

Honestly, this book was a complete fail for me. And to be honest, I'm surprised some of the other reviewers didn't give up sooner. I commend them for lasting 50% or 60%, while I could only just manage 30%. And what's with the term "babs"? I know it's short for Barbara, but it came out of Patti's mouth as some kind of affectionate term for just about everyone! At first I thought it was a typo that was missed during proof-reading...but it appeared again and again and again...

I can't say that would recommend this book but at the same time I won't write off Claire Seeber altogether either. Not every book is going to appeal to everyone. And not every author can wow us with a sensational story. I know Ms Seeber is a brilliant thriller writer and I look forward to immersing myself in something a little more exciting than another version of "Desperate Housewives" meets "Footballer's Wives".

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Seeber is a Londoner who started her professional life as a (bad) actress and went on to become a documentary maker, lucky enough to travel the world meeting amazing people. Also writing features for newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent, when she had her first baby in 2004, Claire started writing psychological thrillers. The Observer called her first novel, Lullaby, ‘a disturbing debut’ whilst the Guardian called it ‘powerful’. Her third thriller Never Tell became a bestseller, and she has been published in more than twelve different languages.

Claire has been CWA Dagger-nominated, also writes for stage and screen, and today studies psychotherapy, as well as (trying to) manage a home of slightly feral children and animals. Luckily her very nice partner helps too. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads