Summer Lies Bleeding

by Nuala Casey

Four lives are about to come crashing together...

Devastated by the murder of his sister in Soho seven years ago, Mark Davis travels to London to carry out an act of violence that he believes will avenge her death.

PhD student Stella is returning to London with her partner Paula to visit a fertility clinic. But Stella is hiding a secret that could tear their lives apart.

Recovering alcoholic Seb has left his wild days behind him. As he helps his wife prepare to launch her restaurant in Soho, he feels that his life is finally back on track. But a chance encounter with a stranger brings back tragic memories and puts his family in serious danger.

Kerstin Engel is a brilliant but troubled research analyst. Haunted by the events of 7/7 when she narrowly escaped death, she has spent the last seven years carrying out a self-imposed penance. But an unseen enemy lies in wait and threatens to destroy her career and her mind.

As crowds gather in Soho to mark the restaurant launch, a terrifying sequence of events brings these characters together and the last days of summer to a shocking end.

418 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2014

About the author

Nuala Casey graduated from Durham University in 2001 and moved to London to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter. However, her experiences living in Soho, where she chronicled the comings and goings of the people around her, took her life in a different direction. She went on to work as a copywriter and was awarded an MA in Creative Writing.Her debut novel Soho, 4am was published by Quercus in 2013 and was described by the Huffington Post as 'the London Novel revived' and by the Psychogeographic Review as 'a welcome addition to the canon of London novels.' London and the voices of the city continue to provide inspiration for her writing. Her latest novel, Summer Lies Bleeding is out now (Quercus)and has been described by the Irish Examiner as depicting 'a London that is by turns gritty and glorious' and by Virginia Woolf's great-niece, the author Henrietta Garnett, as 'a remarkable translation of (Woolf's) The Years.' Through her novels Nuala has tackled conditions such as bulimia and OCD and hopes, through her writing, to raise awareness of issues that are often hidden from view.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a goodreads First Readers giveaway, but this doesn't change my opinion on the book and all thoughts on it are my own.

I don't really read books within this genre very often, I usually read YA but I really enjoyed this book!

It is based upon 4 different groups of people who have different backgrounds, and through events that occur how all of their lives end up intertwining. I found the different perspectives really interesting as it gave a good insight into their thoughts and how different people see the world due to their experiences.

I found it to be a fast paced books and there was suspense to how it was going to end after realising what the potential actions of the characters will be.

I'm going to pick up 'Soho, 4am' also by Casey as this is the book before 'Summer lies bleeding' and I would like to see how the characters lives developed to be what they are now.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes this sort of book, or even if you're just looking for a good fast paced book!

[Ben Warden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings back a number of the Characters from Casey's first book 'Soho 4am'. While this in itself makes it an interesting book for anyone who read the first, it is a self contained novel that could be read on its own and wouldn't loose any of its impact for doing so. The story, style and level of thrill are a good jump on from Soho 4am, which itself was an excellent read and the one I'd suggest you start with if you're yet to read one of Casey's novels.

The style is poetic and flowing, but it has a edge that will lock you in and both stories are certainly not all sunshine. The thing I loved most about this book was the characterisation. By the last page I knew i was going to miss these characters and I desperately wanted to know more about there lives, to be able to give them a ring and ask how things were going. Don't miss this book and read both if you have the chance.

[Linda Guest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book to review for Goodreads and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The prose are delightful, the descriptive passages really evoke the places and people that are central to the story. The early part of the book follows the lives of four separate people and as the story develops more is revealed about how the character’s lives have intersected in the past. It is obvious that they will all play a part in the final conclusion and they do, but not in the way the reader might have expected. It is always a pleasure to find a novel set in Britain rather than America. I would not describe this a thriller in the conventional sense of the word but more as a black drama where the tension builds towards the explosive ending.

[Paula Sealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Lies Bleeding is an intelligently written story following four individuals who are about to come together in an extraordinary way. Full of twists and turns, I found myself fully immersed in the characters lives and was eager to reach the conclusion to see how it would all end.

You can tell a lot of thought went into rounding out each character, they all felt believable, and although not an endearing character as such, I found deeply troubled Kerstin especially well written. Likewise, the settings are beautifully descriptive, planting you right in the area.

I'd highly recommend this book if you are looking for a dark tale and congratulate Nuala Casey on such a good read.

*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.

[Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*got this book for free through goodreads first reads!*

I was pleasantly suprised with this book. All the little details and anecdotes of real-life London made it all the more realistic and easier to picture in my head as I was reading it, and references to things like 7/7 made it feel slightly sinister.
Depicted the city very well.
The different perspectives make you think that no one is necessarily 'good' or 'bad', but all have their own unique story that gives reason to their actions. Suspenseful with intriguing characters.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read. I thought the book was okay, however I found it difficult to relate to some of the characters. I liked the concept of the story, with the four main characters stories interconnecting with each other. I would probably try another book by this author in the future.

< I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway >

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, fast read.
Enjoyed the twists and turns of different characters interlinking.
May try the other book by this author

[A Book Lovers Diary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer Lies Bleeding was a bit of a slow starter for me. Overall, I enjoyed the book, however, it was a bit slow in places. Some bits of the book, especially the last couple of chapters were really good, these good bits kept me going! I am not the type of person not to finish a book, so having the good bits that kept me reading and good amount of time made the book really! And the end is completely unpredictable - I did not see it coming at all and was not what I had imagined!

[Ann Tonks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an arbitrary library choice and really wasn't sure what I was getting into. It's a series of linked stories that might be a thriller, might be a murder mystery, might be about contemporary relationships....and it turns out to be about all of these things. The characterisations is excellent with each person drawn with sympathy and skill.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure on how I feel about this book. I felt it was really slow. For me it didn't become interesting until 200 and something pages in.
It was interesting to see how all the characters were going to come together but again this wasn't until quite late in the book.

[Karen Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book once I’d sorted all the different characters out .

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*copy rec'd from Goodreads*

I enjoyed this book. Admittedly, I thought during the first couple of chapters that it was only okay but then Kerstin came into the story & for some reason her character particularly piqued my interest & after that point I was eager to continue reading. I liked the way the four character's lives/tales were entwined without them really being aware of the fact & how their different perspectives were shown. From the cover blurb, you already know that the four characters are going to come together in some form of tragedy & this unfolds at a steady pass with the sense of foreboding building until reaching the inevitable climax...which wasn't altogether the one I was expecting! The writing style reminded me very much of Ruth Rendell although this tale wasn't as dark.

Writing this review a few days after finishing the book, there's a few points that I feel were left unexplained up but while I would like to discuss them I'm wary of spoilers!

All-in-all a good read & I would be happy to read more by this author.

[Joe Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, despite it taking a while for the story to pick up. By the end I was turning the pages quickly, eager to see what was going to happen next. It's a very clever style to have 4 characters meet, what drives the story is the relationship with these strangers. I did feel that the descriptions and the imagery was very cliche and basic and that took a lot away from the story as I don't like that style, it made it seem amateur. However it was a nice easy read

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book! Just everything about it was amazing, it's well written, the plot lines are all interesting, the way all the characters tie together is so beautifully woven I just can't even believe it! It really is amazing, everyone should read it, it's great fun and really gives an insight into London life

[Rachel Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four very different people converge on the launch party for a new restaurant in Soho. Their motives for being there range from the accidental to the sinister. This is a solid, character-led story with evocative descriptions of London. One criticism: it could have done with a better copy edit. However, this is an author to watch out for.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great characterisation, especially Kirsten, the OCD, troubled, German city trader. Well written story of 4 people struggling through various crisis in their lives. Themes of grief, PTSD, parenthood, relationships breaking down, mental illness and revenge.