Themes:
Secrets, deception, betrayal, modern living, property fraud, blackmail, crime, marriage, adultery and family.
Synopsis:
In the London suburbs a family are moving into their new house on Trinity Avenue which they've just brought.
When Fi Lawson returns from a weekend away to see people moving in to her house, she's utterly shocked and confused. This house belongs to Fi, her husband Bram and their two children - and it was never up for sale, how can it possibly be sold? Who are these people? And where is Bram?
Thoughts:
This book was insane in the best possible way. Full of suspense from the first page, I was addicted. It has a unique and interesting plot, although it's obvious that Bram has something to do with the house being sold there are so many questions around it which are only answered through the page-turning. Every reveal is so perfectly timed and well-structured, I wasn't bored for an instant knowing the next 'oh my god' moment is likely just around the corner.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the way it's written. The story is told dual perspective, Fi's side is told through her story-telling on a famous crime podcast called 'The Victim' and Bram's side is told through a (very lengthy) suicide note-turned confession. The rolling narrative makes it easy to read and the segments are short and precise. Fi and Bram both express their feelings and actions that lead them to the present situation so there's a good background build-up. At first you might think some parts are unnecessary but trust me, every little detail ties up. I also really liked the Tweets feature at the end of Fi's podcast episodes, where other listeners had posted their thoughts. They was really fun to read and had me taking even more alternatives into consideration.
There are few characters which I always appreciate because I can relate to them so much better. I sympathised with Fi from the beginning, with all the hard-work and devotion she put into making her home I was absolutely devastated for her. Bram on the other hand, is the villain you love to hate, but I was surprised by how my opinion on him changed throughout the course of the book as I learnt more about him. In the present day Fi and Bram are separated, they're trying to co-exist for the sake of their boys so alongside the property crisis there's a whole lot of family drama too. They're both clearly very passionate parents and care deeply about their children's future (which to no surprise, includes a stable living place!) I thought the 'bird's nest' approach to keeping the family together was quite creative and interesting - I've never come across it before.
This book is a fresh direction on crime-fiction, full of unexpected twists and many secrets right until the last sentence. It's terrifying to think how sometimes good people can do horrible things and equally scary was the main crime committed and how it can easily happen to anyone! A really clever story which made me think about life in general and no matter how well you think you know a person, you never really do. I think the end was perfect and will definitely be reading more by Louise Candlish.
For fans of 'Gone Girl' and 'the Silent Patient' I think you'd love this!
Rating:
5/5
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