What! Another psychological thriller, I hear you say? Yep. I was thinking the same. Here we go again. Another flawed narrator. Another twist that everyone can see coming. But …….WAIT. Wait till you actually read this book. And there is no flawed narrator. Or if there is there’s more than one! And the twist. Oh yes, there is a twist. There is a twist but I don’t think anyone could’ve seen it coming!
'A gripping mystery of jealousy, murder and lies. An invitation to her estranged, wealthy father’s surprise 75th birthday party in New York sees Amelia and her husband, Jack, set off across the pond to meet a whole new world of family politics. Amelia, now a successful businesswoman, feels guilty about never liking her father’s women, so does her upmost to give his new socialite partner, Evelyn, the benefit of the doubt. Wouldn’t it be nice if they could just all get along? But there’s something very dark, determined and dangerous about her… When Amelia’s father, Roger, becomes ill, Jack grows suspicious that there is more to it. Amelia understands why, but no one else will believe them. They travel back to America to piece together the puzzle, but when Roger goes missing, the couple are driven to their wits' end. It takes a DEA officer and a secret assassin to bring them answers, but the ruthless truth is something no one expected…'
This was one of those delightful books where I had no expectations at all when I started it but once I settled into it I just didn’t want to stop reading. I had to read on and on and on to see just what was going on. The narrative had a curiously retro feel about it. There were times when I was reminded of Virginia Andrews Flowers in the Attic series. Evelyn reminded me of the grandmother in those books. And there was almost a Patricia Highsmith sense of taking a decision and allowing things to spiral in a direction no one could’ve anticipated.
What I also liked, and I think this comes from having read numerous psychological thrillers, is the almost reflexive need to suspect everybody and question their motivation. So that even if they were doing something that seemed kind and well intentioned I was immediately suspicious that there was more to it all than met the eye. Amelia’s husband Jack is a fine example. Oops is that a spoiler? But it creates a very palpable reading atmosphere.
I also enjoyed the book’s structure because it was a multi narrated book, mostly between Jack and Amelia, occasionally Evelyn, and Bill which in itself isn’t a new device but here there was also a switching between first person and third person. This made me read the first person narrative very carefully because I wondered if this was the flawed narrator I’d been expecting. Was it? I’m not gonna tell you! Read it for yourself.
As is often a feature of this genre of book the characters seldom come across as particularly likeable. And I think that's important because in order for the story to work you don't need to develop any kind of real bias one way or another. This relates very much to the notion of reading suspiciously that I referred to in the previous paragraph. I guess I felt some sympathy for poor old Roger! But I also wanted to yell at him, open your eyes and see what's going on, you numpty! But I did feel some outrage at what Amelia had to contend with. And Jack? Could I have a Jack, please? 😉
By the time I reached the conclusion I found my head was still reeling with unanswered questions. There are things that are still niggling away at me; Did she? Did he? Was he?
My thanks to Kelly of the Love Books Group for accepting me onto the blog tour and my thanks to the author for a delightful, inscribed copy. Please check out all the other bloggers, mine is but one opinion.
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