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The Confession of Stella Moon
A timely and intelligent book' - AL Kennedy. 1977: A killer is released from prison and returns ‘home’ – a decaying, deserted boarding house choked with weeds and foreboding. Memories of strange rituals, gruesome secrets and shame hang heavy in the air, exerting a brooding power over young Stella Moon. She is eager to restart her life, but first she must confront the ghosts of her macabre family history and her own shocking crime. Guilt, paranoia and manipulation have woven a tangled web. All is ambiguous. What truth and what lies are behind the chilling confession of Stella Moon?
- GenresCrime
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2016
3 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Day
4 books5 followersShelley Day was born in the North of England and lives in Scotland, but since Brexit has been based in Paris. Formerly a litigation lawyer, then an academic psychologist, and finally a Research Professor, Shelley now writes fiction. Her short stories and novels have won awards including the prestigious Edge Hill Prize for the finest collection of short stories published in UK and Ireland. Her academic work is published under the name Shelley Day Sclater. Shelley is currently working on a memoir of sorts, and a new collection of short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 20, 2016
A big thanks to the author and Contraband for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Set in Newcastle in the late 1970’s, this book is haunting and dark but also very intriguing. Loss; abandonment; family secrets; relationships; mental health and the search for truth are just a few of the themes you can find in this debut novel.
The pace of the story was set perfectly with an even build up to the revelations that followed. And I absolutely LOVE the tagline of this book: #BecauseDarkSecretsDontDecompose – brilliant!
In terms of characters, we of course have the main character: Stella Moon. Stella fascinated me. She is vulnerable, but not weak. She could be emotional but emotionless. She was on a journey to discover a truth and drew me right in. I felt at times I just wanted to grab her shoulders, shake her and scream: Really Stella!? Come on! Especially when it came to Frank Fanshaw. I feel dirty just typing his name. I instantly disliked him. Basically his character just made my skin crawl from the get go. Stella’s mother, Muriel and her Nan also intrigued me. Back in the days when this story was set, families kept secrets – and this family was no exception- I mean OMFG! Talk about disturbed! Now Gareth Davies – what-the-actual-hell?! He is Stella’s Probation Officer. Being a Probation Officer myself, I took a particular interest in Gareth and in the main, I wanted to slap him silly! Thank god Probation practice has changed, although I did like the way he felt protective of Stella – it just was a little too much! #BackOffGareth
Set in Newcastle in the late 1970’s, this book is haunting and dark but also very intriguing. Loss; abandonment; family secrets; relationships; mental health and the search for truth are just a few of the themes you can find in this debut novel.
The pace of the story was set perfectly with an even build up to the revelations that followed. And I absolutely LOVE the tagline of this book: #BecauseDarkSecretsDontDecompose – brilliant!
In terms of characters, we of course have the main character: Stella Moon. Stella fascinated me. She is vulnerable, but not weak. She could be emotional but emotionless. She was on a journey to discover a truth and drew me right in. I felt at times I just wanted to grab her shoulders, shake her and scream: Really Stella!? Come on! Especially when it came to Frank Fanshaw. I feel dirty just typing his name. I instantly disliked him. Basically his character just made my skin crawl from the get go. Stella’s mother, Muriel and her Nan also intrigued me. Back in the days when this story was set, families kept secrets – and this family was no exception- I mean OMFG! Talk about disturbed! Now Gareth Davies – what-the-actual-hell?! He is Stella’s Probation Officer. Being a Probation Officer myself, I took a particular interest in Gareth and in the main, I wanted to slap him silly! Thank god Probation practice has changed, although I did like the way he felt protective of Stella – it just was a little too much! #BackOffGareth
November 10, 2016
This fine novel is labelled with the crime tag, but it is much more than that. This is the story of a young girl with a troubled background made. It is about betrayal and deceit and the pain of unconditional love of a daughter for her mother. And although the plot is gripping and tense the overall novel made me feel sad. An unusual read.
February 27, 2020
My library book club chose this as our February read and I’m so pleased that they did because it was excellent.
Stella Moon is on her way home to Newcastle in the late 1970’s having finished serving a seven years sentence in prison for killing her mother. She wants to start a new life but the past is keeping her still, beckoning her to revisit the long forgotten memories that are too terrible to remember.
This is a book about dark family history and soul destroying secrets but ultimately, it’s about courage and hope and truth. Shelley Day has written a book that will stay with me for a long time and I want to thank her for that. Bravo Ms Day.
Stella Moon is on her way home to Newcastle in the late 1970’s having finished serving a seven years sentence in prison for killing her mother. She wants to start a new life but the past is keeping her still, beckoning her to revisit the long forgotten memories that are too terrible to remember.
This is a book about dark family history and soul destroying secrets but ultimately, it’s about courage and hope and truth. Shelley Day has written a book that will stay with me for a long time and I want to thank her for that. Bravo Ms Day.
February 19, 2017
I’ve read all sorts of books but never one like The Confession Of Stella Moon. Shelley Day really sets the scene. You can taste and smell your surroundings. The chapters set in the boarding house were creepy and unnerving. I had to stop reading the book at the night because it gave me the jitters. But I couldn’t stop reading. A bit like Gareth and his attachment to Stella, she had me too under her spell. With a multitude of topics exhausted in the book you would think it would because complicated but no, it is so well written that you can keep up with ease.
Stella Moon as a character is strange, dangerous and fragile. I would have loved to hear more from and about Granny Ruby. Shelley Day did say during her talk if I recall correctly that Granny Ruby’s point of view was removed during the editing process.
I would love to see a movie of this book and would be curious to know who people would like to play the roles.
If you would like a book with a soul and a creepy undertone then buy The Confessions Of Stella Moon, you will not be disappointed.
You can see my full review here ~ https://lovebooksgroupblog.wordpress....
Stella Moon as a character is strange, dangerous and fragile. I would have loved to hear more from and about Granny Ruby. Shelley Day did say during her talk if I recall correctly that Granny Ruby’s point of view was removed during the editing process.
I would love to see a movie of this book and would be curious to know who people would like to play the roles.
If you would like a book with a soul and a creepy undertone then buy The Confessions Of Stella Moon, you will not be disappointed.
You can see my full review here ~ https://lovebooksgroupblog.wordpress....
June 15, 2017
Twenty-five year old Stella Moon has just been released from prison. It's 1977 and she has served 7 years for the murder of her mother. With nowhere to go, Stella Moon is compelled to return to her family home - a compulsion that is driven by more than just a need for somewhere to stay. It becomes clear that home was not a happy place for Stella and what follows is a dark and macabre tale of secrets, lies and manipulation.
I have read and reviewed some dark books in my time but "The Confession of Stella Moon" takes dark and dysfunctional to a whole new level! Stella Moon, the main character is an enigma, there is something so very vulnerable and troubled about her but there is also a brutal rawness about her character that made me want to reach out to her yet recoil from her at the same time. As her story unfolds and the memories come tumbling out we meet her mother Muriel and her grandmother, Ruby who both sent shivers up and down my spine. As their role in Stella's life was portrayed it became clear that Stella had been the victim of manipulative and damaged role models throughout her childhood. Frank Fenshaw, a lodger in Stella's home as a child - let's just say my skin crawled with that man. Gareth Davies is Stella's Probation Officer and what a bloody cretin he turned out to be! I swithered between feeling sorry for him being out his depth in the role he had chosen to wanting to slap him for becoming just another manipulator on Stella's life! Shelley Day has done a wonderful job in creating a cast of characters so dysfunctional that even Jeremy Kyle would reject them from his show!
"The Confession of Stella Moon" paints and a dark and bleak picture of 1970s Newcastle and the North East; such was the excellent portrayal I could see the words play out on a screen inside my head! I'd be intrigued to see this book adapted to our TV screens indeed!
Shelley Day gives us matricide, murdered babies, mental health and manipulation all wrapped up into a gruesome package. Readers may recoil at some scenes but it is not a "shock horror" type of read. It is a heart-wrenching, emotionally and intelligently written novel that will see Stella Moon creep inside your head long after the last page is turned!
I have read and reviewed some dark books in my time but "The Confession of Stella Moon" takes dark and dysfunctional to a whole new level! Stella Moon, the main character is an enigma, there is something so very vulnerable and troubled about her but there is also a brutal rawness about her character that made me want to reach out to her yet recoil from her at the same time. As her story unfolds and the memories come tumbling out we meet her mother Muriel and her grandmother, Ruby who both sent shivers up and down my spine. As their role in Stella's life was portrayed it became clear that Stella had been the victim of manipulative and damaged role models throughout her childhood. Frank Fenshaw, a lodger in Stella's home as a child - let's just say my skin crawled with that man. Gareth Davies is Stella's Probation Officer and what a bloody cretin he turned out to be! I swithered between feeling sorry for him being out his depth in the role he had chosen to wanting to slap him for becoming just another manipulator on Stella's life! Shelley Day has done a wonderful job in creating a cast of characters so dysfunctional that even Jeremy Kyle would reject them from his show!
"The Confession of Stella Moon" paints and a dark and bleak picture of 1970s Newcastle and the North East; such was the excellent portrayal I could see the words play out on a screen inside my head! I'd be intrigued to see this book adapted to our TV screens indeed!
Shelley Day gives us matricide, murdered babies, mental health and manipulation all wrapped up into a gruesome package. Readers may recoil at some scenes but it is not a "shock horror" type of read. It is a heart-wrenching, emotionally and intelligently written novel that will see Stella Moon creep inside your head long after the last page is turned!
July 10, 2016
This book begins with the Stella Moon's confession to the police that she killed her mother. So we know from the beginning who killed Muriel and how, but we don't know why. Even Stella doesn't really know why as she has gaps in her memory. In this dark story, Shelley Day takes us back to the boarding house where Stella was brought up and starts to reveal all that has happened leading up to the murder of her mother.
Shelley has brilliantly created a really dark and foreboding atmosphere throughout the book from the old boarding house itself, to sleazy Frank, to the taxidermy of Stella's mother. As Stella gradually finds out about her past and the secrets concealed in that creepy old house, I could quite understand why she had blanked out so many of the awful memories. Trepidation pervades the storyline making the reader feel very uneasy throughout. Stella has not been surrounded by the love and care she should have expected from her family. Her mother seems to have been really quite a disturbed person and rejected her daughter leaving her open to abuse by others who should also have been caring for her.
Stella is a very intriguing character who seems to draw people to her. Gareth her probation officer is both fascinated but also slightly repelled by her. She has made a good friend in prison in Marcia, her support worker and it was good to see that Stella had at least one person who wanted her to go on to succeed in life. Well she had more than one, as I wanted her to have the chance to make a new start too. She deserved it after all she had been through.
This is a very intelligent debut novel, dark and brooding but very compelling. I'm looking forward to reading what Shelley writes next.
Shelley has brilliantly created a really dark and foreboding atmosphere throughout the book from the old boarding house itself, to sleazy Frank, to the taxidermy of Stella's mother. As Stella gradually finds out about her past and the secrets concealed in that creepy old house, I could quite understand why she had blanked out so many of the awful memories. Trepidation pervades the storyline making the reader feel very uneasy throughout. Stella has not been surrounded by the love and care she should have expected from her family. Her mother seems to have been really quite a disturbed person and rejected her daughter leaving her open to abuse by others who should also have been caring for her.
Stella is a very intriguing character who seems to draw people to her. Gareth her probation officer is both fascinated but also slightly repelled by her. She has made a good friend in prison in Marcia, her support worker and it was good to see that Stella had at least one person who wanted her to go on to succeed in life. Well she had more than one, as I wanted her to have the chance to make a new start too. She deserved it after all she had been through.
This is a very intelligent debut novel, dark and brooding but very compelling. I'm looking forward to reading what Shelley writes next.
September 14, 2016
This has to be one of the most creepy & atmospheric...& at times harrowing... stories I've read in a long time.
The prologue is Stella's statement to the police so we know she killed her mother but the reason isn't known to either the reader or it would appear, to Stella. Released from prison Stella heads for home.The thought of Stella returning to the old boarding house where she'd once lived filled me with trepidation, a dank & gloomy building that wouldn't have been out of place in a horror novel was all the more scary for the memories it was hiding.
The characters were just as unpleasant as the house as well as being manipulative, all with their own agendas . I didn't like any of them (though mainly Frank & Ruby) but I don't mean that in a bad way! The writer did such a good job of portraying their darker sides, how could you feel anything but anger/frustration/despair (take your pick!) at the way they treated Stella. - even Probation Officer Gareth seemed to see Stella only as a means to further his career. As to Stella herself, strangely, while I wanted her to learn the truth about her past I never felt much sympathy for her. As for Baby Keating though, on two occasions I swear when I realised what was happening, my skin literally crawled *shudder*
For me,the epilogue, in the form of a letter to Marcia tied in beautifully with the start of the book bringing it a full circle.
A truly original read, I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it.
The prologue is Stella's statement to the police so we know she killed her mother but the reason isn't known to either the reader or it would appear, to Stella. Released from prison Stella heads for home.The thought of Stella returning to the old boarding house where she'd once lived filled me with trepidation, a dank & gloomy building that wouldn't have been out of place in a horror novel was all the more scary for the memories it was hiding.
The characters were just as unpleasant as the house as well as being manipulative, all with their own agendas . I didn't like any of them (though mainly Frank & Ruby) but I don't mean that in a bad way! The writer did such a good job of portraying their darker sides, how could you feel anything but anger/frustration/despair (take your pick!) at the way they treated Stella. - even Probation Officer Gareth seemed to see Stella only as a means to further his career. As to Stella herself, strangely, while I wanted her to learn the truth about her past I never felt much sympathy for her. As for Baby Keating though, on two occasions I swear when I realised what was happening, my skin literally crawled *shudder*
For me,the epilogue, in the form of a letter to Marcia tied in beautifully with the start of the book bringing it a full circle.
A truly original read, I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it.
July 14, 2016
Wow! Get ready to welcome Stella Moon into your head, She jumps off the page and you won't be able to forget her. Shelley Day has a great knack for creating authentic characters, they are all gripping, even if they are not all nice! Not much goes right for Stella - life dealt her a rubbish set of guardians but her resilience shines like beacon. Very well written and impressive debut.
July 25, 2016
Fantastic
Truly gripping read from start to finish with many twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I hope there will be another Shelley Day book out soon
Truly gripping read from start to finish with many twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I hope there will be another Shelley Day book out soon
September 8, 2018
Reading group choice. Boring
May 5, 2017
When you first meet Stella Moon it is in the form of a confession. She confessed to murdering her mother, Muriel Willoughby Moon in 1970. She is released in 1977 and this is where the story of what led her to do what she did.
Stella was brought up by her grandmother Ruby Willoughby, when the courts found Muriel unfit to look after Stella, they awarded custody to Ruby. Stella's story is a complicated one, there has been a lot of horrible things that she has gone through, and in fact is still struggling to understand. She is haunted by things she can remember, as well as those gaps in her memory that are blank.
She has to deal with her past to be able to step forward in her life. She is going to have to deal with memories that have been deeply buried, memories that are terrifying, horrible, strange and also with the guilt that comes with them. The guilt she carries for her mother and others. She will need help and she does get it in the form of a social worker, Gareth, who ends up stepping into something much bigger than he realised.
I really liked this book, there are so many layers to this book. The stories that gradually emerge are very cleverly linked. The characters are very well written, and are convincing. It is a story that shows a journey of discovery, of growth and realisation. Sometimes what we think happens, is different from what actually happened.
I would recommend this book to readers of general fiction as well as crime, mystery and thriller.
Stella was brought up by her grandmother Ruby Willoughby, when the courts found Muriel unfit to look after Stella, they awarded custody to Ruby. Stella's story is a complicated one, there has been a lot of horrible things that she has gone through, and in fact is still struggling to understand. She is haunted by things she can remember, as well as those gaps in her memory that are blank.
She has to deal with her past to be able to step forward in her life. She is going to have to deal with memories that have been deeply buried, memories that are terrifying, horrible, strange and also with the guilt that comes with them. The guilt she carries for her mother and others. She will need help and she does get it in the form of a social worker, Gareth, who ends up stepping into something much bigger than he realised.
I really liked this book, there are so many layers to this book. The stories that gradually emerge are very cleverly linked. The characters are very well written, and are convincing. It is a story that shows a journey of discovery, of growth and realisation. Sometimes what we think happens, is different from what actually happened.
I would recommend this book to readers of general fiction as well as crime, mystery and thriller.
May 16, 2017
Matricide? It just sounds creepy, doesn't it? And it is just the one thing the reader knows from the outset, that Stella Moon confessed to killing her mother, Muriel.
As the book begins, Stella has served her sentence, and she is now out of prison, but things are not what they seem. Making her way back to the house she grew up in, Stella finds a boarded-up wreck of a place and trouble, lots of trouble as memories crowd in. Creepy and mesmerizing, this story will give the reader chills, cause the reader to shudder as the story is slowly revealed. Poor Stella...everyone has used her in one way or the other except for Marcia.
Marcia may be the sole redeeming character.
The epilogue is a must read as the reader learns about Stella's ultimate fate, and the story wraps around nicely.
As the book begins, Stella has served her sentence, and she is now out of prison, but things are not what they seem. Making her way back to the house she grew up in, Stella finds a boarded-up wreck of a place and trouble, lots of trouble as memories crowd in. Creepy and mesmerizing, this story will give the reader chills, cause the reader to shudder as the story is slowly revealed. Poor Stella...everyone has used her in one way or the other except for Marcia.
Marcia may be the sole redeeming character.
The epilogue is a must read as the reader learns about Stella's ultimate fate, and the story wraps around nicely.
July 11, 2018
THE CONFESSION OF STELLA MOON
This book was the choice of my local book club, otherwise I don't think I would have read it. The story is a a refreshing change from the usual mysteries in that it starts with the main character being released from prison, having served her sentence. It was also nice to read a book set in the not-too-distant past, with no mobile phones, tablets or laptops to be seen.
The book is well written (apart from the fact that the author doesn't seem to be able to decide whether or not to use the “F” word or just “F”), the characters are well defined, it is a good story and I enjoyed it - but I do have a few issues with the storyline, in particular the relationship between Stella and Frank. One minute he is planning her demise, the next minute he is sympathising with her. And the whereabouts of the baby for all those years didn't ring true – surely someone would have discovered it.
As a first novel, it is way above average and I would certainly read future books by this author.
This book was the choice of my local book club, otherwise I don't think I would have read it. The story is a a refreshing change from the usual mysteries in that it starts with the main character being released from prison, having served her sentence. It was also nice to read a book set in the not-too-distant past, with no mobile phones, tablets or laptops to be seen.
The book is well written (apart from the fact that the author doesn't seem to be able to decide whether or not to use the “F” word or just “F”), the characters are well defined, it is a good story and I enjoyed it - but I do have a few issues with the storyline, in particular the relationship between Stella and Frank. One minute he is planning her demise, the next minute he is sympathising with her. And the whereabouts of the baby for all those years didn't ring true – surely someone would have discovered it.
As a first novel, it is way above average and I would certainly read future books by this author.
May 7, 2017
The novel opens with the eponymous confession, made under caution in a Newcastle police station in 1970, in which Stella Moon admits to killing her mother Muriel. The narrative then jumps seven years to Stella's release from Holloway. And that's all I'm going to say about what happens. I love the way each unforgettable character is introduced and Stella's story gradually unfolds. It's an utterly gripping story, and beautifully written. Looking forward to Shelley Day's next book!
September 13, 2021
This was an interesting book. My initial impression after several pages was that it was rough, repetitive and naively written. But it was difficult to ignore. The writing definitely improved as the book progressed and the themes and storyline drew the reader onwards. Overall I liked the book and enjoyed the topic management. I did feel that some aspects were slightly irritating and overdone but in general it was a good read over 2 days.
June 18, 2017
Felt total empathy with Stella from the very start even though she confesses to killing her mother. Descriptions of the boarding house and beach hut made me feel I was actually there. Without giving the plot away we meet some particularly distasteful characters who use Stella for their own needs. Especially loved the haunting seance scenes. Thoroughly enjoyable!
December 21, 2018
Evocative, atmospheric and thrilling - I used to live in the area this is set, and Shelley Day has brought to life an era before my time. I loved seeing the familiar spaces with new eyes, and getting to know the enigmatic, disturbing Stella Moon.
Read
February 26, 2020Well now, this was a dark journey.
Didn't think it was something for me.
But I was wrong.
Defo worth a read!
Didn't think it was something for me.
But I was wrong.
Defo worth a read!
September 24, 2022
I enjoyed the story but it wasn't outstanding (I cannot put my finger on why). I felt at times it was a bit clunky and was drawn out in places.
March 27, 2017
A very good book: complex, well plotted; superb characterisation and masterly use of setting. I loved the way the characters had no idea how they appeared to the world and how Shelley Day has crafted their words, actions and thoughts so we have multiple viewpoints of each one of them.
March 13, 2017
An easy quick read but not particularly gripping. Good unexpected ending.
August 30, 2016
I do love to read books set in my native North East England; there's just something so much more tangible about the story when you have actually walked in the footsteps of the characters. Chillingham Road in Heaton and Worswick Street bus station in Newcastle get a mention; Worswick Street bus station was once the transport hub of Newcastle before the Metro came along. Although I've never been to Low Newton, where the beach hut is located, it is part of the beautiful Northumbrian coastline in the shadow of the ruin of Dunstanburgh Castle.
The book starts in 1970 with the statement of Stella Moon confessing to killing her mother and giving details of what happened. A cut and dried case leading to Stella's imprisonment but with only Stella's version of events, we have to wonder how much of it is actually true. Is she really a cold blooded killer? Stella is released in 1977 and heads back to her native Newcastle, to find that everything has changed. Her grandmother's house is boarded up and she has nowhere to go so she breaks in through the kitchen window to take shelter for the night. Only the house isn't as deserted as it would appear...
As Stella relives her childhood we learn about a devastating event that affected all the residents of the house - Baby Keating disappeared from his pram outside the house. During a seance hosted by Stella's grandmother, Stella appears to be possessed as she tells the gathered ladies that Baby Keating is dead. How would she know this? Was this Stella's first murder?
The Confession of Stella Moon is dark, compulsive reading. I was addicted from the first page as the twin storyline of Baby Keating's disappearance and Stella's mother's death intertwine and disappear into the darkness of Stella's memory like curls of smoke. It's absolutely riveting from start to finish as the layers of Stella's life are peeled back like an onion and only then do we find out what really happened between her and her Mother. A superb read!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts in 1970 with the statement of Stella Moon confessing to killing her mother and giving details of what happened. A cut and dried case leading to Stella's imprisonment but with only Stella's version of events, we have to wonder how much of it is actually true. Is she really a cold blooded killer? Stella is released in 1977 and heads back to her native Newcastle, to find that everything has changed. Her grandmother's house is boarded up and she has nowhere to go so she breaks in through the kitchen window to take shelter for the night. Only the house isn't as deserted as it would appear...
As Stella relives her childhood we learn about a devastating event that affected all the residents of the house - Baby Keating disappeared from his pram outside the house. During a seance hosted by Stella's grandmother, Stella appears to be possessed as she tells the gathered ladies that Baby Keating is dead. How would she know this? Was this Stella's first murder?
The Confession of Stella Moon is dark, compulsive reading. I was addicted from the first page as the twin storyline of Baby Keating's disappearance and Stella's mother's death intertwine and disappear into the darkness of Stella's memory like curls of smoke. It's absolutely riveting from start to finish as the layers of Stella's life are peeled back like an onion and only then do we find out what really happened between her and her Mother. A superb read!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2016
The Confession of Stella Moon is a story of families and a story of identity. Dark and full of foreboding, this book opens with the Statement for court proceedings in 1970 when Stella Moon killed her mother. The atmosphere was tense, the plot taut from the outset and it hooked me in right away.
We pick up Stella's story upon her release from prison. Stella can't remember killing her mother, but she must have done. Stella returns to her former home, a boarding house and the author has managed to create an atmosphere that is as unhappy as the way poor Stella feels. It is not the sort of place you wanted to grow up that is for sure. Stella is searching for the past and she is searching for her memories which seem to be confused and jumbled.
A story of redemption and personal freedom and also an in depth examination of the Mother and Daughter relationship. There were some characters who on the surface appeared ghastly, that just added to the despair that I felt for Stella. The author has cleverly allowed the reader to form their own opinions and as such, sympathies can fly all over the place. Stella was let down by those around her and wasn't allowed the opportunity to grow up properly and find her own space in the world.
The author's experience in Psychology has made this book the triumph that it is, an exploration of memory and of truth and reality. A melee of past and present, I have found few other books as compelling this year. It made me sad in places and it make me feel angry and I think that it is a great skill of writing to be able to provoke reactions and thought.
I found this book so insightful and thought provoking and I find it hard to believe that this is a debut, if this is a sign of what can come in the future, well I will wait with bated breath.
We pick up Stella's story upon her release from prison. Stella can't remember killing her mother, but she must have done. Stella returns to her former home, a boarding house and the author has managed to create an atmosphere that is as unhappy as the way poor Stella feels. It is not the sort of place you wanted to grow up that is for sure. Stella is searching for the past and she is searching for her memories which seem to be confused and jumbled.
A story of redemption and personal freedom and also an in depth examination of the Mother and Daughter relationship. There were some characters who on the surface appeared ghastly, that just added to the despair that I felt for Stella. The author has cleverly allowed the reader to form their own opinions and as such, sympathies can fly all over the place. Stella was let down by those around her and wasn't allowed the opportunity to grow up properly and find her own space in the world.
The author's experience in Psychology has made this book the triumph that it is, an exploration of memory and of truth and reality. A melee of past and present, I have found few other books as compelling this year. It made me sad in places and it make me feel angry and I think that it is a great skill of writing to be able to provoke reactions and thought.
I found this book so insightful and thought provoking and I find it hard to believe that this is a debut, if this is a sign of what can come in the future, well I will wait with bated breath.
August 28, 2016
Stella Moon is released from prison, wearing the clothes of her dead mother – the woman she was jailed for killing.
Stella’s on her way home, until she realises that home no longer exists…
Over the coming days, Stella moves between her missing grandmother’s boarding house, now half derelict, and the abandoned beach hut, that were her childhood homes. Both abound with uneasy memories and the spectres of family and friends – eccentric, macabre, curious – that have formed Stella into the strange and estranged woman she is today.
When present and past collide, it’s up to Stella to confront both, and get her life on some kind of even keel.
Shelley Day’s debut novel is a haunting tale in all sense of the word. From the outset, it draws you in to a world that is both strange and unsettling recognisable; it’s like looking down the wrong end of a telescope or through a filtered lens. It is creepy, dark, and full of twists and turns – both in psychological terms and in the plot.
Stella is a victim, a heroine, a lost little girl, a woman finding her way; in other words, a highly complex character. Did I like her? Not really, but I was intrigued by her – and the same could be said for most of the cast of characters. And that Day could make me care about what happened to a bunch of people I didn’t much like is only one of her immense skills as a story-teller.
The Confession of Stella Moon is a gripping, unusual story. I have a feeling there is much more to Stella than we discover in this novel alone… and there is certainly more to Shelley Day.
If you like psychological thrillers with atmosphere, this is definitely for you. Highly recommended.
Stella’s on her way home, until she realises that home no longer exists…
Over the coming days, Stella moves between her missing grandmother’s boarding house, now half derelict, and the abandoned beach hut, that were her childhood homes. Both abound with uneasy memories and the spectres of family and friends – eccentric, macabre, curious – that have formed Stella into the strange and estranged woman she is today.
When present and past collide, it’s up to Stella to confront both, and get her life on some kind of even keel.
Shelley Day’s debut novel is a haunting tale in all sense of the word. From the outset, it draws you in to a world that is both strange and unsettling recognisable; it’s like looking down the wrong end of a telescope or through a filtered lens. It is creepy, dark, and full of twists and turns – both in psychological terms and in the plot.
Stella is a victim, a heroine, a lost little girl, a woman finding her way; in other words, a highly complex character. Did I like her? Not really, but I was intrigued by her – and the same could be said for most of the cast of characters. And that Day could make me care about what happened to a bunch of people I didn’t much like is only one of her immense skills as a story-teller.
The Confession of Stella Moon is a gripping, unusual story. I have a feeling there is much more to Stella than we discover in this novel alone… and there is certainly more to Shelley Day.
If you like psychological thrillers with atmosphere, this is definitely for you. Highly recommended.
September 21, 2016
A very readable book with a terrific atmosphere. The north of England is always a great setting with its weather, odd characters and dismal buildings. In fact this is a little Wuthering Heights-ish with the mad woman and the wild storms. No Heathcliffe thankfully..
The problem with the book was the author trying to labour the point too frequently. We could get inside the characters a lot more readily than she realised.
Also the mystery itself was flawed as seven years after a crime was too long for this drama to be real.
Nevertheless, the author made us turn those pages so credit where credit is due!
The problem with the book was the author trying to labour the point too frequently. We could get inside the characters a lot more readily than she realised.
Also the mystery itself was flawed as seven years after a crime was too long for this drama to be real.
Nevertheless, the author made us turn those pages so credit where credit is due!
November 3, 2016
Loved this book. The author's depiction of the grime and difficulties of the life Stella Moon has lived is spot on. Felt propelled along from the start, enjoying the creepy and sometimes oddly tender moments the characters share. A very chilling tale that stays with you.
December 6, 2016
an uncomfortable read but the main character is so well-written you can't put it down.
April 22, 2017
Exciting and insightful
This is an absorbing read and full of ideas, engaging characters and thoughtful reflection on guilt, storytelling, catching up and letting go.
This is an absorbing read and full of ideas, engaging characters and thoughtful reflection on guilt, storytelling, catching up and letting go.
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