This is a fantastic, dark, twist ride of a book. It is told from three POVs - siblings Henry and Lucy, and Libby. Henry's narration is a telling of his story, from when the family upstairs moved in until today. It is from Henry that we learn the events of what happened in the mansion at 16 Cheyenne Walk, Chelsea (London). Henry is a creepy, unreliable narrator, and there were times I wasn't even sure he was who he claimed to be. He's a great character. His sister Lucy narrates her part in the present tense as she tries to get to the house in Chelsea with her two children, Marco and Stella. She has been living in France, penniless and frightened. The final narrator, Libby, inherits the house in Chelsea on her twenty-fifth birthday. Her narration concentrates on finding out what happened at the house twenty-five years ago.

Here is the story of those events (without giving too much away). Twenty-five years ago (1994), the police were called out to the house. They found three dead bodies lying next to one another on the floor of the kitchen. Upstairs, a baby sat in a cot. The baby was well cared for and well fed. She was clean and fresh. However, the three bodies downstairs had been there for at least three days. So, who had been taking care of the baby, and where were they now? The bodies had all died from deadly nightshade poisoning, and there were three vials with traces of it on the kitchen counter, lined up next to one another. It is assumed this was some kind of suicide pact, and it transpires there was a cult living in the property. At least, the household was slowly taken over by a man who would become the cult leader.

It is so exciting. I never knew who I could trust. I read it in two sittings.

Anyone who loves psychological thrillers. People who want a stinking good story.

The plot. It's so clever. So, so clever. I loved how it made my mind work non-stop on trying to figure out the clues the author gives us. I absolutely love how none of the characters (except Libby) seemed particularly trustworthy. I didn't know where I was with any of the others, I don't think. Brilliant!

Read the sequel to this: 'The Family Remains.'

Breathless. In awe of just how clever this writer is. I embarked on a text marathon with my friend who has read both of these two books.

Lisa Jewell. This lady is at the top of this genre. Not only are her plots clever and her characters fantastic, but also she writes flawlessly.

It's brilliant!

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Created Jan 15, 2024 at 6:21am • Submit your own review...