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Someone Close to Home
"The book is brilliant. It reads like a memoir and grips like great fiction should - beautiful characterization"
Viga Boland - Author - No Tears For My Father
Talented pianist Megan Youngblood has it all – fame, fortune and Gideon.
But Gideon isn’t good enough for Megan’s ambitious, manipulative mother, whose meddling has devastating repercussions for Megan and for those close to her.
Now, trapped inside her own body, she is unable to communicate her needs or fears as she faces institutional neglect in an inadequate care home.
And she faces Annie. Sadistic Annie who has reason to hate her. Damaged Annie who shouldn’t work with vulnerable people.
Just how far will Annie go?
Viga Boland - Author - No Tears For My Father
Talented pianist Megan Youngblood has it all – fame, fortune and Gideon.
But Gideon isn’t good enough for Megan’s ambitious, manipulative mother, whose meddling has devastating repercussions for Megan and for those close to her.
Now, trapped inside her own body, she is unable to communicate her needs or fears as she faces institutional neglect in an inadequate care home.
And she faces Annie. Sadistic Annie who has reason to hate her. Damaged Annie who shouldn’t work with vulnerable people.
Just how far will Annie go?
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2015
18 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Alex Craigie
7 books149 followersAlex Craigie is the pen name of Trish Power.
Trish was ten when her first play was performed at school. It was in rhyming couplets and written in pencil in a book with imperial weights and measures printed on the back. There were two princes in it - one was called Rupert and the other was changed to Sam because she couldn't find enough rhymes for Randolph.
When her children were young, she wrote short stories for magazines before returning to the teaching job that she loved.
Trish has had seven books published under the pen name of Alex Craigie. Three books cross genre boundaries and feature elements of romance, thriller and suspense against a backdrop of social issues. Someone Close to Home highlights the problems affecting care homes, Acts of Convenience has issues concerning the health service at its heart, and The Bubble Reputation reflects her fears about social media and the damage it can do. Another book. Means to Deceive, is a psychological thriller set in Pembrokeshire in Wales.
Someone Close to Home has won a Chill with a Book award and a Chill with the Book of the Month award. In 2019 it was one of the top ten bestsellers in its category on Amazon.
The Bubble Reputation won a Chill With a Book Premier Readers' Award in 2023.
She is currently writing a series of books called The Rat in the Python about growing up as a Baby Boomer. The title comes from the term for the bulge in the population statistics caused by us post-war babies.
Trish was ten when her first play was performed at school. It was in rhyming couplets and written in pencil in a book with imperial weights and measures printed on the back. There were two princes in it - one was called Rupert and the other was changed to Sam because she couldn't find enough rhymes for Randolph.
When her children were young, she wrote short stories for magazines before returning to the teaching job that she loved.
Trish has had seven books published under the pen name of Alex Craigie. Three books cross genre boundaries and feature elements of romance, thriller and suspense against a backdrop of social issues. Someone Close to Home highlights the problems affecting care homes, Acts of Convenience has issues concerning the health service at its heart, and The Bubble Reputation reflects her fears about social media and the damage it can do. Another book. Means to Deceive, is a psychological thriller set in Pembrokeshire in Wales.
Someone Close to Home has won a Chill with a Book award and a Chill with the Book of the Month award. In 2019 it was one of the top ten bestsellers in its category on Amazon.
The Bubble Reputation won a Chill With a Book Premier Readers' Award in 2023.
She is currently writing a series of books called The Rat in the Python about growing up as a Baby Boomer. The title comes from the term for the bulge in the population statistics caused by us post-war babies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 10, 2020
4★
A case of out of the frying pan into the fire . . . into the incinerator. Help! Where’s the fire extinguisher? Well-written and real.
Megan was a famous concert pianist with a controlling mother. Gideon was her childhood pal, best mate, and later boyfriend, who was never good enough for her mother. Megan is now in the Yews, a nursing home, mute and helpless after a stroke, but her mind is ticking over as quickly and incisively as ever. She can watch telly but can't change channels, volume, or even push a call button to ask for help.
She distracts herself by dipping back into her memories, with chapters alternating between her time in the Yews - confined to bed, wheelchair, and commode - and her reminiscences. Some memories are happy, many are not. She works her way forward from her earliest childhood playing with Gideon, through to her adult life.
She loved the music, she loved the playing, but she loathed the publicity and parties which her mother adored.
“I’ve smiled and laughed and flirted with the best of them but always with the same sense of relief when they were over and I could be me again. The Yews equates being alone with loneliness and that is a fallacy. There are times when I can’t bear the artifice imposed by a social event. True and desperate loneliness is to be found in the unwanted company of others.”
Her mum was a real piece of work, controlling and manipulative, hiding things, lying, whatever she needed to do have things the way she wanted. She hung onto her husband using blackmail.
When Megan began showing serious musical talent, Mum took over, arranging concerts abroad, revelling in her daughter’s fame, and fanning the flames of a famous actor’s interest in Megan. Jordan was a womaniser of the worst sort, but oh so handsome! Everyone wanted him, but he wanted Megan, and Mum was determined he'd have her.
If Mum was the frying pan, Jordan was the fire. Abuse, humiliation, and no more concerts. Eventually he just brought girls home.
“Accompanying them is Larissa, a small redhead with silicone-enhanced breasts that precede her into the room.”
Mind you, home was now a comfortable mansion, which made her descent to the Yews the drop into the incinerator. When she arrived:
“We carry along past the vacated dining room where the odour of kidney and cabbage still lingers from lunch. It’s horribly reminiscent of school."
Later she comments:
“They’re rough as they clean me up, rubbing harshly, pinching where they grab me. I’m rolled over onto my right side. Neither of them should be in this job.”
The staff are interrupted and have to leave hastily to attend to someone who’s fallen.
“I’m left in the dark, trembling with humiliation and distracted by the pain they’ve left in their wake. I try to get back to my time in New York, but I’m too uncomfortable and shaken to leave the present behind. Someone will be back in another two hours and it will probably be them again.”
There are kind, dedicated staff, but of those like the above, she considers:
“I can see that if you’ve been at the bottom of the heap for most of your life the chance to lord it over someone else becomes quite appealing. There’s a few staff here who see this as a straightforward job and do it well but with the same sensitivity as you would stocking shelves in a supermarket. MOST of the staff are great . . ."
She is horrified to discover one staff member actually bent on revenge, and there is nothing she can do about her. Scary stuff! As the reminiscing chapters come closer to her time in the Yews, we have less and less escape from the terrors at hand (as does she).
Good character, good story, and a reminder to keep an eye on people who are helpless. A friend of mine and her sister were conscientious carers of their mother who had dementia. When their mother had to go to hospital for an illness, the staff commented that they were amazed at how good her skin and general condition was. They are the sort of carers you want to find!
Thanks to BookLover Catlady Publicity and the author for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
A case of out of the frying pan into the fire . . . into the incinerator. Help! Where’s the fire extinguisher? Well-written and real.
Megan was a famous concert pianist with a controlling mother. Gideon was her childhood pal, best mate, and later boyfriend, who was never good enough for her mother. Megan is now in the Yews, a nursing home, mute and helpless after a stroke, but her mind is ticking over as quickly and incisively as ever. She can watch telly but can't change channels, volume, or even push a call button to ask for help.
She distracts herself by dipping back into her memories, with chapters alternating between her time in the Yews - confined to bed, wheelchair, and commode - and her reminiscences. Some memories are happy, many are not. She works her way forward from her earliest childhood playing with Gideon, through to her adult life.
She loved the music, she loved the playing, but she loathed the publicity and parties which her mother adored.
“I’ve smiled and laughed and flirted with the best of them but always with the same sense of relief when they were over and I could be me again. The Yews equates being alone with loneliness and that is a fallacy. There are times when I can’t bear the artifice imposed by a social event. True and desperate loneliness is to be found in the unwanted company of others.”
Her mum was a real piece of work, controlling and manipulative, hiding things, lying, whatever she needed to do have things the way she wanted. She hung onto her husband using blackmail.
When Megan began showing serious musical talent, Mum took over, arranging concerts abroad, revelling in her daughter’s fame, and fanning the flames of a famous actor’s interest in Megan. Jordan was a womaniser of the worst sort, but oh so handsome! Everyone wanted him, but he wanted Megan, and Mum was determined he'd have her.
If Mum was the frying pan, Jordan was the fire. Abuse, humiliation, and no more concerts. Eventually he just brought girls home.
“Accompanying them is Larissa, a small redhead with silicone-enhanced breasts that precede her into the room.”
Mind you, home was now a comfortable mansion, which made her descent to the Yews the drop into the incinerator. When she arrived:
“We carry along past the vacated dining room where the odour of kidney and cabbage still lingers from lunch. It’s horribly reminiscent of school."
Later she comments:
“They’re rough as they clean me up, rubbing harshly, pinching where they grab me. I’m rolled over onto my right side. Neither of them should be in this job.”
The staff are interrupted and have to leave hastily to attend to someone who’s fallen.
“I’m left in the dark, trembling with humiliation and distracted by the pain they’ve left in their wake. I try to get back to my time in New York, but I’m too uncomfortable and shaken to leave the present behind. Someone will be back in another two hours and it will probably be them again.”
There are kind, dedicated staff, but of those like the above, she considers:
“I can see that if you’ve been at the bottom of the heap for most of your life the chance to lord it over someone else becomes quite appealing. There’s a few staff here who see this as a straightforward job and do it well but with the same sensitivity as you would stocking shelves in a supermarket. MOST of the staff are great . . ."
She is horrified to discover one staff member actually bent on revenge, and there is nothing she can do about her. Scary stuff! As the reminiscing chapters come closer to her time in the Yews, we have less and less escape from the terrors at hand (as does she).
Good character, good story, and a reminder to keep an eye on people who are helpless. A friend of mine and her sister were conscientious carers of their mother who had dementia. When their mother had to go to hospital for an illness, the staff commented that they were amazed at how good her skin and general condition was. They are the sort of carers you want to find!
Thanks to BookLover Catlady Publicity and the author for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
September 24, 2016
Megan's story is told in flashbacks beginning with her childhood to present day, where she is in a care home, following a stroke. She is trapped in her own body, unable to move, unable to speak.
As a child, her mother was abusive and manipulative. She drove her husband to suicide when she learned of his affair. She destroyed the other woman's reputation by accusing her of theft. Megan's saving grace was her music .. she played classical piano and was extremely talented.
Megan's first ever friend was the little boy who lived next door. They were always close friends even when she was traveling to her concerts and he went away to school. But Megan's mother had other ideas and managed to separate them for many, many years.
She eventually married a very rich man who was physically, sexually, mentally abusive. She gave birth to two children, who he manipulated into hating Megan, but she stayed for years because she loved them. When her husband is killed in an auto accident, it's like she takes her first breath of clean air in many years.
And then the stroke .....
One of her carers is the daughter of her father's girlfriend ... and she is vindictive and wants Megan to suffer for her mother's sins. Can you imagine being unable to move, except for your eyes, unable to speak and at the mercy of someone who wants to torture you?
This is one of the most emotionally disturbing books I've ever read. I can't say I 'enjoyed' this one.... but it's one of those books you just can not put down. There are many abusive characters ... but there are some gems that show there really are caring people out there.
One of my biggest fears is that some of this .... domestic abuse / caretaker abuse .... does go on in the real world. This is a hard book to read ... but extremely well-written.
Many, many thanks to the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity who provided a digital copy of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
As a child, her mother was abusive and manipulative. She drove her husband to suicide when she learned of his affair. She destroyed the other woman's reputation by accusing her of theft. Megan's saving grace was her music .. she played classical piano and was extremely talented.
Megan's first ever friend was the little boy who lived next door. They were always close friends even when she was traveling to her concerts and he went away to school. But Megan's mother had other ideas and managed to separate them for many, many years.
She eventually married a very rich man who was physically, sexually, mentally abusive. She gave birth to two children, who he manipulated into hating Megan, but she stayed for years because she loved them. When her husband is killed in an auto accident, it's like she takes her first breath of clean air in many years.
And then the stroke .....
One of her carers is the daughter of her father's girlfriend ... and she is vindictive and wants Megan to suffer for her mother's sins. Can you imagine being unable to move, except for your eyes, unable to speak and at the mercy of someone who wants to torture you?
This is one of the most emotionally disturbing books I've ever read. I can't say I 'enjoyed' this one.... but it's one of those books you just can not put down. There are many abusive characters ... but there are some gems that show there really are caring people out there.
One of my biggest fears is that some of this .... domestic abuse / caretaker abuse .... does go on in the real world. This is a hard book to read ... but extremely well-written.
Many, many thanks to the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity who provided a digital copy of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
June 25, 2018
It’s been quite a while since I read a book in one go but I couldn’t put this one down. Someone Close to Home sent me through a whole range of emotions; delight, sadness, anger, joy, frustration. And this is a debut novel! The writing style of Alex Craigie is sophisticated, emotive and empathetic.
The start of the story grabbed me straightaway: the image of the protagonist, Megan, watching “each minuscule judder of the hand (of the clock)”, her immobility and her thoughts on her childhood, especially of her selfish and destructive mother who Megan loathed – still loathes, is compulsive reading. There is one sentence that foreshadows all that happens as the story continues: ‘This is all down to my mother… she’s been dead for over thirty years now and still she’s poisoning my life.”
This is a story of two halves: the time that Megan is in the badly-run care home, which lasts around six months and is told in present tense, mainly through the internal dialogue of the protagonist, and the whole of her childhood and younger life.told in past tense as flashbacks. The latter leads the reader inexorably to the point where Megan is lying helpless after suffering a stroke. She is at the mercy of mostly inattentive carers, poorly paid and resentful. Their actions, the way they carry out their tasks on Megan is described simply by her; they are tasks done to her, sometimes carefully, sometimes without heed. And then there is the carer, Annie… I’ll say no more.
The description of of the protagonist’s days evoke the dreariness. The word, “waiting” is repeated so many times that I, as the reader, also waited with Megan, knowing, with some dread, that something awful will happen.
The main characters: Gideon (childhood friend and later the man she loves. Claire, her true friend in later life, Jordan, Megan’s husband, egotistical actor and a cruel man, Theo and Camilla, her greedy and selfish children), are many layered and well portrayed; their dialogue identifies them immediately. And, although there are many flat characters,, in the guise of the carers and the owner of the care home, the author also gives them distinguishable voices.
The descriptions of the settings give a good sense of place. The room Megan is lying in is told in meticulous but confined detail. We see the limited view she has, and only that. (it did give me a sense of claustrophobia, I must admit.). There is “the sturdy chest of drawers topped with shapes that will become a television and some framed photographs”as “the heavy grey light” “pushes into the room” after a long sleepless night”. We hear “the rattle of trolleys” that she knows is “laden with clean and soiled bedding”, the “insistent buzzing” of room bells, the “moans, shouts and cussing from room nearby punctuated by the chivying of staff”. We feel her pain through the roughness of the care, the threat of bed sores. And the details of the places in her childhood, the houses she lived in, countries she visited as a professional pianist, are full of evocative imagery.
It’s a plot that moves at an even pace but, ultimately, it’s also one that took me by surprise. Even closely following the actions of the characters in the story still didn’t prepare me for the ending.
Someone Close to Home by Alex Craigie is a book I thoroughly recommend to any reader
May 22, 2016
Someone Close To Home has to be one of the most disturbing and distressing reads I have ever read.
The story flicks between Megan's past and to present day where she is currently in a care home after a stroke that leaves her immobile and unable to speak.
Growing up, the only good thing that Megan had in her life is Gideon. From their first day of meeting it has been a solid friendship that later on becomes to be so much more. Unfortunately for Megan, it almost seems like her life is not to be a happy one and even though her career playing the piano has taken her to fame and stardom, her personal life is sadly a heart breaking one due to her medaling mother.
There are so many unlikeable and manipulating characters in this story. It actually made for some really uncomfortable reading as I found it quite upsetting. Luckily there are a few diamonds that shine out which makes you realise that there are some truly good people in this world.
There is a lot of abuse in this story, not only does Megan have to suffer to the hands of her evil and domineering husband she is also abused in the care home where someone from her past is determined to make her life hell.
Domestic violence is horrendous enough as it is but I have to say at some parts I felt like I really didn't want to carry on as I couldn't stomach the abuse that Megan was made to go through when she was in the care home. It really was upsetting and disturbing but I felt I owed it to Megan to carry on, which I'm glad I did.
I won't lie this wasn't an easy novel to read but it is a good one which opens your eyes to some of the horrendous events that sadly do go on in the world. It is a hard hitting story which may not be for everyone but in a way I feel better after reading it.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story flicks between Megan's past and to present day where she is currently in a care home after a stroke that leaves her immobile and unable to speak.
Growing up, the only good thing that Megan had in her life is Gideon. From their first day of meeting it has been a solid friendship that later on becomes to be so much more. Unfortunately for Megan, it almost seems like her life is not to be a happy one and even though her career playing the piano has taken her to fame and stardom, her personal life is sadly a heart breaking one due to her medaling mother.
There are so many unlikeable and manipulating characters in this story. It actually made for some really uncomfortable reading as I found it quite upsetting. Luckily there are a few diamonds that shine out which makes you realise that there are some truly good people in this world.
There is a lot of abuse in this story, not only does Megan have to suffer to the hands of her evil and domineering husband she is also abused in the care home where someone from her past is determined to make her life hell.
Domestic violence is horrendous enough as it is but I have to say at some parts I felt like I really didn't want to carry on as I couldn't stomach the abuse that Megan was made to go through when she was in the care home. It really was upsetting and disturbing but I felt I owed it to Megan to carry on, which I'm glad I did.
I won't lie this wasn't an easy novel to read but it is a good one which opens your eyes to some of the horrendous events that sadly do go on in the world. It is a hard hitting story which may not be for everyone but in a way I feel better after reading it.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2025
As I discovered in The Bubble Reputation, author Alex Craigie doesn’t shy away from the darkest subject material. If I thought that story—of a celebrity almost having her life destroyed through ‘trial by social media’ based on a lie—was bad, that of Someone Close to Home is one of my worst nightmares.
While still a child, Megan discovers a talent for the piano, which propels her to fame at an early age. Not only that, but she meets the literal boy next door, Gideon, with whom she forms a close bond which looks to develop into something deeper as they both grow.
On the downside, however, she’s the victim of a dysfunctional home, her mother a manipulative and abusive person who drives her husband into the arms of another—and thence to a tragic outcome which will come back to haunt Megan many years down the line. Further, her mother Eileen doesn’t approve of her daughter’s relationship with Gideon, descending to extreme measures to split the pair apart and push Megan into the arms of Jordan, a successful actor who appeals more to the snobbish ambitions of Eileen.
One abusive marriage, two children warped by their father’s controlling personality and the end of her own career through his selfishness later, Megan manages in middle age to regain control of her life with the help of best friend Claire—and then, as though she hadn’t had things bad enough already, fate strikes a blow at Megan which renders her situation arguably more horrific than anything she’s suffered already.
Dumped in a cheap and sub-standard so-called nursing home by greedy offspring Theo and Camilla, who want her money for themselves, Megan finds herself at the mercy of Annie, warped product of Eileen’s manipulative vengeance of many years ago.
I’m not sure which genre category this book was placed in when published, as Amazon has a habit of ranking books in categories other than those to which they were first assigned, but I’d certainly place this one in the Horror section due to the situation in which Megan finds herself: incarcerated—there’s no other word for it—and at the mercy of ‘carers’, being neglected by some and abused by one, unable tell anybody of her situation.
Not to my taste it may be, but it's well-constructed and written, with Megan looking back and narrating her life—in her mind—from her bed, or the wheelchair in which she’s taken to spend time with the other unwilling residents in the communal lounge. These people are described in some detail, as are the carers, mainly through the conversations they have over the head of the paralysed Megan, whose welfare is often the least of their worries. It’s a nauseating situation in which she finds herself, and the author doesn’t spare the details—but there are a few glimmers at which to clutch in the hope of a better ending for Megan.
Overall it’s a thought-provoking piece, although if you’re anything like me a strong stomach and heart are required; otherwise it’ll make you sick to the former and break the latter.
While still a child, Megan discovers a talent for the piano, which propels her to fame at an early age. Not only that, but she meets the literal boy next door, Gideon, with whom she forms a close bond which looks to develop into something deeper as they both grow.
On the downside, however, she’s the victim of a dysfunctional home, her mother a manipulative and abusive person who drives her husband into the arms of another—and thence to a tragic outcome which will come back to haunt Megan many years down the line. Further, her mother Eileen doesn’t approve of her daughter’s relationship with Gideon, descending to extreme measures to split the pair apart and push Megan into the arms of Jordan, a successful actor who appeals more to the snobbish ambitions of Eileen.
One abusive marriage, two children warped by their father’s controlling personality and the end of her own career through his selfishness later, Megan manages in middle age to regain control of her life with the help of best friend Claire—and then, as though she hadn’t had things bad enough already, fate strikes a blow at Megan which renders her situation arguably more horrific than anything she’s suffered already.
Dumped in a cheap and sub-standard so-called nursing home by greedy offspring Theo and Camilla, who want her money for themselves, Megan finds herself at the mercy of Annie, warped product of Eileen’s manipulative vengeance of many years ago.
I’m not sure which genre category this book was placed in when published, as Amazon has a habit of ranking books in categories other than those to which they were first assigned, but I’d certainly place this one in the Horror section due to the situation in which Megan finds herself: incarcerated—there’s no other word for it—and at the mercy of ‘carers’, being neglected by some and abused by one, unable tell anybody of her situation.
Not to my taste it may be, but it's well-constructed and written, with Megan looking back and narrating her life—in her mind—from her bed, or the wheelchair in which she’s taken to spend time with the other unwilling residents in the communal lounge. These people are described in some detail, as are the carers, mainly through the conversations they have over the head of the paralysed Megan, whose welfare is often the least of their worries. It’s a nauseating situation in which she finds herself, and the author doesn’t spare the details—but there are a few glimmers at which to clutch in the hope of a better ending for Megan.
Overall it’s a thought-provoking piece, although if you’re anything like me a strong stomach and heart are required; otherwise it’ll make you sick to the former and break the latter.
January 5, 2020
Time taken to read - < 2 days
Pages - 383
Publisher - Ashford Carbonel Publishing
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
"The book is brilliant. It reads like a memoir and grips like great fiction should - beautiful characterization"
Viga Boland - Author - No Tears For My Father
Talented pianist Megan Youngblood has it all – fame, fortune and Gideon.
But Gideon isn’t good enough for Megan’s ambitious, manipulative mother, whose meddling has devastating repercussions for Megan and for those close to her.
Now, trapped inside her own body, she is unable to communicate her needs or fears as she faces institutional neglect in an inadequate care home.
And she faces Annie. Sadistic Annie who has reason to hate her. Damaged Annie who shouldn’t work with vulnerable people.
Just how far will Annie go?
My Review
This is one of those books you think about long after you have read the last page, particularly if you have a loved one who is vulnerable or work in any kind of care setting. We open with someone in fear and thinking back to their parents as the chapter closes. The chapters flip between the main characters reminiscing back to their childhood and current situation. We know they are incapacitated but not why, we know they are in fear but not why.
The narration is told in first person, through Megan's recall of her memories and then going through and experiencing her current predicament. There is a lot of the book that makes for very uncomfortable reading, abuse is a strong theme throughout, mental, physical, emotional and coercion. I had to put the book down a few times as the author creates such a powerful visual you are drawn into the horror and terror the character feels. Some of the scenes are claustrophobic, the depravity and cruelty, dare I even say evilness of some human beings to others. I think any reader, regardless of background/family/personal experiences will have emotion evoked, I gasped out loud more than once.
When Craigie takes you back to Megan's younger years you want to read the recent years and when you are in the recent stuff you want to read the younger stuff. She reels you in ties your attention to both timelines, the book has so many layers you are kept on your toes, chapter to chapter - unsure where it is all headed or what darkness will be revealed next. The ugliness of some of the humans in this is repugnant but there is also examples of bravery, goodness, loyalty and love. 4.5/5 for me this time, this was my first dance with this author, it won't be my last!
Pages - 383
Publisher - Ashford Carbonel Publishing
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
"The book is brilliant. It reads like a memoir and grips like great fiction should - beautiful characterization"
Viga Boland - Author - No Tears For My Father
Talented pianist Megan Youngblood has it all – fame, fortune and Gideon.
But Gideon isn’t good enough for Megan’s ambitious, manipulative mother, whose meddling has devastating repercussions for Megan and for those close to her.
Now, trapped inside her own body, she is unable to communicate her needs or fears as she faces institutional neglect in an inadequate care home.
And she faces Annie. Sadistic Annie who has reason to hate her. Damaged Annie who shouldn’t work with vulnerable people.
Just how far will Annie go?
My Review
This is one of those books you think about long after you have read the last page, particularly if you have a loved one who is vulnerable or work in any kind of care setting. We open with someone in fear and thinking back to their parents as the chapter closes. The chapters flip between the main characters reminiscing back to their childhood and current situation. We know they are incapacitated but not why, we know they are in fear but not why.
The narration is told in first person, through Megan's recall of her memories and then going through and experiencing her current predicament. There is a lot of the book that makes for very uncomfortable reading, abuse is a strong theme throughout, mental, physical, emotional and coercion. I had to put the book down a few times as the author creates such a powerful visual you are drawn into the horror and terror the character feels. Some of the scenes are claustrophobic, the depravity and cruelty, dare I even say evilness of some human beings to others. I think any reader, regardless of background/family/personal experiences will have emotion evoked, I gasped out loud more than once.
When Craigie takes you back to Megan's younger years you want to read the recent years and when you are in the recent stuff you want to read the younger stuff. She reels you in ties your attention to both timelines, the book has so many layers you are kept on your toes, chapter to chapter - unsure where it is all headed or what darkness will be revealed next. The ugliness of some of the humans in this is repugnant but there is also examples of bravery, goodness, loyalty and love. 4.5/5 for me this time, this was my first dance with this author, it won't be my last!
January 6, 2020
Megan, once a famous pianist, but after a stroke she is now bed ridden in a care home. Many of the carers are lovely, friendly and really look after Megan, but others just treat her as an inconvenience. Then there’s Annie, a sadistic and cruel woman who is taking revenge for an event many, many years ago.
As Megan lies in bed, she only has her memories and the story is told in flashbacks to her past. Her mother was manipulative and controlling, but also fragile and lonely and lives vicariously through Megan. Her lies end up hurting others and this has devastating consequences.
Over the years, Megan’s childhood friend, Gideon grows closer and they finally declare their love for each other…….but Megan’s mother has other plans.
Believing Gideon has someone else, Megan marries Jordan, but this marriage is violent and just plain nasty.
Megan really has been through a lot and now lying in her bed she is tortured by the evil Annie. Can she make herself understood before it’s too late?
This is a gripping read, full of emotion, love, spite, fear and hope. The descriptions of the care home routines is so accurate, from the lack of resources to the care they give their residents. (My mother is a resident herself due to dementia and I know first hand the pressures they are under, but the care shown to these frail people is never in doubt….luckily!)
I cannot imagine the fear of someone being unable to communicate while being mistreated in such a way as Megan. The wonderfully emotive writing by Alex Craigie really does bring this point alive, which makes this a tense, disturbing read at times and is so compelling I read it in one sitting.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
As Megan lies in bed, she only has her memories and the story is told in flashbacks to her past. Her mother was manipulative and controlling, but also fragile and lonely and lives vicariously through Megan. Her lies end up hurting others and this has devastating consequences.
Over the years, Megan’s childhood friend, Gideon grows closer and they finally declare their love for each other…….but Megan’s mother has other plans.
Believing Gideon has someone else, Megan marries Jordan, but this marriage is violent and just plain nasty.
Megan really has been through a lot and now lying in her bed she is tortured by the evil Annie. Can she make herself understood before it’s too late?
This is a gripping read, full of emotion, love, spite, fear and hope. The descriptions of the care home routines is so accurate, from the lack of resources to the care they give their residents. (My mother is a resident herself due to dementia and I know first hand the pressures they are under, but the care shown to these frail people is never in doubt….luckily!)
I cannot imagine the fear of someone being unable to communicate while being mistreated in such a way as Megan. The wonderfully emotive writing by Alex Craigie really does bring this point alive, which makes this a tense, disturbing read at times and is so compelling I read it in one sitting.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
February 15, 2022
This fast paced thriller plays into the fears of most of us. Those where we end up incapacitated, unable to communicate in the hands of strangers, some of whom may not have our best interests at heart. It is a page turner as the reader becomes engaged in a race against time and the danger that awaits.
The story is set in the present and the daily anquish of Megan who suffered a stroke and has been placed in an understaffed and cheap care home, where support for recovery is not on the menu. As she lies in a bed, dependent on a variety of carers, some dedicated and some sadistic, Megan also has all the time in the world to reflect on her life from a childhood marred by tragedy and manipulation, through a successful classical musical career, a love that brought light into her life and the disastrous outcome of a doomed marriage to a narcistic and violent bully.
These two timelines have converged to bring Megan to a place where past wrongs by others result in her torment and intended death at the hands of an avenging psychopath
The author has created memorable and relateable characters. Your heart goes out to Megan as she is swept through life on the whims and cruel intentions of others, willing her to find the strength to escape the chains that are used to keep her under control. The evil in both men and women who hold the keys to those chains is chilling and malignant, and the entitlement and disdain shown to her by those who should love and nurture her is heartrending.
Alex Craigie is the master of suspense and maintains a pace that is breathless with the reader turning the pages anxious to find a glimmer of hope for the doomed Megan.
Horror and fantasy novels that portray monsters and evil are easier to read as they can be dismissed as imaginary… This thriller is however definitely close to home in many respects and it makes it all the more compelling a read. I can highly recommend.
The story is set in the present and the daily anquish of Megan who suffered a stroke and has been placed in an understaffed and cheap care home, where support for recovery is not on the menu. As she lies in a bed, dependent on a variety of carers, some dedicated and some sadistic, Megan also has all the time in the world to reflect on her life from a childhood marred by tragedy and manipulation, through a successful classical musical career, a love that brought light into her life and the disastrous outcome of a doomed marriage to a narcistic and violent bully.
These two timelines have converged to bring Megan to a place where past wrongs by others result in her torment and intended death at the hands of an avenging psychopath
The author has created memorable and relateable characters. Your heart goes out to Megan as she is swept through life on the whims and cruel intentions of others, willing her to find the strength to escape the chains that are used to keep her under control. The evil in both men and women who hold the keys to those chains is chilling and malignant, and the entitlement and disdain shown to her by those who should love and nurture her is heartrending.
Alex Craigie is the master of suspense and maintains a pace that is breathless with the reader turning the pages anxious to find a glimmer of hope for the doomed Megan.
Horror and fantasy novels that portray monsters and evil are easier to read as they can be dismissed as imaginary… This thriller is however definitely close to home in many respects and it makes it all the more compelling a read. I can highly recommend.
May 17, 2022
Megan has a successful career as a pianist but that's not quite enough for her mother, who manipulates her into marrying a movie star. When he turns out to be even more vicious and controlling than her mother, she stays in the marriage for the sake of the children. Eventually, as they leave home, she starts to recover her self-esteem, until disaster strikes: a cerebral haemorrhage that leaves her without movement or speech. She's farmed off to a care home where, due both to overwork and straightforward maliciousness, kindness is in short supply. That would be bad enough, but there's one member of staff who perceives Megan's helplessness and as an opportunity to avenge her troubled childhood.
Alex Christie brilliantly evokes the terror of being totally dependent on people who are not only neglectful, but cruel, alongside the cracks in the care system that prioritises profit over people. An uncomfortable story beautifully told.
Alex Christie brilliantly evokes the terror of being totally dependent on people who are not only neglectful, but cruel, alongside the cracks in the care system that prioritises profit over people. An uncomfortable story beautifully told.
March 28, 2021
A compelling and emotional story
The plot is engaging and the fact that is skipping through time so seamlessly is amazing. I enjoyed how easy it is to orientate in the timeline. You know some books that are back and forth from the future to past to present can confuse you? Well, this one is not one of them - the writing is superb and the story is moving at a pace that you can follow easily. The story itself was emotionally packed and I really enjoyed every bit of it.
I'm happy I read this book. I recommend it :)
Julie,
BooksShelf Reviewer
The plot is engaging and the fact that is skipping through time so seamlessly is amazing. I enjoyed how easy it is to orientate in the timeline. You know some books that are back and forth from the future to past to present can confuse you? Well, this one is not one of them - the writing is superb and the story is moving at a pace that you can follow easily. The story itself was emotionally packed and I really enjoyed every bit of it.
I'm happy I read this book. I recommend it :)
Julie,
BooksShelf Reviewer
June 15, 2022
Someone Close to Home is the tragic life story of fictional pianist Megan Youngblood. The narrative is told through Megan, who alternates the story between the classical pianist part of her life and to her frightening time spent in a long-term care facility.
Megan was always a meek child; her personality formed early by the actions of her controlling and manipulative mother. After Gideon, her neighbor, rescues her from some school bullies, the two form a friendship that blossoms into true love.
Unfortunately, Megan’s mother has other plans. Her dream is for Megan to marry Jordan, the actor. So, Megan’s mother destroys any chance of a relationship with Gideon. She pushes her daughter into Jordan’s waiting arms.
From the beginning, Megan senses something wrong in their relationship. Jordan tries to convince Megan he loves her, but for him, it’s all a game. His soul’s purpose is to dominate and control her. It doesn’t take long for him to prove his domination when, on their wedding night, he rapes her. This abuse continues throughout their marriage.
Some may ask why Megan stayed in such a relationship for so long. Why didn’t she leave? True to life, Megan had to come to these decisions on her own. She had to find her own strength. And then… the horrible accident happens, and she suffers a debilitating stroke.
One theme of this story is to highlight the appalling conditions found in long-term care homes, where actions beyond Megan’s control made her time in the facility worse. I thought the sexual abuse she suffered from her husband was bad. However, the abuse she endured from Annie while in the long-term care home is truly terrifying!
Written in the first person, the reader experiences the horrors right along with Megan. This was one of the most terrifying psychological suspense books I’ve ever read. Yet, I couldn’t put this book down! Cleverly written, Alex Craigie weaves a thread of hope throughout the book, scattered like breadcrumbs for the reader to follow.
If you love psychological suspense novels, you will not want to miss this book. The characters are unforgettable!
Megan was always a meek child; her personality formed early by the actions of her controlling and manipulative mother. After Gideon, her neighbor, rescues her from some school bullies, the two form a friendship that blossoms into true love.
Unfortunately, Megan’s mother has other plans. Her dream is for Megan to marry Jordan, the actor. So, Megan’s mother destroys any chance of a relationship with Gideon. She pushes her daughter into Jordan’s waiting arms.
From the beginning, Megan senses something wrong in their relationship. Jordan tries to convince Megan he loves her, but for him, it’s all a game. His soul’s purpose is to dominate and control her. It doesn’t take long for him to prove his domination when, on their wedding night, he rapes her. This abuse continues throughout their marriage.
Some may ask why Megan stayed in such a relationship for so long. Why didn’t she leave? True to life, Megan had to come to these decisions on her own. She had to find her own strength. And then… the horrible accident happens, and she suffers a debilitating stroke.
One theme of this story is to highlight the appalling conditions found in long-term care homes, where actions beyond Megan’s control made her time in the facility worse. I thought the sexual abuse she suffered from her husband was bad. However, the abuse she endured from Annie while in the long-term care home is truly terrifying!
Written in the first person, the reader experiences the horrors right along with Megan. This was one of the most terrifying psychological suspense books I’ve ever read. Yet, I couldn’t put this book down! Cleverly written, Alex Craigie weaves a thread of hope throughout the book, scattered like breadcrumbs for the reader to follow.
If you love psychological suspense novels, you will not want to miss this book. The characters are unforgettable!
November 16, 2022
I picked up Alex Craigie’s Someone Closer to Home after reading a number of positive reviews of her work. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. I found the book compelling, suspenseful, and strongly emotive.
The opening of the book skillfully sets the stage for what is to come, as first-person narrator Megan describes the immediate surroundings of her circumscribed existence: a rounded footboard, a chest of drawers, a commode, and a clock that not only rules her life but signals an approaching horror. The only things we know about her are that she is apparently bedridden, and she hates her mother, who has been dead for over thirty years. Clearly, Megan is a woman who has a burning need to tell her story.
The book is structured in alternating sections between what is happening to Megan, a brilliant concert pianist who has recently had a stroke and is now cared for in a third-rate nursing home, and her past life as a daughter, friend, wife, and mother. In her helpless state, unable to communicate, she can only replay her life in her head, unless she wants to replace her own life with pseudo-lives on television. Her reflections are then constantly interrupted by various caregivers who have a schedule to keep.
Between physical neglect and psychological torture, the details of how some of these care-givers look after Megan–one in particular, Annie–are not for the faint of heart. Megan’s complete dependence on other people for daily necessities, including food, water, and simple personal hygiene is horrific in and of itself. She has lost her identity and become a nonperson.
Personal identity looms large in Megan’s past life as well. Lied to by her mother and a wealthy actor her mother chose for her, Megan was manipulated into turning her back on the love of her life and marrying a man she didn’t love, who turned out to have a Jekyll and Hyde personality, subjecting her to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
Just as unflinching reflection on her own role in losing her identity to her mother and her husband is the only way Megan can come to terms with her past, she realizes she must somehow regain her ability to communicate or be doomed to live out the rest of her life as a nonperson at the mercy of neglectful care-givers and the increasingly sadistic Annie.
I was so invested in Megan that, as the book progressed, I found myself getting more and more angry at how she was being treated. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what had happened to her in the past–all the while praying she would be released from her current tormentors, and they would get their comeuppance. That said, Megan is far from a cardboard cutout of a victim. She is fully three-dimensional, with complex feelings and complex motivations.
I found Someone Close to Home a solid psychological thriller with a fully-developed protagonist I cared deeply about, Machiavellian antagonists, and plot developments that kept me turning the pages. In addition, the book serves as important social commentary on how we care (or don’t care) for the most vulnerable in our society. It will stay with me for a long time to come.
The opening of the book skillfully sets the stage for what is to come, as first-person narrator Megan describes the immediate surroundings of her circumscribed existence: a rounded footboard, a chest of drawers, a commode, and a clock that not only rules her life but signals an approaching horror. The only things we know about her are that she is apparently bedridden, and she hates her mother, who has been dead for over thirty years. Clearly, Megan is a woman who has a burning need to tell her story.
The book is structured in alternating sections between what is happening to Megan, a brilliant concert pianist who has recently had a stroke and is now cared for in a third-rate nursing home, and her past life as a daughter, friend, wife, and mother. In her helpless state, unable to communicate, she can only replay her life in her head, unless she wants to replace her own life with pseudo-lives on television. Her reflections are then constantly interrupted by various caregivers who have a schedule to keep.
Between physical neglect and psychological torture, the details of how some of these care-givers look after Megan–one in particular, Annie–are not for the faint of heart. Megan’s complete dependence on other people for daily necessities, including food, water, and simple personal hygiene is horrific in and of itself. She has lost her identity and become a nonperson.
Personal identity looms large in Megan’s past life as well. Lied to by her mother and a wealthy actor her mother chose for her, Megan was manipulated into turning her back on the love of her life and marrying a man she didn’t love, who turned out to have a Jekyll and Hyde personality, subjecting her to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
Just as unflinching reflection on her own role in losing her identity to her mother and her husband is the only way Megan can come to terms with her past, she realizes she must somehow regain her ability to communicate or be doomed to live out the rest of her life as a nonperson at the mercy of neglectful care-givers and the increasingly sadistic Annie.
I was so invested in Megan that, as the book progressed, I found myself getting more and more angry at how she was being treated. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what had happened to her in the past–all the while praying she would be released from her current tormentors, and they would get their comeuppance. That said, Megan is far from a cardboard cutout of a victim. She is fully three-dimensional, with complex feelings and complex motivations.
I found Someone Close to Home a solid psychological thriller with a fully-developed protagonist I cared deeply about, Machiavellian antagonists, and plot developments that kept me turning the pages. In addition, the book serves as important social commentary on how we care (or don’t care) for the most vulnerable in our society. It will stay with me for a long time to come.
April 13, 2022
Alex's story is chillingly real. For me with my disabilities it was particularly frightening and easy to put myself in the woman's place, since I sometimes feel I'm a prisoner to my "issues." The author shines a light on important subjects. It maybe difficult for some to read, but an important message, delivered in a breathtaking way.
September 19, 2016
If you enjoyed “Ove” or “Edward” or “The hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared” then this book is for you. The story of a woman sitting helplessly in a care home remising about her life. She can’t move or speak at all and is totally reliant on the staff for everything- her personal care, food, water, temperature etc. Many see her as a job and not a human and don’t consider that inside she has an active brain and might be enjoying the film on TV as they switch it off. She is unable to communicate other than the odd grunt to let them know anything. Megan remembers her life and loves, passions and talents as she watches the world go on around her. This is a touching book and makes you really think how it must be for someone in this position who has perhaps been accidently left facing the wall “for just a few moment” and then that turns into hours as staff are busy with other patients. A brilliantly written story which has been researched and thought about in depth. From frail and vulnerable to a strong, determined woman due to the words of a friend, the story alternates between now and then. This is harrowing in parts but just as uplifting in others. A story of determination and love and the unforeseen that life can throw at us. One of the best books I have read. If I could give this 10* then I would.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review
March 11, 2022
“Someone Close to Home” is a powerful read that I had difficulty putting down. Megan suffers a stroke and is placed in a lower-end care facility whose priority is making money over patient care. Unable to move or communicate, she is at the mercy of the staff, some of which are cruel. The story is told in Megan’s current time frame and her past. It takes us into a life of a successful pianist, a controlling mother, and shows how she ended up alone in horrible conditions. The subjects of eldercare and abusive relationships were handled well and had me rooting for Megan throughout her life. The narrative was told in the first person, and it was like I was sitting next to someone telling me about their life. This is a fast-paced story that tugged at my heart. I couldn’t help but admire Megan’s strength, even with all the poor decisions she made throughout her life. There were moments of self-sacrifice and then, thankfully, a bit of blissful peace for her. This is a well-written story, brimming with emotions, that I highly recommend.
October 8, 2016
This book is Alex Craigies debut book and what a great book it is.
Megan has had a stroke and she is only 45 she is in a nursing home unable to speak but she knows what is going on, most of her carers are nice but one wants to torture her for her mothers sins.
The story goes between present day and Megans past.
Megans childhood was good until the day they saw her father embracing there cleaner Jenny then everything changed, her father died and her mother changed and took revenge on Jenny.The only bright light was her friend Gideon.
Megan becomes a world known pianist and Gideon and her drift apart.
She meets Jordan but doesn't love him but end up marring him he is also abusive and cruel.
This book is a very moving story and to think in care homes this could happen where staff are to busy with other patients and you get left facing the wall thinking of your past.
Thanks to the Author and Booklover Catlady Publicity for a copy of this book to review.
Megan has had a stroke and she is only 45 she is in a nursing home unable to speak but she knows what is going on, most of her carers are nice but one wants to torture her for her mothers sins.
The story goes between present day and Megans past.
Megans childhood was good until the day they saw her father embracing there cleaner Jenny then everything changed, her father died and her mother changed and took revenge on Jenny.The only bright light was her friend Gideon.
Megan becomes a world known pianist and Gideon and her drift apart.
She meets Jordan but doesn't love him but end up marring him he is also abusive and cruel.
This book is a very moving story and to think in care homes this could happen where staff are to busy with other patients and you get left facing the wall thinking of your past.
Thanks to the Author and Booklover Catlady Publicity for a copy of this book to review.
January 9, 2017
A reviewer wrote " Someone Close To Home has to be one of the most disturbing and distressing reads I have ever read" and I do agree 100%. I usually read thrillers/horror books so this isn't why I only give 2 stars. I don't want to give to much away so I'll be brief. My biggest issue is that Megan's character while very intelligent,comes across as extremely naive. Why does she take her mothers word about Gideon absolutely without any attempt to confirm or why she so completely trust in Jordan's "true self" with a couple of written notes. This drove me crazy and took away from some of the main plot themes. The last 1/3 of the book somewhat redeemed these points, but I don't think I felt as sympathetic to Megan's character as most readers will. If she wasn't so naive, the book would have been a few chapters.
February 2, 2019
Reviewed for Readers’ Favorite.
Alex Craigie’s debut work, Someone Close to Home, opens eerily, as his subject’s eyes flick, flick, flick . . . Shortly, readers learn that Megan Youngblood, a world-renowned pianist, is hospitalized, unable to communicate. Without an ally to speak on her behalf, she suffers the unkindnesses—and in some situations, outright intentional infliction of harm—brought on by those in whose care her son and daughter left her. As Megan recalls scenes from her past, which are centered around her overbearing and manipulative mother, and later, of a cruel and abusive husband, Craigie fills in the blanks. Megan suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak.
Read more at http://www.patriciareding.com/blog-in....
Alex Craigie’s debut work, Someone Close to Home, opens eerily, as his subject’s eyes flick, flick, flick . . . Shortly, readers learn that Megan Youngblood, a world-renowned pianist, is hospitalized, unable to communicate. Without an ally to speak on her behalf, she suffers the unkindnesses—and in some situations, outright intentional infliction of harm—brought on by those in whose care her son and daughter left her. As Megan recalls scenes from her past, which are centered around her overbearing and manipulative mother, and later, of a cruel and abusive husband, Craigie fills in the blanks. Megan suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak.
Read more at http://www.patriciareding.com/blog-in....
September 24, 2019
This book was a real surprise – quite beautifully written, telling a compelling and disturbing story, with the most stunning characterisation. The book opens with Megan watching the clock, dreading what is to come, taking in her surroundings, and remembering the damage her mother did to her life. And from there, the story gently alternates – Megan looking back on significant moments through her life, and the present day in a care home where threat and danger steadily escalates.
Megan’s history is fascinating, sometimes shocking, and has the vividness of a memoir – her manipulative and selfish mother, her refuge in childhood friendship with Gideon, her life as a concert pianist, her horrendous marriage, the support of friends – but the story always returns to the home in the present day, where she is desperately vulnerable, unable to move or speak following a stroke.
Life within the home is astonishingly real, and fortunately outside my experience – but the portrayal of the various “carers”, the good, the bad and the indifferent, is exceptional. And then there’s Annie, with whom she shares some history – cruel, sadistic, slightly unhinged, in a position of power and with a score to settle. Heavens, she’s terrifying – her return to the home is awaited through much of the book, and the reality is perhaps worse than the anticipation.
In many ways, this book defies categorisation. There’s powerful social comment with the theme of institutional neglect, inadequate supervision, underpaid carers doing the minimum possible and forgetting that those in their care are individuals, carelessness veering into appalling cruelty – and that scenario, based on inescapable reality, then acquires an edge of terror. It’s impossible not to have an extreme emotional response – but it’s never overplayed. It’s undoubtedly right to describe the book as literary fiction, but there’s romance there too, and domestic drama – and a mounting and inescapable tension worthy of the best psychological thriller.
There were times I had to put the book down, when everything became too much to bear – and that only testifies to the tremendous strength of the writing. The author has the ability to make you feel, and feel deeply – both the rare moments of joy and pleasure (yes, there are a few) and a despair and impotence about every casual act of cruelty. Her descriptive powers are exceptional, a strong sense of place with the most powerful imagery, involving all the senses – and there’s a strong contrast between Megan’s former lifestyle of the rich and famous and the detailed descriptions of The Yews, her life confined within a down-at-heel room with broken furniture and within the constraints of her own body.
The ending, when it came, really took me by considerable surprise: the pace suddenly increases, and it made my heart beat considerably faster. Is it ultimately uplifting? I’m not really sure, when so much has gone before. But I do know that this was a remarkable book that everyone should add to their reading list – I’d recommend it without reservation.
Megan’s history is fascinating, sometimes shocking, and has the vividness of a memoir – her manipulative and selfish mother, her refuge in childhood friendship with Gideon, her life as a concert pianist, her horrendous marriage, the support of friends – but the story always returns to the home in the present day, where she is desperately vulnerable, unable to move or speak following a stroke.
Life within the home is astonishingly real, and fortunately outside my experience – but the portrayal of the various “carers”, the good, the bad and the indifferent, is exceptional. And then there’s Annie, with whom she shares some history – cruel, sadistic, slightly unhinged, in a position of power and with a score to settle. Heavens, she’s terrifying – her return to the home is awaited through much of the book, and the reality is perhaps worse than the anticipation.
In many ways, this book defies categorisation. There’s powerful social comment with the theme of institutional neglect, inadequate supervision, underpaid carers doing the minimum possible and forgetting that those in their care are individuals, carelessness veering into appalling cruelty – and that scenario, based on inescapable reality, then acquires an edge of terror. It’s impossible not to have an extreme emotional response – but it’s never overplayed. It’s undoubtedly right to describe the book as literary fiction, but there’s romance there too, and domestic drama – and a mounting and inescapable tension worthy of the best psychological thriller.
There were times I had to put the book down, when everything became too much to bear – and that only testifies to the tremendous strength of the writing. The author has the ability to make you feel, and feel deeply – both the rare moments of joy and pleasure (yes, there are a few) and a despair and impotence about every casual act of cruelty. Her descriptive powers are exceptional, a strong sense of place with the most powerful imagery, involving all the senses – and there’s a strong contrast between Megan’s former lifestyle of the rich and famous and the detailed descriptions of The Yews, her life confined within a down-at-heel room with broken furniture and within the constraints of her own body.
The ending, when it came, really took me by considerable surprise: the pace suddenly increases, and it made my heart beat considerably faster. Is it ultimately uplifting? I’m not really sure, when so much has gone before. But I do know that this was a remarkable book that everyone should add to their reading list – I’d recommend it without reservation.
August 3, 2018
Someone Close to Home by Alex Craigie is amazing! Megan Youngblood is a young girl with a domineering and manipulating mother who is seeking to climb the social ladder by any means. Megan is a talented pianist who grows her talent and becomes renowned, earning money and fame. All she needs is Gideon, but life takes a turn. We are given a front row seat to the emotional and physical roller coaster ride that is Megan’s life after a stroke places her in a nursing home at the hands of a vengeful and vicious victim of her mother’s evil plotting.
Written as a memoir, Someone Close to Home is captivating as the reader moves from memory to the present and back. Craigie skillfully places her readers into the story through the strong character developments and ease in which the dialog and plot move. Without realizing it, I cheered at Jordan’s departure; I cried at the pain of Megan; I slapped my chair at Theo’s dressing down by Gideon; Martin’s subsequent impact on Annie; and when I closed the book at the end of the last sentence I cried.
This is a beautifully written book, mixing thriller with memoir style writing. I have not had so many different reactions to one book ever. Craigie has done what every author wants – transported their reader into a powerful, creative story and let them experience the book completely on many different levels. There are several different characters in this book that are incredibly remarkable.
If you are looking for a book that holds your attention and elicits passionate responses from its readers, this is the book! I cannot highly recommend this book enough. I was truly surprised at how it captured and held my attention and continued well past the last page – and I absolutely hate to cry!
Written as a memoir, Someone Close to Home is captivating as the reader moves from memory to the present and back. Craigie skillfully places her readers into the story through the strong character developments and ease in which the dialog and plot move. Without realizing it, I cheered at Jordan’s departure; I cried at the pain of Megan; I slapped my chair at Theo’s dressing down by Gideon; Martin’s subsequent impact on Annie; and when I closed the book at the end of the last sentence I cried.
This is a beautifully written book, mixing thriller with memoir style writing. I have not had so many different reactions to one book ever. Craigie has done what every author wants – transported their reader into a powerful, creative story and let them experience the book completely on many different levels. There are several different characters in this book that are incredibly remarkable.
If you are looking for a book that holds your attention and elicits passionate responses from its readers, this is the book! I cannot highly recommend this book enough. I was truly surprised at how it captured and held my attention and continued well past the last page – and I absolutely hate to cry!
November 27, 2020
Someone Close to Home by Alex Craigie is a poignant tale of a talented and successful pianist who is too weak to rise to her own defense and thinks of others before her own self. A brilliantly written first person account of Megan, who is now languishing in The Yews, a cheap nursing home, and is at the mercy of insensitive caretakers who consider the inmates irrelevant. They have to face rough handling, insensitive comments; even verbal and physical assaults like slaps. They long for a genuine, friendly human contact but are treated as “their tasks.”
Mrs. Kenton’s non-serious attitude in managing the nursing home smacks of negligence, she doesn’t investigate any irregularities and fires the wrong persons. Annie’s atrocities go undetected for a long time but all that bothers Mrs. Kenton is, the reputation of the institution. Megan is the worst sufferer, as she has lost control over her body and her speech due to a stroke. She is “trapped in a web spun by adults,” (to put it mildly, in her own words.)
Craigie enters into the mind of Megan to bring out the abuse, the suffering and the resilience that shines through this book. The indifference of her son, whose love didn’t let her escape domestic violence, is heart breaking. Even Camilla, her daughter is callous and cold. Some of the characters are devilish, difficult to tolerate – Jordan, the tormentor who only knows bullying, Megan’s mother – devious, selfish and cunning and Annie – the pervert beyond anybody’s imagination. They fit into the story with perfect ease.
This book is emotionally draining and is predictable but is significant from two angles. One, it exposes the condition of nursing homes, which need to focus on hiring professionally trained staff and providing better care than just earning money. Two, it points at clear red flags in understanding relationships that Megan ignores.
Mrs. Kenton’s non-serious attitude in managing the nursing home smacks of negligence, she doesn’t investigate any irregularities and fires the wrong persons. Annie’s atrocities go undetected for a long time but all that bothers Mrs. Kenton is, the reputation of the institution. Megan is the worst sufferer, as she has lost control over her body and her speech due to a stroke. She is “trapped in a web spun by adults,” (to put it mildly, in her own words.)
Craigie enters into the mind of Megan to bring out the abuse, the suffering and the resilience that shines through this book. The indifference of her son, whose love didn’t let her escape domestic violence, is heart breaking. Even Camilla, her daughter is callous and cold. Some of the characters are devilish, difficult to tolerate – Jordan, the tormentor who only knows bullying, Megan’s mother – devious, selfish and cunning and Annie – the pervert beyond anybody’s imagination. They fit into the story with perfect ease.
This book is emotionally draining and is predictable but is significant from two angles. One, it exposes the condition of nursing homes, which need to focus on hiring professionally trained staff and providing better care than just earning money. Two, it points at clear red flags in understanding relationships that Megan ignores.
June 11, 2022
I had never read any of Alex Craigie’s books, the premise of this one was enticing. I was not disappointed – what I read has stuck with me long after I read the last page. The author is a compelling author. She wrote the book in response to her experience with care homes – what we call retirement homes here in the US.
Megan Youngblood’s family is dysfunctional. Her mother is a grasping, ambitious and manipulative person. When Megan becomes an international star as a pianist, she takes over her life, including removing Megan’s best friend and soulmate, Gideon, from her life. Then she forces Megan to marry an abusive but popular actor. The final blow occurs when she suffers a stroke and her children banish her to a horrific care home, where she is unable to communicate her needs. Totally dependent on others, she experiences institutional neglect. And then she faces her greatest enemy – Annie, a sadistic nurse with a reason to hate her. How far will Annie go? Can anyone rescue Megan?
I can’t say enough about this book. It may reflect the care home situation in the UK but it could just as easily be set in the US. The characters are so beautifully drawn and reflect the best and the most venal of human nature. And the mixing of romance (will Megan and Gideon every reunite?), suspense (who else will Annie hurt of kill before she is stopped), and social commentary is compelling.
I highly recommend this book – it was a page-turner – and look forward to reading more of this author’s books.
Megan Youngblood’s family is dysfunctional. Her mother is a grasping, ambitious and manipulative person. When Megan becomes an international star as a pianist, she takes over her life, including removing Megan’s best friend and soulmate, Gideon, from her life. Then she forces Megan to marry an abusive but popular actor. The final blow occurs when she suffers a stroke and her children banish her to a horrific care home, where she is unable to communicate her needs. Totally dependent on others, she experiences institutional neglect. And then she faces her greatest enemy – Annie, a sadistic nurse with a reason to hate her. How far will Annie go? Can anyone rescue Megan?
I can’t say enough about this book. It may reflect the care home situation in the UK but it could just as easily be set in the US. The characters are so beautifully drawn and reflect the best and the most venal of human nature. And the mixing of romance (will Megan and Gideon every reunite?), suspense (who else will Annie hurt of kill before she is stopped), and social commentary is compelling.
I highly recommend this book – it was a page-turner – and look forward to reading more of this author’s books.
August 23, 2024
Wow! This book left me reeling. I don't want to leave any spoilers in this review, so I'll be brief about the storyline.
Meg is a talented and world renowned pianist. She's playing on big stages across the world. Only one hitch to what would be an otherwise glamorous life. She's trapped under the thumb of her manipulative and narcissistic mother. But with the encouragement of her young friend, Gideon, she finally finds the courage to stand up to the woman and take back her life.
Only it doesn't end there. It seems that Meg moves from one manipulated trap to another. I wanted so badly for her to finally be free.
Her life goes from bad to worse when she is forced to marry a millionaire movie star. She knows she doesn't love him, but can't find a way to call off the wedding. Then she's shocked at what happens afterward and could not imagine the monster he'd turn into.
Now, she's trapped in a loveless and abusive marriage.
Years pass and finally, her husband dies. Now's she free to live again and take control of her life, only to suffer a debilitating stroke that leaves her trapped again, only this time inside a body she can't move and unable to speak or communicate. What happens next is every aging person's nightmare inside a care facility where most are waiting to die. Will Meg ever find any peace? I'll not tell you. I will say the story does have a satisfying ending that comes full circle. Brilliantly written, this is a story I could not look away from. I highly recommend it!
Meg is a talented and world renowned pianist. She's playing on big stages across the world. Only one hitch to what would be an otherwise glamorous life. She's trapped under the thumb of her manipulative and narcissistic mother. But with the encouragement of her young friend, Gideon, she finally finds the courage to stand up to the woman and take back her life.
Only it doesn't end there. It seems that Meg moves from one manipulated trap to another. I wanted so badly for her to finally be free.
Her life goes from bad to worse when she is forced to marry a millionaire movie star. She knows she doesn't love him, but can't find a way to call off the wedding. Then she's shocked at what happens afterward and could not imagine the monster he'd turn into.
Now, she's trapped in a loveless and abusive marriage.
Years pass and finally, her husband dies. Now's she free to live again and take control of her life, only to suffer a debilitating stroke that leaves her trapped again, only this time inside a body she can't move and unable to speak or communicate. What happens next is every aging person's nightmare inside a care facility where most are waiting to die. Will Meg ever find any peace? I'll not tell you. I will say the story does have a satisfying ending that comes full circle. Brilliantly written, this is a story I could not look away from. I highly recommend it!
March 9, 2021
A book formatted in a very uncommon way. The author takes the reader deep into the mind of Megan but that journey is circular. The reader gets Megan's life in fits and starts and only through conceivable detective work, the reader can piece that life together.
The central point of Someone Close to Home must be to shine a bright light on the terrible conditions found in long-term care homes. The huge amount of deaths from the pandemic in those homes have been harrowing. This kind of abuse and evil was more common in days before the pandemic. The only positive these days is it is possible that someone who shouldn't be caring for those who need help may get the virus too.
Someone Close to Home reminds this reader of variations on Rear Window and Misery. The book could be presented as a horror book for the stark terror that is presented. To be helpless in your body while an evil person does terrible things to you is akin to being buried alive.
If you want a journey that will expose the depravity of the human soul, this book is for you. For this reader, a sense of chronological order in the flashbacks would have made this much easier to read. Fans of the paranormal thriller will like this book too. A very uncommon work.
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The central point of Someone Close to Home must be to shine a bright light on the terrible conditions found in long-term care homes. The huge amount of deaths from the pandemic in those homes have been harrowing. This kind of abuse and evil was more common in days before the pandemic. The only positive these days is it is possible that someone who shouldn't be caring for those who need help may get the virus too.
Someone Close to Home reminds this reader of variations on Rear Window and Misery. The book could be presented as a horror book for the stark terror that is presented. To be helpless in your body while an evil person does terrible things to you is akin to being buried alive.
If you want a journey that will expose the depravity of the human soul, this book is for you. For this reader, a sense of chronological order in the flashbacks would have made this much easier to read. Fans of the paranormal thriller will like this book too. A very uncommon work.
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
April 11, 2021
Someone Close to Home is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. The story is told through Megan, who alternates between the young classical pianist to her disturbing time in a care facility. While the story is fiction, I found myself comparing Megan's experiences with those of my mother.
Megan and her neighbor, Gideon, form a special friendship that blooms into a love story. Unfortunately, Megan's mother is controlling and manipulative. Her dream is for her daughter to marry the playboy actor, Jordan. He tries to convince Megan he is in love with her, but the attraction seems to be based mostly because he is used to having women throw themselves at him.
If readers like villainous characters, this book has plenty. Some of the workers in the care home abuse the residents. There are moments where I was furious that the owner of the facility was far more concerned with profits and reputation rather than carrying for the residents most basic needs. About the only thing that I found challenging at times was trying to keep track of all of the characters as there are many caregivers and residents. I still have to rate the story five stars because the writing is excellent and the plot moves along at a steady pace. I know after finishing this book that this will not be the last book by Alex Craigie I will read.
Megan and her neighbor, Gideon, form a special friendship that blooms into a love story. Unfortunately, Megan's mother is controlling and manipulative. Her dream is for her daughter to marry the playboy actor, Jordan. He tries to convince Megan he is in love with her, but the attraction seems to be based mostly because he is used to having women throw themselves at him.
If readers like villainous characters, this book has plenty. Some of the workers in the care home abuse the residents. There are moments where I was furious that the owner of the facility was far more concerned with profits and reputation rather than carrying for the residents most basic needs. About the only thing that I found challenging at times was trying to keep track of all of the characters as there are many caregivers and residents. I still have to rate the story five stars because the writing is excellent and the plot moves along at a steady pace. I know after finishing this book that this will not be the last book by Alex Craigie I will read.
November 18, 2020
I read on the treadmill, and this page-turner made me exercise three times my usual minutes! I think I burned off an entire chocolate cake in calories. I couldn’t put it down (the book, not the cake).
Megan was a successful concert pianist with a bright future. But her career and happiness are a part of her past at the opening of the book. Megan lives in a neglectful nursing home, unable to speak or control her body, and someone in the home is determined to torment her.
The story covers a time period of about a month or so. The progression of Megan’s life, starting at age 9, weaves through her memories, and eventually the timelines intersect. Both timelines are gripping. Megan’s inability to protect herself is heart-wrenching and infuriating. Craigie did a great job of stringing me along as Megan navigates the danger and vulnerability in her life.
Megan is a great character and the most three dimensional and relatable of the cast. I empathized with her immediately, understood her choices (even the horrible ones), and was in her corner for the duration. The pace is speedy, the setting bleak. A great choice for readers who love a gripping thriller.
Megan was a successful concert pianist with a bright future. But her career and happiness are a part of her past at the opening of the book. Megan lives in a neglectful nursing home, unable to speak or control her body, and someone in the home is determined to torment her.
The story covers a time period of about a month or so. The progression of Megan’s life, starting at age 9, weaves through her memories, and eventually the timelines intersect. Both timelines are gripping. Megan’s inability to protect herself is heart-wrenching and infuriating. Craigie did a great job of stringing me along as Megan navigates the danger and vulnerability in her life.
Megan is a great character and the most three dimensional and relatable of the cast. I empathized with her immediately, understood her choices (even the horrible ones), and was in her corner for the duration. The pace is speedy, the setting bleak. A great choice for readers who love a gripping thriller.
December 20, 2019
Excellent!
I really loved this book! A childhood love, foiled by a mother who wants money, rather than love for her daughter! Revenge is a care facility, how can this be stopped? Or can it be? Will love win out in the end? No spoilers here...read and enjoy! Will read more by this aurhoe!
I really loved this book! A childhood love, foiled by a mother who wants money, rather than love for her daughter! Revenge is a care facility, how can this be stopped? Or can it be? Will love win out in the end? No spoilers here...read and enjoy! Will read more by this aurhoe!
October 3, 2021
Someone Close to Home by Alex Craigie is a great, emotional and very compelling book. The plot is overall sad but it is captivating. The story of the main heroine, her ups and downs since she was a kid and all the hardships is sorrowful. This book is one of the few deep emotional provoking books that I've read and I' glad I did. It is so unfortunate that what I've read is happening somewhere in the real world... Anyway, I recommend this book and I think it deserves 5 stars.
September 21, 2016
I am so thrilled that this book was sent to me as an ARC. Thank you to Booklover Catlady for this opportunity.
I was completely enthralled by this thriller. Megan has had a devastating stroke which affects her mobility and speech. She is only 45 years old and feels that life is over. What do you think about to pass the time??
Her endless struggle to be understood must have been immensely frustrating. Only a couple of people believe that she understands what is going on, the rest completely ignore her. She is in a nursing home being looked after by an army of carers. Mostly they are kind and dedicated, but some are malicious and violent. She doesn't miss anything but her inability to communicate leaves her seething. That is until one of the carers appears one day, and seems familiar. To Megan's horror, she realises that she was at school with her and her sister, and her mother was on the receiving end of a shameful behaviour by Megan's own mother.
Her life up to this point has definitely had highs and lows. Her childhood was mainly good until she and her mother saw her father embracing their cleaner Jenny. Nothing was ever the same again. After her father's death, she gradually discovered a side to her mother that both frightened and alarmed her. At the nursing home, one of the carers is familiar and soon reminds Megan who she is. \One of Jenny's daughters who is quick to remind Megan exactly what her own mother did and how. Her revenge was such that Jenny and her daughters were treated appallingly and ended up without money and friends. Jenny's life was shortened as a result.
Her childhood friend Gideon makes a lot of things more bearable, but Megan's shame after her father's death and her mother reaction leave her unable to talk about it. Slowly she and Gideon draft apart as her world tours as a pianist takes her away for long periods.
Up to this point, her mother took bookings for her concerts, organising accommodation, her finances and what she wore. With great courage, taken from a keepsake from Gideon, Megan stands up for herself and takes charge of her own life. That is until Jordan appears on the scene.
Nobody should have to put up with Megan's life and it spirals out of control. She hates her husband and is afraid of his violent temper. Sadly, her children are eventually caught up in his world of money and manipulation. This is one of those books that gets to you and keeps, you thinking. Excellent
I was completely enthralled by this thriller. Megan has had a devastating stroke which affects her mobility and speech. She is only 45 years old and feels that life is over. What do you think about to pass the time??
Her endless struggle to be understood must have been immensely frustrating. Only a couple of people believe that she understands what is going on, the rest completely ignore her. She is in a nursing home being looked after by an army of carers. Mostly they are kind and dedicated, but some are malicious and violent. She doesn't miss anything but her inability to communicate leaves her seething. That is until one of the carers appears one day, and seems familiar. To Megan's horror, she realises that she was at school with her and her sister, and her mother was on the receiving end of a shameful behaviour by Megan's own mother.
Her life up to this point has definitely had highs and lows. Her childhood was mainly good until she and her mother saw her father embracing their cleaner Jenny. Nothing was ever the same again. After her father's death, she gradually discovered a side to her mother that both frightened and alarmed her. At the nursing home, one of the carers is familiar and soon reminds Megan who she is. \One of Jenny's daughters who is quick to remind Megan exactly what her own mother did and how. Her revenge was such that Jenny and her daughters were treated appallingly and ended up without money and friends. Jenny's life was shortened as a result.
Her childhood friend Gideon makes a lot of things more bearable, but Megan's shame after her father's death and her mother reaction leave her unable to talk about it. Slowly she and Gideon draft apart as her world tours as a pianist takes her away for long periods.
Up to this point, her mother took bookings for her concerts, organising accommodation, her finances and what she wore. With great courage, taken from a keepsake from Gideon, Megan stands up for herself and takes charge of her own life. That is until Jordan appears on the scene.
Nobody should have to put up with Megan's life and it spirals out of control. She hates her husband and is afraid of his violent temper. Sadly, her children are eventually caught up in his world of money and manipulation. This is one of those books that gets to you and keeps, you thinking. Excellent
September 29, 2016
I received a free copy from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
This book reminded me of Douglas Sirk's melodramas: a story that spans decades and follows the misadventures of a good person surrounded by mostly bad people. Megan Youngblood used to be a famous pianist, but now she can't even feed herself. Alternating between the present and the past, we are given little morsels of Megan's story. In her life, there was love and loss, joy and sorrow, music, loneliness and betrayal. Now, there is only illness. Megan had a stroke and depends completely on her caretakers. Some are kind to her, others neglectful and at least one is plain evil. Some parts really made me cringe and I could hardly keep reading. Megan was always betrayed by those closest to her, so this abuse is nothing new even if she had never been more vulnerable. The book is well written and Megan's voice is so distinctive that you feel like you know her. This is a very moving story.
This book reminded me of Douglas Sirk's melodramas: a story that spans decades and follows the misadventures of a good person surrounded by mostly bad people. Megan Youngblood used to be a famous pianist, but now she can't even feed herself. Alternating between the present and the past, we are given little morsels of Megan's story. In her life, there was love and loss, joy and sorrow, music, loneliness and betrayal. Now, there is only illness. Megan had a stroke and depends completely on her caretakers. Some are kind to her, others neglectful and at least one is plain evil. Some parts really made me cringe and I could hardly keep reading. Megan was always betrayed by those closest to her, so this abuse is nothing new even if she had never been more vulnerable. The book is well written and Megan's voice is so distinctive that you feel like you know her. This is a very moving story.
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