Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from William Morrow via #Netgalley, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own.
A nerve-tingling and atmospheric thriller from master of suspense Nicci French about two families shattered by tragedy and the secrets that have been waiting decades to be revealed.
On the day of Alec Salter’s fiftieth birthday party, his wife, Charlotte, vanishes. Most of the small English village of Glensted is at the party for hours before anyone realizes she is missing. While Alec brushes off her disappearance, their four children—especially fifteen-year-old Etty—grow increasingly anxious as the cold winter hours become days and she doesn’t return. Then Etty and her friend Morgan find the body of Morgan’s father—and the Salters’ neighbor— Duncan Ackerley, floating in the river. The police conclude that Duncan and Charlotte were having an affair before he killed her and committed suicide.
Thirty years later, Morgan Ackerley returns to Glensted with his older brother to make a podcast based on their shared tragedy with the Salters. Alec, stricken with dementia, is entering an elder care facility while Etty helps put his affairs in order. But when the Ackerleys ask to interview the Salters, the entire town gets caught up in the unresolved cases.
Allegations fly, secrets come to light, and a suspicious fire leads to a murder. With the podcast making national news, London sends Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor to Glensted to take over the investigation. She will stop at nothing to uncover the truth as a new and terrifying picture of what really happened to Charlotte Salter and Duncan Ackerley emerges.
Review:
More than just a mystery, this book looks at family dynamics and the secrets that are kept, and how they domino and cause misunderstandings and resentment. Etty takes the responsibility of reporting her mother missing, and waiting for her to return, never believing she is dead. Her brother flees from their father as soon as he can, in a way that causes even more trauma to all. Their older brother meanwhile ends up taking over the family business when their father retires, marries and lives nearby. Etty has left and tried to make a life for herself, but is haunted by what is missing in her life and the unanswered questions. As they all come back together, secrets have to be faced, and as the truth about their mother, and their connections with the Salter family come to light, are their one set of dominos that influenced both families? As the mystery is solved, so do are the lies. It's a roller coaster read, and French nails family dysfunction! Don't miss this one!
About the Author:
Nicci French is the pseudonym of English wife-and-husband team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. Their acclaimed novels of psychological suspense have sold more than sixteen million copies around the world.
Comments
Post a Comment