Well this story was so much more than I expected, the war journalist not a token character to make a difference like I suspected, but someone who really felt like they’d seen and done all those terrifying things that it is easier to shy away from when it comes on the news.
When Kate Rafter returns to Hearne Bay following the death of her mother she is collected from the train station by her brother-in-law Paul. It is clear from the outset that there is trouble between Kate and her younger sister Sally and even when we are forced to confront Kate’s version of events, there are questions as to the real cause.
I’m often wary of crime books that strongly have mental illness at the very centre of their tale, not because I’m in any doubt of the awfulness of the condition but because I harbour slight suspicions as to the author’s motives – do they chose to portray someone this way to be politically correct? Or to capture readers who suffer similarly? Perhaps it has been chosen to excuse the actions of a character to make the unbelievable, less absurd? Not so in this book. Yes Kate is suffering from the effects of all that she has witnessed and she hears voices, sees hallucinations and takes strong tablets to help her sleep, but, and this is crucial for me to keep faith, she is also strong, she takes herself to task, unwilling to play the victim, she wants to return to work. So although we have a reason to doubt her visions, as I got to know more about her, all that she sees and hears has echoes in the war-zones she recently left, it all felt authentic.
What is equally interesting is that we follow Kate in a police station over the course of her detention for some unknown crime. She is guarded, trying not to provide ammunition to the police but we are as unsure of her motive as her crime. In between the interviews she narrates her tale, going back to the weeks leading up to her arrest. Because I knew some of this background and her need to present her most sane self to the police this also gave me a clue as to the strength of this woman, this is no flaky airhead playing at being a war-zone journalist, imagining she’s been to Syria, this is someone who has seen things we don’t even want to imagine.
Most of the book is narrated by Kate but we get to see another perspective through her alcoholic sister’s eyes. Sally always felt her mother preferred clever Kate who succeeded at everything and had moved away and left them, including her mother who had been shattered by the death of their brother when he was just a toddler. This is just one of the shadowy truths that litter this book. We know David died, but how and why isn’t instantly apparent, neither is the disappearance of Hannah, Sally’s daughter.
With many themes of a distressing nature this book could easily have turned into a complete misery fest but it is far too clever for that. Although there is plenty to despair about, some of it far too distressing to deeply contemplate, there is also a plot with a definite ending which lifts this head and shoulders above the competition. I loved the way that the themes reappear throughout the story and loop back to re-examine the truths based upon updated information whilst never labouring the point.
In short, this book was so good, not always an easy read but an informative one, and yet the author never preaches, she is telling a story which has everything you’d expect from a good mystery, in fact there are several mysteries all of which are revealed with an understated style which will make you gasp.
Thank you to Penguin who allowed me to read a copy prior to the publication date of tomorrow. This review is my unbiased thanks to them.
Published UK: 1 November 2016
Publisher: Penguin
No of Pages: 400
Genre: Crime Fiction
Amazon UK
Amazon US
I’m reading this in a few days…I’m so intrigued with all that’s been said :O
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I tried desperately hard not to give anything at all away Annie – I do hope you love it as much as I did 🙂
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You didn’t! 😀 Spoiler-freeeeee!
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🙂 x
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Enjoyed your review. I’ve added this one to my TBR list. Happy Reading!
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Happy reading to you too – I’m so pleased that you’ve added this to your TBR, I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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My Sister’s Bones looks intriguing!
With a November birthday and Christmas coming I get loads of Amazon vouchers so this goes on the list!
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Oh lucky you – I always get so much pleasure deciding how to spend my vouchers 🙂 I highly recommend this one
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Your point on the choice of the author to portray mental illness in their books is very interesting, I had not thought of it this way. I am glad this time it worked and the author did not just use it as an excuse to have readers accept unbelievable actions more easily. I’m intrigued now! I need to add another one to my wishlist thanks to you! 🙂 xx
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I decided to plonk a controversial statement into this review because I’m a sceptical by nature haha. I hope you enjoy this one if you get around to reading it – I think it is definitely worth reading.
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I nominated you for The New York Times ‘By the Book’ tag. I would love to see your answers! Here is the link: https://thebookravenblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/the-new-york-times-by-the-book-tag/
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Thank you 🙂
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It sounds like a powerful sort of book, Cleo. And those stories, where we see the characters revealed and their historied revealed layer by layer, can be especially absorbing. Glad you enjoyed this so well.
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It is incredibly powerful Margot and it covers a lot of issues but fortunately the author never forgot that she was telling a story – a great debut.
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I don’t think I’ve heard one bad thing about this book yet. Sounds good. Great review!
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I was pleasantly surprised by this one as I really wasn’t sure what to expect – which somehow made it even better, if that makes sense?
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It does, completely.
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Another book that I want to read! I love a good mystery, and the mental health issues are fascinating to me, although they often make the narrator seem unreliable. But I love getting inside their thoughts.
Thanks for sharing.
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This is definitely one of the better books that deal with mental illness – sadly I think you have a little wait for this one in the US
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Wonderful review! I come away with a great understanding of the writer’s style and the plot without spoilers, so yes, I’m putting this on my to-look-for list now! Thanks so much; it sounds intriguing with a capital ” I ” !
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Thank you Rita, that’s very kind. Interesting and intriguing with spades – I hope you enjoy it if you ever find each other 🙂
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*shakes head happily and walks away* 😉
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Not for you? 😏
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I have been waiting for your review. I am definitely adding to my wishlislt, the execution of this sounds perfect with so much going on.
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Thank you Marce – you certainly won’t be bored reading this!
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Hi Cleo,
This sounds like a family torn apart by jealousy, long hidden secrets and highly strung emotions which are barely controlled.
I must admit that I don’t really know how some of the war and foreign correspondents, we see on our television screens night after night, ever have a moment of innner peace, after the sights and sounds they have witnessed.
I enjoyed your astute insight into the machinations of this family, but as ever, I have to try and reconcile reviews with the book’s premise, so I always end up by showing myself ‘spoilers’.
I’ll keep this book in reserve for now, as I’m not really sure it is one I want to read just yet 🙂
Yvonne
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It is about a family which is the great part and there is much I have left unsaid to avoid spoilers at all but no book suits everyone 🙂
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I am intrigued after reading this review.
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It was far more than I expected and far more intelligent too, although there are plenty of thrills, they don’t seem to be cheap.
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