In spite of the fact that this turned out to be an e-read rather than a physical book with its annoying split lines and non-uniform font sizes not to mention the publishers mark every few pages I could not put this down! I was riveted.
Psychological thrillers are plentiful these days but I think what makes this story stand out is that it has some points to make as well as being an entertaining and page turning read.
Let us examine the blurb for a moment……
‘At a bleak boys’ boarding school in Cornwall in the eighties when bullying is rife, Will and his best friend, Luke, are involved in a horrific incident that results in Luke leaving.
Twenty-five years later their paths cross again and memories of a painful childhood come flooding back to haunt them both.
Will’s wife, Harmony, is struggling after a miscarriage that has hit her hard, and wishes Will would open up about what happened. But as Will withdraws further, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic stranger from her husband’s past, Luke, and soon all three are caught in a tangled web of guilt and desire . . .’
One of those rare things - a blurb that encapsulates concisely all the salient points about the book!
The main characters, Harmony, Will and Luke are skilfully constructed and developed.But the bit part players are no less fundamental to the novel. It’s a fast paced narrative so critical for a psychological thriller but the pace never obscures the issues at the heart of this story. Issues that will put your emotions through the wringer.It’s dark but ultimately redemptive.
I suppose what chills the most is the deep-rooted effects of bullying and the deep scars that can be left not to mention the devastation of miscarriages. The balance between the domestic/psychological thriller element and the wider topics is well executed. I also thought it was well plotted and there were hints all the way through which keeps the reader on their toes and always guessing.
What I also found interesting is that this book was originally published in 2014 under a different title – the Judas Scar. A reissued publication from HQ stories that will hopefully catapult the book towards a new audience. At the end of the book the author offers a perceptive and fascinating insight into the provenance of the story and her writing of it.
My thanks to HQ stories for a place upon the blog tour.
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