Dark Mirrors

by Siobhain Bunni

Esmée Myers, once an impassioned woman, is living a life where her only excitement is the laundry and the children. Her relationship with her husband leaves a lot to be desired, but she is content to focus on providing emotional stability and security for her two young children. For her husband, Philip, she is no more than a housekeeper, childminder and cleaner, easy to betray but not so easy to fool . . . When Esmée becomes convinced that Philip is having an affair, she secretly plans to leave him and set up a new home with the children. Finally making the break, she feels she can look forward to a bright and fulfilling future. Then Philip disappears without trace, leaving only his car standing on a clifftop. Though no body is found, the police deduce he has committed suicide. Esmée, however, thinks otherwise. What begins as a carefully planned escape from a maudlin and tedious relationship descends into something much darker as layer by layer Esmée strips back the last ten years of her life with a man it turns out she never really knew.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2013

About the author

Born in December 1968, Siobháin is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for storytelling. Her debut ovel, Dark Mirrors was published in 2014 to critical acclaim. Her second, Blood and Water came 2 years after and the third, Deadly Blind in 2018. Siobháin lives in Dublin, Ireland with her 3 children and Golden Retriever, Milo.

Reviews

[Selene · Rating 2 out of 5]

After being a housewife for eight years, thirty-two year-old Esmée is so fed up with her husband's suspected infidelity and sexless marriage that she packs up her kids and moves away. When she returns to the home they once shared to confront her husband, he callously tosses her out without any remorse or concern for injuring her. The story then becomes a bit twisty when Esmée discovers an unlikely connection between her husband and someone she least expects, but the suspense level remained low and I gradually lost interest in the characters as well as the outcome of the story.

This was just an okay read for me but would be a great story for chick lit and women's fiction readers.

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me longer than usual to finish this book. A bit far fetched and not a great storyline but it's an easy and light read.

[Grainne Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this book 3.5 stars if I could as I enjoyed it. A good summer read with an unusual story line even if it did stretch credulity at times - but maybe that's the point of fiction!

[Celeste Ní raois · Rating 4 out of 5]

A missing husband........and a journey towards the truth about a man she never knew

When the story opens, we meet Esmée Meyers whom is married and has 2 children. Her relationship with her husband Philip leaves alot to be desired. To him, Esmée is no more than a housekeeper, childminder and cleaner. Esmée is convinced that her husband is having an affair she plans to leave him but then he disappears without a trace leaving his car on a clifftop. No body is found but the police conclude he's committed suicide but Esmée thinks otherwise. Has he really disappeared off the face of the earth or is there something more sinister and much darker to all of this?

I really liked this novel, it is very well written in terms of suspense and it had me gripped at the start, however I felt it dipped slightly in the middle but once it picked up again, I couldn't put it down or turn the pages fast enough, it was full of twists and turns. I would recommend this if you're looking for a good thriller and it's set in Ireland. This is Siobhán's first novel and I look forward to reading more of the authors work.

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ooof. By the numbers thriller which really did very little for me. Didn't seem to have any substance or style, almost paint by numbers in very broad strokes. Characters were all over the place and the twist... ugh.

[Mary Grant · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful!

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very average, no real depth and as a book snob, no real style of writing.

[Claire Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable, but a bit far fetched.

[Patricia Power · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book was ok found the plot quite weak and far fetched but it is ok as a quick read