This book is a great thrill of a ride. Right up until the end, I had no idea who was guilty, or why.

Jane Martello is tasked with renovating the home where she spent a lot of her childhood years, The Stead. Her family and the Martellos were always close and, indeed, she married on of the sons of the family, Claude. Although they are now going through a divorce, she is an architect, and she is adding to The Stead’s buildings. However, while digging underneath where the family barbecue is built into the ground, the skeleton of her childhood best friend, Natalie Martello, is found.

Jane needs to make sense of this. Natalie went missing when they were about sixteen, but what does she really remember about that time? Jane has trouble getting things straight in her own mind, so she begins to see a psychiatrist who specialises in repressed memories. And then, Jane remembers. She recalls witnessing the murder. Natalie’s own father, Alan, is the culprit. When accused, he confesses.

But why does it feel like there is something Jane isn’t seeing? Why does she find it so hard to believe Alan is responsible? Even though she can see him doing it, she still finds it hard to reconcile. So, she consults another expert in memory and discovers it is possible to use hypnosis to plant memories into people’s minds. But was this one planted? And, if so, who does that mean Natalie’s real murderer is?

This book is filled with twists and turns. It kept me guessing until the end. Nicci French is one of my favourite writers in this genre. This is one of their earlier books, but one I hadn’t read before. It shows why I love this husband and wife writing team so much. They are masters are carefully crafting mysteries and stories. I loved it.

People who love twisty psychological thrillers. The plotting is fantastic, and the characters are all well defined. It's a great thrill of a ride.

Jane. She is a great character. I loved the way I didn't know who to trust. Everyone seemed a little dangerous at some point. And I didn't guess. what actually happened until the end.

In general, the Martello family are not particularly likeable.

Read another Nicci French.

Excited. Apprehensive. Anticipatory.

Nicci French is a husband and wife writing team: Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. They complement each other wonderfully and are among the best in their genre (in my opinion, anyway).

It's clever and exciting.

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Created Dec 30, 2021 at 6:59am • Submit your own review...