In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Nora is surprised to be invited to Clare's hen weekend but agrees with her friend Nina that they'll go. Nora walked out of school and away from her boyfriend James ten years ago, that was also the last time she saw Clare. They had been best friends throughout their school years so what happened? As the story progresses in the isolated house in the woods we find out why.

 

Other characters attending the weekend away are Tom who works in the theatre, Melanie who is away from her baby for the first time and Clare's obsessive best friend Flo.

 

I thought this was a good, fast paced psychological thriller and for most of it I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. I found the ending was predictable though, I'd worked it out earlier and it wasn't the big shock I'd been hoping for. Worth a read if you like psychological thrillers and I'll look out for future novels by this author.

 

Thank you to Harvill Secker for my review copy. 

 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

 

Publication date: 30th July 2015

 

June Roundup

Here is a list of the books I read in June:

 

A Thorn Among the Lilies by Michael Hiebert - review

 

Finders Keepers by Stephen King

 

First One Missing by Tammy Cohen - review 

 

Mockingbird Songs by R.J. Ellory

 

The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon - review 

 

The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer

 

The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly - review

 

 

 

The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly

Roz is a single parent to her 9 year old son George since splitting up from her husband Winston. She works full time as a physiotherapist to try and make ends meet and clear some debts. When her financial situation worsens, she is forced to take up an offer. A married man she knows wants her to spend the night with him for money, no strings attached. She has never done anything like this before but can see no other quick alternative to keeping a roof over her and George's heads. Obviously this doesn't turn out to be as simple as she'd hoped and soon her life is getting out of control.

This is the third of Paula Daly's novels I've read, they're all excellent but I think this one is her best yet. It's a real page turner so please don't start reading this on a day you have plans, they won't come to fruition until you've finished this book.

Thanks to Transworld Publishers & Netgalley for my copy.

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Publication date: 27th August 2015

My reviews of other Paula Daly novels:

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? 

Keep Your Friends Close 

 

 

Book Beginnings on Fridays - The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and as she says the idea of this meme is for you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. There's a linky list on the website and you can use #BookBeginnings on Twitter.

 

My book beginning this week is The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer.

 

I dream about Carmel often. In my dreams she's always walking backwards.

 

  

 

Book Description:

 

She is the missing girl. But she doesn't know she's lost.
 

Carmel Wakeford becomes separated from her mother at a local children's festival, and is found by a man who claims to be her estranged grandfather. He tells her that her mother has had an accident and that she is to live with him for now. As days become weeks with her new family, 8-year-old Carmel realises that this man believes she has a special gift...
While her mother desperately tries to find her, Carmel embarks on an extraordinary journey, one that will make her question who she is - and who she might become.

  

The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon

 

Sixteen year old Helen doesn't have any friends from school to spend the summer holidays with. Her parents have split up, her Mum moved away and Helen lives with just her Dad who is busy working on his boat. When the Dover family move in next door they seem exciting to Helen and provide a welcome distraction from her loneliness. But something happens during that summer, something that changes everything.

This is a very impressive debut novel and I loved all the characters. The story is mainly set during 1983 with a few chapters in the present day.

Thank you to Transworld Publishers Netgalley for my review copy.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Publication date: 13th August 2015

 

 

 

 

Book Description:

 

One day she was there . . .

and the next day, the day after the fire, she was gone.

In the summer of 1983, when Helen is sixteen, Victoria Dover and her eccentric family move in next door, at once making her lonely world a more thrilling place. But the summer ends with a terrible tragedy, and everyone involved – her father and the entire Dover family – simply disappears.

Then one day, thirty years later, Victoria comes back.

A suspenseful, spell-binding coming-of-age story about young friendship, damaged families and how one simple action on a long, sultry summer can echo through the years. Perfect for fans of Louise Doughty's Apple Tree Yard, Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Helen Dunmore's The Lie.  

Mailbox Monday

 

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It was created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books but now has a permanent home here

 

Three for me this week, all review books:

 

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware 

 

Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back.
In a dark, dark wood there was a dark, dark house
Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her?
And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room
But something goes wrong. Very wrong.
And in the dark, dark room…
Some things can’t stay secret for ever.

 

The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon 

 

One day she was there . . .

and the next day, the day after the fire, she was gone.

In the summer of 1983, when Helen is sixteen, Victoria Dover and her eccentric family move in next door, at once making her lonely world a more thrilling place. But the summer ends with a terrible tragedy, and everyone involved – her father and the entire Dover family – simply disappears.
Then one day, thirty years later, Victoria comes back.

The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly

 

The Mistake I Made is the latest page-turner from one of the England’s most captivating new thriller writers. In her provocative and riveting third novel, Paula Daly focuses her masterful eye for psychological suspense and family drama on an indecent proposal that has fatal repercussions.

Single mother Roz has reached breaking-point. After the dissolution of her marriage, Roz’s business has gone under, debts are racking up, the rent is late (again), and she's struggling to provide for her nine-year-old son, who is starting to misbehave in school. Roz is in trouble. Real trouble.

When Roz returns home from work one day and finds an eviction notice, she knows that it’s time for action—she has two weeks to find a solution otherwise they will be kicked out of their home. Increasingly desperate, Roz doesn’t know where to turn. Then the perfect opportunity presents itself. At her sister’s fortieth birthday party, Roz meets Scott Elias—wealthy, powerful, and very married. But the impression Roz leaves on him is indelible. He tracks her down and makes Roz an offer to spend the night with him—for money. He wants no-strings-attached intimacy and can guarantee total discretion. Could it be as simple as it sounds? With that kind of cash, Roz could clear her debts and get her life back on track. But as the situation spirals out of her control, Roz is forced to do things she never thought herself capable of. Can she ever set things right again?


 

 

 

 

Book Beginnings on Fridays - The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and as she says the idea of this meme is for you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. There's a linky list on the website and you can use #BookBeginnings on Twitter.

 

This week my book beginning is The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon. It's her debut novel and is published on 13th August in paperback by Black Swan and ebook/kindle by Transworld.

 

So much blue. From where she sat at the very back of the ferry, this was all Alice could see. The island had changed from a place to a shape to the faintest blur and now it was gone, without leaving a trace. She wanted to take off, to dive into the sea and make her way back. Jakob was out there.

 

 

Book Description:

 

One day she was there . . .

and the next day, the day after the fire, she was gone.

In the summer of 1983, when Helen is sixteen, Victoria Dover and her eccentric family move in next door, at once making her lonely world a more thrilling place. But the summer ends with a terrible tragedy, and everyone involved – her father and the entire Dover family – simply disappears.

Then one day, thirty years later, Victoria comes back.

A suspenseful, spell-binding coming-of-age story about young friendship, damaged families and how one simple action on a long, sultry summer can echo through the years. Perfect for fans of Louise Doughty's Apple Tree Yard, Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Helen Dunmore's The Lie.