Tag: Bookouture

You know how sometimes you read a psychological thriller and you have a fleeting thought about what is going on, but you dismiss it because you figure the author probably did not go there.

In this book, the author did go there.

However, the clues to the twist are so well hidden that I am not sure some readers will see them. I read a lot in this genre and (as I have mentioned) I like to challenge myself to see if I can outguess the author.

Anyway, this story starts with a forensic dig and then goes back in time roughly two months earlier. This is an effective way to tell the story because the reader knows something bad is going to happen (from the prologue).

But the author lays the detailed groundwork so that when the action reaches the point of the prologue, everything is clear.

Let me try to explain that better.

The first part of the book flows naturally. The story draws the reader in, but with the understanding that this “event” is going to eventually happen. And it does so in the natural course of the story.

And, as a reader wants in a psychological thriller, the reveal is nothing like what you think it might be. Well, maybe a little. But there are surprises for sure!

I think Kate is a strong figure. She has a lot to deal with but maintains her kind nature throughout most of the story. She only slips a little at the end, which seemed out of character. But I chalk it up to the amount of stress she is dealing with at the time.

The author weaves a sub-plot (with direct bearing on the main plot) about foreign laborers that is both informative and pivotal. This is a unique perspective that I think is probably still quite accurate in real life.

There were a couple of moments that don’t ring exactly true to me, especially as secrets are revealed. A few incidents seem to be tossed off as part of the overall arc when I think they might have been more impactful.

Also, a couple of moments that were mentioned and then forgotten (a letter Kate receives goes nowhere). And the similarities between Kate, Donna, and Irene could be a little clearer.

Those are fairly nitpicky and minor in the overall arc of the story, however. I like that my theories changed over the course of the book, which means the author kept me guessing.

I will also say that the author has a talent for telling a story that is entirely plausible, but also, by the end of it, the reader feels like certain things should have been obvious. But they weren’t. I think that is smart writing.

It is a solid entry in the psychological thriller genre. I recommend it.

Other titles by the author

• Single.
• Little Whispers
• The Marriage
• The Evidence

Author Bio:

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents but never made it off the slush pile. At the age of 40, she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating, she received five offers of representation from London literary agents which was, as Kim says, ‘a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer and lives in Nottingham with her husband, Mac.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a psych thriller that better typifies the genre than this one. It has everything a reader wants in a book.

Lily is a sympathetic main character/narrator. She’s smart, intuitive, and a little too trusting. That last one is important because it has a big impact on the plot. It is vital she sees nothing wrong with her life until she’s in the middle of a mess.

But exactly what is the mess, and who is responsible for it?

I don’t think she is naïve in any way, although some readers may take her as such. I like that she is a teacher first and foremost because she looks at her problems from several different angles. As a teacher myself, I can relate to that.

The author does a great job of building the foundation through the first part of the book. It is the perfect example of “setting the stage.” The action moves along even though there are a lot of details to put in place.

And once those details are in place, hang on…because once Lily starts to realize certain things the action takes off and doesn’t let up until the very last pages. Actually, not even then.

The way the storylines converge is masterful. The parallels between the past and present situations are each detailed and unique but with enough similarities that the reader recognizes the important patterns.

This is vital to the story. But I’m not going to say why, because that would give away the plot. And that would be no fun to new readers. I did guess a few points, but only because I like to challenge myself to see if I can think like the author.

I rooted for Lily pretty much the entire book. There was only one part about ¾ through that I thought was out of character, but as I continued to read, I realized why she did what she did.

There are other characters in the book (of course). I don’t want to say anything specific about Edward and his family, because I might slip up. But let’s just say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I felt for Noah. And Marsha was a good friend.

But really, this psych thriller should be at the top of your list. I couldn’t put it down and read late into the night to finish it. An excellent entry in the genre.

Also by this author: The Night Away

Author Bio:
Jess Ryder is the pseudonym of Jan Page, author, screenwriter, playwright and award-winning television producer. After many years working in children’s media, she has recently embarked on a life of crime. Writing, that is. Her other big love is making pots.

Hoooooo boy, does Mel have a tough time in this psych thriller.

She’s already out her man, about to be out of her house, and her career…well, that’s not in such great shape either.

So, when her co-worker offers her the chance at a blind date, she considers taking him up on it.

Little does she know how wrong that can all go. And boy, does it go wrong.

Although the setup was efficient, it all really takes off when Mel takes over the late-night shift at the radio station. Soon, all kinds of things happen and Mel feels like she is getting hit on all sides.

The author does a great job of creating a spooky atmosphere through little hints here and there. Additionally, the claustrophobia of a radio booth can’t be beaten. There were times that it reminded me of the 1980s television show “Midnight Caller.”

Especially when Mel receives calls from a person who eerily has a similar story to her own.

I had my suspicions about every character at some point. The only ones I didn’t feel added to anything were Niall and Fiona. That seemed to be more contrived to get Mel to the next point, rather than truly having any impact.

Mel was intriguing. At times, she seemed to bring the drama on herself. Her lack of self-confidence, greatly shaken, added to her being uncertain about where to turn when things got very weird.

There were a few things that appeared out of nowhere, and I am not sure I buy a couple of the twists and relationships.

But I still enjoyed this psych thriller immensely. In fact, I read it in one day – which is highly unusual for me. So, I do recommend it.

Just be aware that you will not know who to believe and what the real story is until the very end. And I mean the very last page.

Other psych thrillers from this author:

• His Hidden Wife
• The Bride

Author Bio:

Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.

Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!

This psychological thriller started with a great lead-in that drew me in and there were some really good moments in the rest of the story. There were certainly enough lies to go around.

First, I could tell that Anna was fake from the beginning. I’m not going to give anything away, but any time a character projects a façade as much as she did? A dead giveaway that there is something to hide.

I thought the setup was also effective. Feeling that way about Anna, I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. The author did a good job of building tension and even threw in a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing.

However, I felt that some of them were too “out of the blue” and didn’t go anywhere. A good red herring drags the reader along for a bit. In this regard, there were a couple of characters who seemed superfluous. Although, they did add to Anna’s suspicions, so there is that.

I will admit that I didn’t exactly see the major twist coming. There were a few things I guessed, but I didn’t get the big connection right away, so well done on that!

Once Anna and Seb’s storylines converge, the action really gets going. The second half of the book reads much faster than the first half.

A lot of the narration was Anna thinking about things. Some of the passages were long and drawn out which took me out of the action. Likewise, there were characters in her memory that seemed just as useless as the ones in the present.

In retrospect, none of the characters was very likable, which I think actually added to the story. It was just a shame that there was a child in the middle of all of them.

The climax was definitely page-turning and was really the only part of the book where I felt like I was “watching” something happen. The author did a great job with this pivotal scene.

And while there were parts of the resolution that I appreciated I thought the final decision of the characters was odd. The person who ended up with Evie was no better than the other options (in my opinion).

It was still a good read, and I definitely recommend the book as an engaging psychological thriller.

Other psychological thrillers from this author:

• The Birthday Weekend
• I Know You Lied
• The Leaving Party

Author Bio

Lesley Sanderson spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and also works as a librarian in a multicultural school. She has lived and worked in Paris and speaks four languages.