Published by Bloodhound Books on October 2, 2018
Genres: Thriller, Mystery
Goodreads
Also by this author: Rip Current, Another Mother, The Feud, A Stitch in Time, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Dancing in the Rain, Cross Stitch, Summer in Tintagel, Behind the Lie, Another Mother, The Calico Cat, Deep Water, The Cornish Retribution, The Feud, Dark Deception, The Cornish Connection
After a tragic car accident, Samantha is left widowed and bereft. Her husband Adam was everything to her. But at least the home they shared together in Cornwall provides her with some security. Or does it?
Upon returning from a school reunion in Sheffield, where Sam met her old friend, Penny, and an old flame from her school days, Dan, she discovers that Adam had invested money unwisely and she is now penniless.
When Penny and Dan, who are now married, arrive in Cornwall to visit Sam, Dan comes up with a way in which Sam can keep the house. He suggests she turns it into a writing retreat. And he is willing to invest.
Despite his wife’s reservations, Dan gets his way but at what price?
Why is Dan so keen to help? Has Sam put herself in harm’s way?
Some relationships are built to last. Others are deadly.
I don’t actually know how to write this review! This book kept me up until 1
Now not going to lie, I do not think I have ever read a book where I did not like any of the lead characters. To me, they were all a bit awful in their own way. Yet, I needed to know their story, I had to know why things were being done! Aaaahhhhhhhh
Sam, at the start I really liked her and I felt for her, she has lost her husband Adam a man she was completely and utterly in love with. I was sad for her as it was tragic. He should not have died. Then her daughter Helena (Who I adored!!) coerces Sam to go to a school reunion, where she is reunited with Penny and Dan, two people who ripped her heart out when they were sixteen. After she met them, I began to dislike her, her behaviour was
Dan and Penny, well where do you start with them! Dan, a womaniser who is not at all nice to Penny, and he is so clearly in love with Sam still. Trying to meet up with her as often as possible and try as he might get himself immersed in her life one way or another. His treatment towards Penny was not deserved and she is treated horribly. Slime and ball.
Penny, again, she did a horrid thing to Sam when they were kids. But she just never learned. She is constantly described as a doormat and she seriously needed a good talking to. She is jealous of Sam, knows Dan wants her, and can’t decide if she wants to be a friend or foe to Sam, spouting secrets off to Dan about Sam.
Once they are entwined in each other’s lives again, disaster strikes and a spiral of unthinkable and bizarre actions happen. I could not get my head around Sam, here was this widow, who yes had been hurt, but began to act like a crazy person. She pushed everyone away and ignored help from people, but why? And did the one thing she said she would never do, it just bemused me to act the way she did. Why couldn’t she see what was going and on and why? However, despite this I could understand some of her actions, maybe I am already in crazy town waiting for her! There is more I want to say but I can’t bear to spoil it so I will seeth quietly.
Now you may be thinking, god this is a negative review..but I assure you it really isn’t! Despite my thoughts on the three people, I LOVED THIS BOOK. If I didn’t it wouldn’t have kept me up all night. It was crazy, and if I am being honest at times a little psychotic, but that is what I thought was great about it. The web of lies and deceit clearly catching up with said characters and the outcome was shocking, to say the least. There is a happy ending, but I am not sure how deserved it was to be fair but that made it all the more a chilling ending to a story. Because I did spend the time (in my head everyone else was asleep!) going WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL!!
I loved being back in Cornwall again, the setting is breathtaking and I wish I could get down there more often and visit the places in the book, they sound peaceful and dare I say it perfect, all of this is garnered from the description we are given. Plus I LOVE all the book covers too, beautiful!
The book kept me hooked until the very last page, it was thrilling to read. It was dark and twisted and it was my cup of tea. I love trying to get into the character’s head to figure out what makes them twisty.
I may have only read two of Ms James books, but I have loved both of them and devoured them both so quickly! In my eyes, she does no wrong! 🙂
*Thank you so much to Bloodhound Books and the author Amanda James for a copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review*
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
jennifertarheelreader says
What a lovely review, Zoe! The Cornwall setting- I always love that, and I love a suspenseful read.
Zoe says
Ah thanks Jennifer! Glad you think so. I do to! It is fab and very chilling and clever.