Ebook: 301 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thriller,
Publisher: Joffe Books, 19th February 2025
Source: NetGalley
First Sentences: Prologue: It was just a normal day. Another boring, mundane day in our boring, mundane lives.
Review Quote: ‘A tense, pacy rollercoaster of a read, full of suspense, twists and dark intrigue. I was furiously turning the pages until the heart-stopping conclusion.’ A. A. CHAUDHURI, bestselling author
My Opinion:
This is the second book I have read by Lisa Hall, having been previously been introduced to her writing by a Book Club Choice. I was apprehensive about doing so as I found the previous novel repetitive, unfortunately so was this one at times, but it did not spoil my enjoyment.
Claire has been happily married or so she thought to Tom for eight years. Then suddenly he just disappears without trace leaving her alone with their daughter wondering why. Her search for him is told by her but interspersed with chapters from an unknown person, which certainly adds to the intrigue. Claire soon discovers she does not know her husband all, as shocking discoveries unfold throughout the novel.
A very quick read for me, a contemporary psychological thriller full of lies and surprising twists. Far fetched maybe at times but then I read for escapism so went with the flow.
With thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Précis Courtesy of Amazon:
Was my marriage always built on lies? How could everything unravel so quickly?
My life wasn’t perfect — school runs, late meetings, family dinners — But we were happy.
Then a single Facebook post destroys it all: ‘PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP ME? HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN? I am Lydia French. This is my husband and child — they have been missing for several months and I am desperate to find them.’
I look at the photo of a man and a little girl, smiling in the sun, and freeze. They’re not Lydia French’s husband and child. They’re mine.
I get a call from the school. Tom hasn’t picked up our daughter. He’s not answering his phone. His boss says he didn’t show up for work.
Nothing makes sense. Panic claws my chest as I piece together the fragments of my shattered reality.
The man I’ve lived with for the past eight years, the man I’ve made a home, a family, a life with, isn’t who I thought he was at all. The man I married has been lying to me . . . about everything.
Previous Review: The Perfect Couple
Author Profile:
Courtesy of Author Website
Lisa loves words, reading and everything there is to love about books. She has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl – either that or a librarian - and after years of talking about it, was finally brave enough to put pen to paper (and let people actually read it). Lisa lives in a small village in Kent, surrounded by her towering TBR pile, a rather large brood of children, dogs, chickens and ponies and her long-suffering husband. She is also rather partial to eating cheese and drinking wine. (Taken from Author Website)
Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Official Author Website Instagram - Lisa Hall Author Facebook Profile
