April 23, 2020

What began as a poignant story seemingly about a middle-aged woman who felt invisible to everyone quickly evolved into something darker and more insidious that had me turning pages to finish this in one sitting. It was just that good.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3ci3DLg
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ekatSt
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3bbimaN
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2REIza5

Full disclosure, this review may seem like I am talking in riddles, but for this book, I really do NOT want to give anything away. There are so many little bits that could ruin it. So I am going to be as vague as possible while still trying to illustrate how excellent the book was.

I will admit that the first few chapters took some getting used to, as the stream of consciousness that was Rachel’s retelling of events was hard to follow at times. However, once I got to “know” her, it became easier.

The story is told primarily from Rachel’s point of view as she speaks with…someone. These chapters alternate with transcripts of police interviews of other characters. The timeframe is unclear, but it all appears to be part of an investigation. Of what, I cannot tell you.

Rachel is an infinitely relatable character. Even as her real story remains unclear through most of the book, every middle-aged woman can relate to the feeling of being invisible to those closest to her. That likability made it challenging for me to get a grip on her actual personality. It seemed like I was off-balance, changing my theories every other chapter.

The author also offers a searing analysis of the place that hate and revenge have taken in our society. The line between the two is blurred, and the ease at which people can slip between them is eye-opening.

As I mentioned above, this book was an absolute page-turner, with twists and revelations right up to the very last page. By far, one of the best psychological thrillers (in the truest definition of the genre) that I have ever read.

Author Bio
After graduating from Leeds University, S E Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen where she worked as a BBC Producer. In 2002, she moved to Rome with her husband and two young children. In 2007, after the birth of her third child, she returned to the UK and gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University. Currently, she writes novels and teaches Creative Writing at Richmond Adult Community College.

Even after reading the blurb, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. What I got was an in-depth exploration of family loyalty, sisterly bonds, and the different ways responsibility manifests itself. This book drew me in and kept me turning pages late into the night to find out how everything worked out.

I loved the through-line of sisterhood. Not only do we see the bonds between Katie and Susannah, Emer and Orla, and even Rebecca and Lynsey to an extent. I thought the author did an excellent job drawing parallels that were subtle but packed an emotional punch.

The story unfolds in alternating chapters between Emer’s life in 2011 and Susannah’s in the late 50s/early 60s, and the transitions were seamless. The story is such that there is no jolt between the time changes.

I thought that Emer was an interesting character. She was obviously seeking redemption for what she saw as a slight to her own sister, but she learned through Susannah’s history that there could be so much worse out there. I don’t know that she had that big revelation, but she definitely learned that lesson. And I thought that the moment when it all crystalized (when Susannah went looking for her) was poignant and powerful.

I did feel, however, that the romance between Emer and Lars was sometimes weak; it could have used a little bit more depth, as it was the only part (to me) that felt a little contrived. I think that is primarily because everything else that we learn, through letters and recollections, is so real.

I don’t mind saying that by the end of the book, I was in tears. The bravery that comes from getting through a loved one’s death is one thing. Sacrificing one’s entire life because of guilt (or a sense of duty or a sense of shame) is an entirely different animal. It is ultimately up to the reader to decide which one Susannah operates under as she makes her choices.

Overall, I think the author managed to capture the mentalities of both small town “Island” inhabitants and those who wish to overcome that mentality (personified by Katie and Susannah’s opposing views on the matter). Ultimately, the realization that each of them comes to is that what is “right” doesn’t necessarily mean that it is right forever. And there are always options, even when it seems as if there aren’t.

It is a novel full of impactful insight that I will be thinking about for a long time.

Author Bio

Noelle Harrison is the Irish author of nine novels and five plays and has been translated into over 13 different languages. Her short stories have been published in Lines of Vision, Irish Writing on Irish Art, & Gutter Magazine of New Scottish Writing. In 2016, Noelle co-founded Aurora Writers’ Retreats building on 20 years’ experience of teaching creative writing in Ireland, Scotland, Norway and England.