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Beneath the Skin
No-one remembers your past. But you do.
‘Antonia, Antonia. My name is Antonia.’
It’s been her name for many years. But sometimes, like tonight, she forgets.
Antonia has a secret. A secret so dark and so deep that she can barely admit it to herself. Instead, she treats herself to Friday night sessions of self-harm while her husband David is at the pub, and her best friend Sophie is drinking too much wine a few doors down.
Nobody close to her knows the truth about what the teenage Antonia saw all those years ago. No-one, that is, except her mother. But Candy is in a care home now, her mind too addled to remember the truth. Antonia is safe. Isn’t she?
The lies start small. They always do. But when the tightly woven story you’ve told yourself begins to unravel, the truth threatens to come to the surface. And then what’s going to happen?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2017
1132 people are currently reading
1044 people want to read
About the author
Caroline England
21 books197 followersCWA Dagger shortlisted Caroline England is known as the ‘Duchess of dark domestic noir’. Her psychological suspense thrillers are BENEATH THE SKIN, the top ten ebook bestseller MY HUSBAND'S LIES, BETRAY HER, TRUTH GAMES, THE SINNER, THE STRANGER BESIDE ME and THE RETURN OF FRANKIE WHITTLE. BEHIND HER SMILE hits the shelves on 27 Novembery 2025.
Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGE, THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE and THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE.
Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area.
Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!
Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cazengland1/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-...
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS
Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGE, THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE and THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE.
Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area.
Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!
Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cazengland1/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-...
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
December 28, 2017
4☆ Gripping read
Beneath the skin is a book about the behaviour of a group of friends , four couples How they relate to each other, How they come across as best friends but are willing to stab each other in the back to protect themselves. Its about betrayal, secrets, lies, family, friendship, abuse.
I just want to mention that this book is more of a psychological drama than a thriller. But don't let that put you off it still weaves a fab story of twists and turns to keep you on your toes!
This is Caroline's debut novel and I think she done a really good job!
The characters were well thought out. I didn't like any of them. But i think that was the point. They are mostly conceited and self obsessed.
Hats off to Caroline for writing about alcoholism, self harming, deceit with sensitivity but enough punch to make an impact.
Beneath the skin is a slower paced read. There are many twists and turns and characters that you really do need time to process all the writing so you can fully immerse yourself into the story.
Don't give up on the amount of characters? Yes it is a lil confusing but they do eventually all click into place.
It's most definitely a character driven. So take your time to absorb.
Overall a great read, that I would recommend if you have plenty of time on your hands, as this is one you need to let sink in, if your looking for a psychological drama with enough twists to keep you reading more! If your looking for a book that has complex characters, full of drama and intrigue! Then this is the read for you!
I would like to thank Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the copy, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/1...
Beneath the skin is a book about the behaviour of a group of friends , four couples How they relate to each other, How they come across as best friends but are willing to stab each other in the back to protect themselves. Its about betrayal, secrets, lies, family, friendship, abuse.
I just want to mention that this book is more of a psychological drama than a thriller. But don't let that put you off it still weaves a fab story of twists and turns to keep you on your toes!
This is Caroline's debut novel and I think she done a really good job!
The characters were well thought out. I didn't like any of them. But i think that was the point. They are mostly conceited and self obsessed.
Hats off to Caroline for writing about alcoholism, self harming, deceit with sensitivity but enough punch to make an impact.
Beneath the skin is a slower paced read. There are many twists and turns and characters that you really do need time to process all the writing so you can fully immerse yourself into the story.
Don't give up on the amount of characters? Yes it is a lil confusing but they do eventually all click into place.
It's most definitely a character driven. So take your time to absorb.
Overall a great read, that I would recommend if you have plenty of time on your hands, as this is one you need to let sink in, if your looking for a psychological drama with enough twists to keep you reading more! If your looking for a book that has complex characters, full of drama and intrigue! Then this is the read for you!
I would like to thank Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the copy, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/1...
September 28, 2017
Great stories within a novel but it fell short on execution.
What are the dark secrets you bury have beneath the skin?
Four couples, intersected by friendship and work, carry the weight of secrets and lies. The opening starts off with the tease of a suspenseful thriller and creates a great hook. We meet Antonia in a bathtub taunting her body with a razor blade. We later learn of a group of friends, some married with children, fumbling through their lives with heavy psychological burdens.
The characters are plentiful however each has a distinct personality and relationships with their partners and with each other. The couple, Antonia, and Dave are the envy, a housewife, and a solicitor with a life replete with wealth. However, it is all pretense in a marriage undercut by deceit by Antonia's past and Dave's lie of omission. Sophie, Antonia's childhood friend, is married to Sami, prays on Antonia's good nature and generosity. Sami and Sophie struggle with IVF, a longing for a family of their own. Strong-willed Olivia berates Mike for being an absentee husband and father, their lives shifting with the chaos of children. Mike's wears his vulnerability on his sleeve and is endearing. Lastly, Charlie is a partner at a law firm and has been hiding his health issues from his wife. But Helen has other arrangements at hand. All these relationships are crumbling under the tension of mistakes, unfulfilled dreams, and promises kept and broken. Although the characters are well developed, they often fall into deep reminiscence and conversation in their head, blurring past from present. These transitions are not seamless and are disruptive to the flow of the narrative.
The novel plays out in three parts. In the first, the characters are set up. The second part of the narrative starts close to the half-way point, and the story takes off. The third part will tie up some loose ends.
Beneath the Skin is marketed as a suspense story but in reality, it is a more of a psychological portrayal, of families, relationships, and human nature. As we progress through the narrative, we learn of past and present of all the characters, until a twist at the end that is unpredictable and emotional. The narrative is at times beautifully written, but the character-driven aspect of the novel leaves it less well-rounded.
Although the story was entrancing, it was challenging to read. I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy character dramas.
Thank you, NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Caroline England for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What are the dark secrets you bury have beneath the skin?
Four couples, intersected by friendship and work, carry the weight of secrets and lies. The opening starts off with the tease of a suspenseful thriller and creates a great hook. We meet Antonia in a bathtub taunting her body with a razor blade. We later learn of a group of friends, some married with children, fumbling through their lives with heavy psychological burdens.
The characters are plentiful however each has a distinct personality and relationships with their partners and with each other. The couple, Antonia, and Dave are the envy, a housewife, and a solicitor with a life replete with wealth. However, it is all pretense in a marriage undercut by deceit by Antonia's past and Dave's lie of omission. Sophie, Antonia's childhood friend, is married to Sami, prays on Antonia's good nature and generosity. Sami and Sophie struggle with IVF, a longing for a family of their own. Strong-willed Olivia berates Mike for being an absentee husband and father, their lives shifting with the chaos of children. Mike's wears his vulnerability on his sleeve and is endearing. Lastly, Charlie is a partner at a law firm and has been hiding his health issues from his wife. But Helen has other arrangements at hand. All these relationships are crumbling under the tension of mistakes, unfulfilled dreams, and promises kept and broken. Although the characters are well developed, they often fall into deep reminiscence and conversation in their head, blurring past from present. These transitions are not seamless and are disruptive to the flow of the narrative.
The novel plays out in three parts. In the first, the characters are set up. The second part of the narrative starts close to the half-way point, and the story takes off. The third part will tie up some loose ends.
Beneath the Skin is marketed as a suspense story but in reality, it is a more of a psychological portrayal, of families, relationships, and human nature. As we progress through the narrative, we learn of past and present of all the characters, until a twist at the end that is unpredictable and emotional. The narrative is at times beautifully written, but the character-driven aspect of the novel leaves it less well-rounded.
Although the story was entrancing, it was challenging to read. I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy character dramas.
Thank you, NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Caroline England for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 19, 2017
I want to start by saying that I think this book was slightly misleading only because I don’t believe it was marketed correctly, which is unfortunate. It’s billed as a psychological thriller and while I can definitely agree with the psychological aspect it’s not a true thriller by any means. It’s more of a character driven psychological drama with some unexpected developments. Despite having to adjust my expectations once I really got started with this one, I did enjoy it but I just wanted to clear that up for any future readers!
This follows four different couples who all have ties to each other and the story goes back and forth between all of them, weaving in and out rather seamlessly. You have Antonia and David, Sami and Sophie, Charlie and Helen and Olivia and Mike and you’ll like some of them and loathe others, which I always think is entertaining. They were all extremely well crafted, the characterization is really the base of this book and what makes it really good. They have tangled pasts and are harboring their own secrets making for a dark, unpredictable tale.
England is a really talented writer, she has a beautiful writing style with prose that flows and holds your attention. This has super slow building tension that gradually builds up, it’s structured into three parts and once the second part starts things get more intense than they were previously. There were some loose threads in the end that did leave me wanting a bit more, but overall I was pretty satisfied. I would recommend picking this up if you need a break from a typical psychological thriller, I’ve heard this described as a domestic noir and I think that is an apt and fitting label.
This follows four different couples who all have ties to each other and the story goes back and forth between all of them, weaving in and out rather seamlessly. You have Antonia and David, Sami and Sophie, Charlie and Helen and Olivia and Mike and you’ll like some of them and loathe others, which I always think is entertaining. They were all extremely well crafted, the characterization is really the base of this book and what makes it really good. They have tangled pasts and are harboring their own secrets making for a dark, unpredictable tale.
England is a really talented writer, she has a beautiful writing style with prose that flows and holds your attention. This has super slow building tension that gradually builds up, it’s structured into three parts and once the second part starts things get more intense than they were previously. There were some loose threads in the end that did leave me wanting a bit more, but overall I was pretty satisfied. I would recommend picking this up if you need a break from a typical psychological thriller, I’ve heard this described as a domestic noir and I think that is an apt and fitting label.
April 21, 2018
Beneath the Skin, the debut novel by Caroline England is domestic drama at its most absorbing and insightful; not only is it very well-written, engaging and incisive, it positively bristles with tension. Whilst the novel falls outside of a strict psychological thriller classification that does not mean to say that it doesn’t deliver a host of secrets, lies, deceit and manipulation, albeit with much more subtlety than the often far-fetched revelations that have become the staple of the genre. The novel flows effortlessly and impresses with a well-realised and flawed cast with whom the reader can empathise and England’s acute observations on the psychological workings of her vibrant cast resonate.
The novel charts the ups and down in the lives of eight upper middle class married couples resident in the Manchester suburbs over the course of three months, with a variety of interpersonal bonds and histories linking them ranging from school days contemporaries to business colleagues. As the narrative segues between couples, female friends and male drinking buddies, England’s nuanced observations draw out a mix of tensions, unanswered questions and nagging doubts within the group. So whilst the lies might start small and as white as can be, they inevitably bring with them messy complications, all of which reveal that things are never quite what they appear from the outside. As questions unasked and “crossed wires” give rise to some life-changing events with devastating consequences England’s eye for characterisation and attention to detail means that amongst the group of eight individuals there is not one whose motivations, desires and legacies of their pasts remains shrouded in any element of doubt. Not only does the story recognise how events such as childhood bullying, rejection and low self-esteem can impact on a person’s character still decades later it explores the need for woman to be defined by something other that motherhood alone.
Although the premise focuses on the character of thirty-year-old Antonia and draws out undisclosed issues from her childhood and her innate fear of her secrets catching up with her, it really could be anyone of the characters under the spotlight as they all have such substance and potential. For Antonia, however, the presence of her dementia suffering mother, Candy and toxic childhood friend, Sophie, who are obviously both privy to such knowledge heightens her anxieties. So just as Antonia has simply reinvented herself as “David’s wife”, every other one of the characters is a more complicated entity than they first appear and that the secrets are more of the order of infertility, infidelity and economic means they are entirely relatable. Whilst readers might yearn for a more concrete denouement and a sense of finality, the open-ended nature of England’s novel is a fitting tribute to the ‘life goes on’ adage.
An assured and wholly immersive debut filled with honesty, wit and admirable sleight of hand with some genuinely unexpected revelations. Quality female fiction that rises above the cliched melodrama, banal platitudes and far-fetched ‘shocks’ that are so often the mainstay of the genre. Exuding a sense of tension from the off prepare to be surprised by Caroline England’s measured narrative, slow reveals and an unusually profound novel of domestic drama.
The quality of the writing alone is enough to ensure that I will read more of Caroline England’s work, however on the evidence of Beneath the Skin, her storytelling prowess is more than an match! Highly recommended.
The novel charts the ups and down in the lives of eight upper middle class married couples resident in the Manchester suburbs over the course of three months, with a variety of interpersonal bonds and histories linking them ranging from school days contemporaries to business colleagues. As the narrative segues between couples, female friends and male drinking buddies, England’s nuanced observations draw out a mix of tensions, unanswered questions and nagging doubts within the group. So whilst the lies might start small and as white as can be, they inevitably bring with them messy complications, all of which reveal that things are never quite what they appear from the outside. As questions unasked and “crossed wires” give rise to some life-changing events with devastating consequences England’s eye for characterisation and attention to detail means that amongst the group of eight individuals there is not one whose motivations, desires and legacies of their pasts remains shrouded in any element of doubt. Not only does the story recognise how events such as childhood bullying, rejection and low self-esteem can impact on a person’s character still decades later it explores the need for woman to be defined by something other that motherhood alone.
Although the premise focuses on the character of thirty-year-old Antonia and draws out undisclosed issues from her childhood and her innate fear of her secrets catching up with her, it really could be anyone of the characters under the spotlight as they all have such substance and potential. For Antonia, however, the presence of her dementia suffering mother, Candy and toxic childhood friend, Sophie, who are obviously both privy to such knowledge heightens her anxieties. So just as Antonia has simply reinvented herself as “David’s wife”, every other one of the characters is a more complicated entity than they first appear and that the secrets are more of the order of infertility, infidelity and economic means they are entirely relatable. Whilst readers might yearn for a more concrete denouement and a sense of finality, the open-ended nature of England’s novel is a fitting tribute to the ‘life goes on’ adage.
An assured and wholly immersive debut filled with honesty, wit and admirable sleight of hand with some genuinely unexpected revelations. Quality female fiction that rises above the cliched melodrama, banal platitudes and far-fetched ‘shocks’ that are so often the mainstay of the genre. Exuding a sense of tension from the off prepare to be surprised by Caroline England’s measured narrative, slow reveals and an unusually profound novel of domestic drama.
The quality of the writing alone is enough to ensure that I will read more of Caroline England’s work, however on the evidence of Beneath the Skin, her storytelling prowess is more than an match! Highly recommended.
September 22, 2017
Beneath the Skin is a beautifully written debut - once again though I have to say I think it is slightly misleading in it's marketing I would not call it a thriller, psychological or not. If you are expecting what has become the "norm" for psychological thrillers it is possible you would be disappointed - Beneath the Skin is carefully considered, genuinely absorbing character drama. All the people in this novel have secrets, there I guess is where the tag comes from, but that is very much secondary to the beautifully layered relationships and study of human nature.
It was a slow burner, with a group dynamic vibe that looks at the lives of several couples, friends, confidante's - and looks at what they keep from each other and from themselves. I wouldn't say any of them are particularly lovable but for me that made it all the more interesting. Caroline England is a wonderfully intuitive writer, her characters come to life on the page and she explores their inner and outer personalities with razor sharp intelligence.
Beneath the Skin for me was a literary beauty - my only slight bugbear is that I didn't feel that we ended up with the whole story. The central "mystery" if you like, that of Antonia, came to an emotional resolution, but there were a few things left hanging in the ether - There is a lot of information here, a lot of characters in the mix and many intriguing levels, some of which were left behind. But overall a really great read.
I look forward to more from this author - a genuine talent.
It was a slow burner, with a group dynamic vibe that looks at the lives of several couples, friends, confidante's - and looks at what they keep from each other and from themselves. I wouldn't say any of them are particularly lovable but for me that made it all the more interesting. Caroline England is a wonderfully intuitive writer, her characters come to life on the page and she explores their inner and outer personalities with razor sharp intelligence.
Beneath the Skin for me was a literary beauty - my only slight bugbear is that I didn't feel that we ended up with the whole story. The central "mystery" if you like, that of Antonia, came to an emotional resolution, but there were a few things left hanging in the ether - There is a lot of information here, a lot of characters in the mix and many intriguing levels, some of which were left behind. But overall a really great read.
I look forward to more from this author - a genuine talent.
August 3, 2018
Relationships come in all sizes and shapes. Love, hate, anger, happiness, and a myriad of other emotions. Relationships take effort to maintain and lies and secrets don't always come to light. When they do .. the relationship will never be the same again.
Four men, good friends, married to four very different women. They all seem to have one secret or another. The women who have become friends over time don't always like each other.
Antonia is a cutter. She witnessed something awful as a young girl and has never forgotten. One drinks way too much and way too often. One knows she married a man who doesn't love her. The weight they all carry is exhaustive ... and secrets will come to light.
This is a debut novel that allows the reader to take a peek into all these lives .. and mostly think how lucky we are.
Although a well-written interesting read, I wouldn't label it as a 'thriller' .... it seems to be more a mystery than anything else. The very first pages should have set the tone for the entire book, but it didn't quite make it. Very slow in places, confusing chapters at times , everyone involved has a voice, but mostly the women. The second half of the book was better, but the ending was somewhat disappointing.
While this was not the book I expected it to be, this author is certainly one to watch for.
Has also been published under the title .. THE WIFE'S SECRET
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of BENEATH THE SKIN. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 29, 2020
My full review of "The Wife's Secret" aka "Beneath the Skin" can be found on my blog: https://wp.me/p8jpZ-55j
There were many characters in this novel and we came to know them all well. Some I liked, some I didn't, yet they all had secrets and I wondered which secrets would be divulged, and to what cost?
Due to the tangled relationships of the four couples, their story was unpredictable, with the reader wondering in which direction the author was taking us. Along the way several interesting themes were touched upon. Parenthood, the adult child/parent relationship, self-harm, friendship, loneliness, guilt, and alcoholism to name but a few.
It was interesting to discover how much information they shared with each other, and what secrets they held back - despite their close relationships.
Also, I loved how the author explored the emotional fragility of the characters. How, even though they were successful adults, they still all carried around with them the insecurities of their own childhoods. It made we wonder... do we all do that?
This was NOT a thriller as advertised, but has been labeled as a 'domestic noir' by other readers. I fully agree with this terminology. Not 'thrilling' as such, but a deep character study of eight very different, flawed, married adults who are members of a complicated and interlaced friendship with one another.
"Some things, she knows, are best hidden beneath the skin."
To be honest, after reading this novel, I much prefer the original title, "Beneath the Skin" and wonder why it was changed...
A surprising read on many levels. I liked this one far more than I expected to and would eagerly read more by this talented author.
There were many characters in this novel and we came to know them all well. Some I liked, some I didn't, yet they all had secrets and I wondered which secrets would be divulged, and to what cost?
Due to the tangled relationships of the four couples, their story was unpredictable, with the reader wondering in which direction the author was taking us. Along the way several interesting themes were touched upon. Parenthood, the adult child/parent relationship, self-harm, friendship, loneliness, guilt, and alcoholism to name but a few.
It was interesting to discover how much information they shared with each other, and what secrets they held back - despite their close relationships.
Also, I loved how the author explored the emotional fragility of the characters. How, even though they were successful adults, they still all carried around with them the insecurities of their own childhoods. It made we wonder... do we all do that?
This was NOT a thriller as advertised, but has been labeled as a 'domestic noir' by other readers. I fully agree with this terminology. Not 'thrilling' as such, but a deep character study of eight very different, flawed, married adults who are members of a complicated and interlaced friendship with one another.
"Some things, she knows, are best hidden beneath the skin."
To be honest, after reading this novel, I much prefer the original title, "Beneath the Skin" and wonder why it was changed...
A surprising read on many levels. I liked this one far more than I expected to and would eagerly read more by this talented author.
October 13, 2017
'No-one remembers your past. But you do.'
I have to be honest and say from the outset that this book did not turn out as I had expected and I mean that in a very positive way.
Beneath The Skin is marketed as a psychological thriller, but it was actually a lot more than that. I have seen it also described as a dark domestic noir and that I think, for me, would be a more apt portrayal.
Beneath The Skin is a study of human behaviour. It is an examination of marriage and how much we chose to reveal about our past lives. It is an observation of true friendship and it’s importance to our sanity and survival.
The novel focuses in on four couples:
Antonia and David
Sophie and Sami
Helen and Charlie
Olivia and Mike
All have differing relationships with each other, through shared experiences over the years.
Antonia and Sophie are childhood friends. Their history is probably the most complex of all and as the novel progresses we are drip fed snippets of their complicated past. From the beginning I just could not warm to Sophie. She is portrayed as manipulative, selfish and quite destructive. Antonia, a strikingly gorgeous woman, is living a life full of secrets. ‘"Antonia. Antonia. My name is Antonia” It’s been her name for many years.’She has built up a protective shell around herself, giving the impression to many of one who is cold and impersonal.
It is the relationship between these two friends that forms the basis for much of the novel and this is where the psychological element was played out for me. They have a very symbiotic relationship, each feeding off the other, making for a very intriguing read.
Sophie is married to Sami. He’s flash. He’s good looking. He is very concerned about his appearance. His home, his job and the view the world has of him is very important to him…that includes his wife. With Sophie’s drinking getting noticeably worse, Sami is distancing himself from her, instead of dealing with it. He drinks pints with his mates – David, Charlie and Mike. He goes to the gym. He networks. He bumps shoulders with connected people. But Sami has his own personal issues that drive him to be so. We get flashbacks of a past that reveal a very different Sami.
David and Charlie are friends from their school days as boarders. David, suffered a tragedy while there and Charlie stepped up to help him. Charlie is a lovable character whose only vice is enjoying good food and a good whiskey. Charlie’s own relationship with Helen, his wife, works in it’s own way. With their son, Rupert, away in boarding school, Charlie and Helen live a very structured life where things are always done in a certain manner. For them, life is about to change in ways they had never expected.
Olivia and Mike appear to have the most stable relationship. Olivia is at home looking after their two daughters while Mike is out working. Their marriage seems happy enough on first appearance, but for Olivia her world feels a little in free fall. Loss of identity can be common enough with young mothers as they struggle to deal with the daily chores of dirty nappies and the terrible twos. Olivia finds herself changing and it’s not necessarily a change that she welcomes.
Beneath The Skin really is a tangled web of untold truths, secrets and deceit. It is very much a relationship driven novel as the reader is exposed to the lives of these eight characters. This is a novel not to be rushed. The story jumps between all eight and the secrets that they each keep closely guarded. Caroline England has a very distinct style to her storytelling that requires a focus. To miss out on a chapter due to lack of concentration could result in confusion for the reader. I like this in a book as it makes me stop and really ‘read’ the book.
Beneath The Skin is an intense read, beautifully written. I find it hard to believe it is a debut and I really do look forward to further writing from Caroline England.
I have to be honest and say from the outset that this book did not turn out as I had expected and I mean that in a very positive way.
Beneath The Skin is marketed as a psychological thriller, but it was actually a lot more than that. I have seen it also described as a dark domestic noir and that I think, for me, would be a more apt portrayal.
Beneath The Skin is a study of human behaviour. It is an examination of marriage and how much we chose to reveal about our past lives. It is an observation of true friendship and it’s importance to our sanity and survival.
The novel focuses in on four couples:
Antonia and David
Sophie and Sami
Helen and Charlie
Olivia and Mike
All have differing relationships with each other, through shared experiences over the years.
Antonia and Sophie are childhood friends. Their history is probably the most complex of all and as the novel progresses we are drip fed snippets of their complicated past. From the beginning I just could not warm to Sophie. She is portrayed as manipulative, selfish and quite destructive. Antonia, a strikingly gorgeous woman, is living a life full of secrets. ‘"Antonia. Antonia. My name is Antonia” It’s been her name for many years.’She has built up a protective shell around herself, giving the impression to many of one who is cold and impersonal.
It is the relationship between these two friends that forms the basis for much of the novel and this is where the psychological element was played out for me. They have a very symbiotic relationship, each feeding off the other, making for a very intriguing read.
Sophie is married to Sami. He’s flash. He’s good looking. He is very concerned about his appearance. His home, his job and the view the world has of him is very important to him…that includes his wife. With Sophie’s drinking getting noticeably worse, Sami is distancing himself from her, instead of dealing with it. He drinks pints with his mates – David, Charlie and Mike. He goes to the gym. He networks. He bumps shoulders with connected people. But Sami has his own personal issues that drive him to be so. We get flashbacks of a past that reveal a very different Sami.
David and Charlie are friends from their school days as boarders. David, suffered a tragedy while there and Charlie stepped up to help him. Charlie is a lovable character whose only vice is enjoying good food and a good whiskey. Charlie’s own relationship with Helen, his wife, works in it’s own way. With their son, Rupert, away in boarding school, Charlie and Helen live a very structured life where things are always done in a certain manner. For them, life is about to change in ways they had never expected.
Olivia and Mike appear to have the most stable relationship. Olivia is at home looking after their two daughters while Mike is out working. Their marriage seems happy enough on first appearance, but for Olivia her world feels a little in free fall. Loss of identity can be common enough with young mothers as they struggle to deal with the daily chores of dirty nappies and the terrible twos. Olivia finds herself changing and it’s not necessarily a change that she welcomes.
Beneath The Skin really is a tangled web of untold truths, secrets and deceit. It is very much a relationship driven novel as the reader is exposed to the lives of these eight characters. This is a novel not to be rushed. The story jumps between all eight and the secrets that they each keep closely guarded. Caroline England has a very distinct style to her storytelling that requires a focus. To miss out on a chapter due to lack of concentration could result in confusion for the reader. I like this in a book as it makes me stop and really ‘read’ the book.
Beneath The Skin is an intense read, beautifully written. I find it hard to believe it is a debut and I really do look forward to further writing from Caroline England.
November 21, 2017
It is strange that extreme opposites are like walking on a tight rope and it just depends on which side you fall off as to how your life pans out. It is like that for Antonia when I first met her in the story as she was self harming. The pain and the pleasure, extremes but she has to have one to get the other. The whole story is like that really. I met 4 couples, all very different people, all connected, all individual people the world sees them as but it really isn’t who they are. What you see isn’t what you get.
To be honest this story really got Beneath my Skin as it made me look at people close to me and wonder if I really ever know anyone and my conclusion was I really don’t think we do. It is just that some people have darker secrets than others. Loved this story because it opened up the real them and the other side they showed others. It made me shiver inside at how easy it is to deceive and be deceived.
There are very different relationships between them, some way back to school days while others have come into this tangled web through relationships and marriage. I was like a moth with this book, I didn’t really like any of these characters but I couldn’t stop reading about them. There were shocks and revelations that just threw me and I had to catch my breath. It is about how they live with the choices they make too. Through a bottle or been seen as an Ice Queen with little emotions, it makes for a fascinating read.
This is the debut novel of Caroline England and it is so beautifully written it just flows effortlessly with each of the characters being very distinctive and memorable. Looking forward to more from her in the future.
To be honest this story really got Beneath my Skin as it made me look at people close to me and wonder if I really ever know anyone and my conclusion was I really don’t think we do. It is just that some people have darker secrets than others. Loved this story because it opened up the real them and the other side they showed others. It made me shiver inside at how easy it is to deceive and be deceived.
There are very different relationships between them, some way back to school days while others have come into this tangled web through relationships and marriage. I was like a moth with this book, I didn’t really like any of these characters but I couldn’t stop reading about them. There were shocks and revelations that just threw me and I had to catch my breath. It is about how they live with the choices they make too. Through a bottle or been seen as an Ice Queen with little emotions, it makes for a fascinating read.
This is the debut novel of Caroline England and it is so beautifully written it just flows effortlessly with each of the characters being very distinctive and memorable. Looking forward to more from her in the future.
October 17, 2017
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I thought that this book was absolutely thrilling and haven't hesitated to give it 5 stars!! The story centres around the lives of four couples - their lives and their deepest, darkest and potentially explosive secrets - the writing style used is excellent and the story weaves it's way around brilliantly. You can see the thought used when writing this and for me that made it more than just another main stream psychological thriller. The characters are complex, some you'll like, most you might want to hate but that is what makes this story so great - that for me the characters were believable and it is that which makes the plot work so well!!
I thought that this book was absolutely thrilling and haven't hesitated to give it 5 stars!! The story centres around the lives of four couples - their lives and their deepest, darkest and potentially explosive secrets - the writing style used is excellent and the story weaves it's way around brilliantly. You can see the thought used when writing this and for me that made it more than just another main stream psychological thriller. The characters are complex, some you'll like, most you might want to hate but that is what makes this story so great - that for me the characters were believable and it is that which makes the plot work so well!!
August 14, 2020
Very interesting story with different characters facing the reality of life and its problems. I will read more by this author.
June 8, 2018
Caroline England’s Beneath the Skin is another example of how I need to start paying more attention when deciding which book to buy to complete one of those ‘purchase x number of books to get them for x price’ offers. You see, although this one was sitting in the mystery and thriller section, such was not what I was given. If I was going to label this as anything I would label it as a drama, not as a crime novel like those surrounding it in store.
I have no issue with dramas, I will gladly give them a read, yet I feel cheated with this one. I was really in the mood for a mystery book, wanting to break up my reading of other genres with a non-stop thriller, yet reading this failed to give me the kind of read I was hoping for. Had I not felt cheated, I probably would have given this a two-star rating, yet I felt so betrayed I couldn’t round my one-point-five-star rating up.
Actually, it wasn’t just that. The fact this was not the thriller I was hoping for was one issue, but a bigger issue is that the drama was lacking in conclusions. There was so much going on throughout this story – too much, at times – and I feel as though we never got a solid conclusion about the things I wanted to know. I was left with questions hanging open, and I’m not a big fan of such endings. I can appreciate them at times, if done well, but this one felt as though the author couldn’t decide which way to go so left it to the reader’s imagination.
All in all, Beneath the Skin was not the story I had been hoping for.
I have no issue with dramas, I will gladly give them a read, yet I feel cheated with this one. I was really in the mood for a mystery book, wanting to break up my reading of other genres with a non-stop thriller, yet reading this failed to give me the kind of read I was hoping for. Had I not felt cheated, I probably would have given this a two-star rating, yet I felt so betrayed I couldn’t round my one-point-five-star rating up.
Actually, it wasn’t just that. The fact this was not the thriller I was hoping for was one issue, but a bigger issue is that the drama was lacking in conclusions. There was so much going on throughout this story – too much, at times – and I feel as though we never got a solid conclusion about the things I wanted to know. I was left with questions hanging open, and I’m not a big fan of such endings. I can appreciate them at times, if done well, but this one felt as though the author couldn’t decide which way to go so left it to the reader’s imagination.
All in all, Beneath the Skin was not the story I had been hoping for.
October 30, 2017
Reading a debut novel is always like going into the unknown, unsure whether the author’s writing style will be one that you enjoy for a start. But Beneath The Skin appealed to me, the blurb, the cover and the publisher, so in I went.
Beneath The Skin focuses on the relationships of four couples who are all linked together. At first, I wasn’t so sure as I struggled with keeping up with all the different characters that were introduced to us, especially as some of them had a present and past to keep up with. But what that did was make me focus on what I was reading, and that was only a good thing. This is not a book to skim read as everything is linked together and nothing is told to us for no reason, and as the story progresses you will be pleased that you took notice.
I have to admit that I didn’t like many of the characters in Beneath The Skin, but that isn’t a bad thing. Some were mildly unlikeable and others were downright detestable. The worst was probably Sophie, a self-obsessed alcoholic who is keeping secrets from her husband Sami, who also happens to be keeping secrets from her. Her supposedly best friend is Antonia, who Sophie uses and abuses, but they have known each other since childhood and their relationship is complicated, they are both keeping secrets for the other. Antonia is married to David, we know something isn’t right with Antonia thanks to her weekly self-harm session while David is at the pub with his friends. But David is hiding something too, he is worried about something being found out by others, but what is it that he has done?
David’s best friend is Charlie, a likeable fellow who is married to the truly awful Helen. Their son, Rupert, is almost a stranger to them both, he attends the same boarding school that Charlie and David went to in their youth. Little do they know that events are going to change all of their lives forever, but will it be for the better?
Which leaves Mike and Olivia, seemly the most functional of the bunch, or so it seems…
I really loved reading about all of them and the tales of deceit, cheating and coming together. Caroline England weaves a wonderful tale that, once you get into it, is enthralling. The fact that she is a debut author makes it all the more impressive, and I am very excited to see what England does next.
This is a deep and twisted book that I’m sure I will be thinking of for a long time to come. One thing that I will say though, is that it made me very grateful to be single!!
Beneath The Skin focuses on the relationships of four couples who are all linked together. At first, I wasn’t so sure as I struggled with keeping up with all the different characters that were introduced to us, especially as some of them had a present and past to keep up with. But what that did was make me focus on what I was reading, and that was only a good thing. This is not a book to skim read as everything is linked together and nothing is told to us for no reason, and as the story progresses you will be pleased that you took notice.
I have to admit that I didn’t like many of the characters in Beneath The Skin, but that isn’t a bad thing. Some were mildly unlikeable and others were downright detestable. The worst was probably Sophie, a self-obsessed alcoholic who is keeping secrets from her husband Sami, who also happens to be keeping secrets from her. Her supposedly best friend is Antonia, who Sophie uses and abuses, but they have known each other since childhood and their relationship is complicated, they are both keeping secrets for the other. Antonia is married to David, we know something isn’t right with Antonia thanks to her weekly self-harm session while David is at the pub with his friends. But David is hiding something too, he is worried about something being found out by others, but what is it that he has done?
David’s best friend is Charlie, a likeable fellow who is married to the truly awful Helen. Their son, Rupert, is almost a stranger to them both, he attends the same boarding school that Charlie and David went to in their youth. Little do they know that events are going to change all of their lives forever, but will it be for the better?
Which leaves Mike and Olivia, seemly the most functional of the bunch, or so it seems…
I really loved reading about all of them and the tales of deceit, cheating and coming together. Caroline England weaves a wonderful tale that, once you get into it, is enthralling. The fact that she is a debut author makes it all the more impressive, and I am very excited to see what England does next.
This is a deep and twisted book that I’m sure I will be thinking of for a long time to come. One thing that I will say though, is that it made me very grateful to be single!!
October 21, 2017
I’ve recently taken to watching the talked about popular television dramas such as ‘Dr Foster’ and ‘Liar’. I’m not one for watching network telly, I like to binge watch box sets on Netflix. But in the case of those shows, I really enjoyed the psychological aspect of the stories. So when I started to read Beneath the Skin and the same feel emanated from the pages I was in my glory.
This is not an action-packed express page flicking read, it’s too good for that. It’s a slow (but in no way boring) burning read. The truly brilliant Caroline England encourages us into the story. Letting us meet and get to know the vast cast of unlikeable characters. Each with secrets and lies. Each hiding from themselves in some way. Each desperate to be loved. I detested each one in my own way. I only liked two of them, Mike and Charlie. Both for different reasons. I actually enjoy not liking the characters in a book. They are usually the most interesting.
The chapters are from mixed with different points of views from the characters. I didn’t find it confusing having so many. They were all so uniquely written and you could tell who was talking from the way the writing style changed.
Beneath the Skin is definitely one for your TBR pile. If you like a cleverly thought out read with OMG moments then this one is for you.
I thoroughly recommend Beneath the Skin. It goes onto my list of top reads of 2017. Plus this is Caroline’s debut novel. Which means we have so much more to look forward to.
This is not an action-packed express page flicking read, it’s too good for that. It’s a slow (but in no way boring) burning read. The truly brilliant Caroline England encourages us into the story. Letting us meet and get to know the vast cast of unlikeable characters. Each with secrets and lies. Each hiding from themselves in some way. Each desperate to be loved. I detested each one in my own way. I only liked two of them, Mike and Charlie. Both for different reasons. I actually enjoy not liking the characters in a book. They are usually the most interesting.
The chapters are from mixed with different points of views from the characters. I didn’t find it confusing having so many. They were all so uniquely written and you could tell who was talking from the way the writing style changed.
Beneath the Skin is definitely one for your TBR pile. If you like a cleverly thought out read with OMG moments then this one is for you.
I thoroughly recommend Beneath the Skin. It goes onto my list of top reads of 2017. Plus this is Caroline’s debut novel. Which means we have so much more to look forward to.
November 10, 2017
I loved this book and feel that it was a great insight into what could be happening 'behind closed doors' in any town or village. It is about four couples who have a loosely based friendship but who knows what really goes on in someones life. These couples have their own secrets and it is interesting reading into their lives. I was a little overwhelmed with so many characters at first but then it seemed to all fall into place and I had met all the couples and some of their back stories before I knew it and had totally become absorbed into their world. I can't say I related to any of them in particular as they all have their own quirks and ways of dealing with stressful situations which they constantly find themselves in. There is the one who likes to drink too much and the one who self harms and then there's the adulterer and, well you will have to read and see but they all make up a normal'ish group but deep down we find out their deep secrets!. I loved the many red herrings in the book and yet I loved the way it came together and the ending caught me off guard.
Thanks to TBCon Facebook for recommending this book.= a very easy 5*.
Thanks to TBCon Facebook for recommending this book.= a very easy 5*.
May 31, 2018
Beneath the Skin bored the crap out of me. When I first read the back cover, I was definitely interested in Antonia’s story. It also made me think the book was about her. It wasn’t. There were so many main characters and I didn’t like any of them! All the characters were somehow related, but I didn’t feel that their stories intertwined well. Antonia’s “big secret” was so obvious throughout the book. Also, I didn’t like that we went through all these different characters stories, and end up just finding out what Antonia did, but not how everything else plays out.
January 28, 2018
A group of married couples Antonia and David and Charlie and Helen, Mike and Olivia along with Sami and Sophie. While the husbands are all friends the wives have varying degrees of friendship. Some strong and some barely there. It's the secrets that keep you reading though.
April 23, 2018
A short review...
Beneath the Skin kept me interested but didn't quite sell me on its idea completely. The individual stories where interesting but they didn't quite come together and I either guessed a few of the twists or wasn't even that blown away when they happened.
Beneath the Skin kept me interested but didn't quite sell me on its idea completely. The individual stories where interesting but they didn't quite come together and I either guessed a few of the twists or wasn't even that blown away when they happened.
October 25, 2017
I have heard lots of good things about this book and I was delighted to be asked if I would like to take part in the blog tour for ‘Beneath The Skin’. This is Caroline England’s debut novel and what a debut it is.
I can’t say that I took to any of the characters as such but that isn’t such a bad thing because you can have a better overall view of events so to speak. At first each of the ladies are nice enough but as the book continues it becomes clear that appearances can be deceptive. Each character seems to have more layers than a wrapped up parcel before a ‘pass the parcel’ game. Peel one layer off and there is another layer immediately underneath. At one point I did wonder how all the female characters were friends because at times it certainly doesn’t seem like it. Sophie likes a drink= well by the sounds of it I could get drunk just be standing next to her. She drinks alcohol like I drink 7 up free. I’m not sure what happened to Antonia in her past but she uses self harm as a coping mechanism. Olivia tries to appear to be the ideal mother and wife but cracks are beginning to show and if her secret is discovered it could blow her family life apart. So as you can see there are three women with secrets to hide and who could do anything to keep their secrets just that- secret.
I have to say that ‘Beneath The Skin’ is extremely well written and I found it hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel as the writing is so good. I was hooked on this book from the very first word on the very first page and like a moth to a flame, I just couldn’t stop reading. To say that I became addicted to this book is a massive understatement. I found that I just couldn’t put the book down and no it wasn’t glued to my hand. I just had to keep reading to see just how many other layers to the story there were and to see what other revelations came out. The pages were turning that fast that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I knew it I had finished the book, which I had conflicting feelings about. I was pleased to see how the story ended but because I was enjoying the writing style so much I just wanted the story to continue. I begrudged having to put the book down to take my two loopy Labrador girlies out for a run, which did not go down well at all. After I finished this book I really did feel as though I had been on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns, stomach churning and breath taking moments. Just when you though things had settled down then off the action would go again. There were times when I almost had to read through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next. At times I was even arguing with the characters and the book, which believe it or not is a good sign. I have far too vivid an imagination and when I become totally immersed in the story, I ‘live’ the story and feel as though I am actually there as one of the characters.
In short, I absolutely, totally and utterly flipping well loved reading ‘Beneath The Skin’ and I can’t wait to read what comes next from this super talented author. I would recommend this book to anybody. I award this book an easy 5* out of 5* but I would award it more stars if I could because I really did enjoy it that much.
I can’t say that I took to any of the characters as such but that isn’t such a bad thing because you can have a better overall view of events so to speak. At first each of the ladies are nice enough but as the book continues it becomes clear that appearances can be deceptive. Each character seems to have more layers than a wrapped up parcel before a ‘pass the parcel’ game. Peel one layer off and there is another layer immediately underneath. At one point I did wonder how all the female characters were friends because at times it certainly doesn’t seem like it. Sophie likes a drink= well by the sounds of it I could get drunk just be standing next to her. She drinks alcohol like I drink 7 up free. I’m not sure what happened to Antonia in her past but she uses self harm as a coping mechanism. Olivia tries to appear to be the ideal mother and wife but cracks are beginning to show and if her secret is discovered it could blow her family life apart. So as you can see there are three women with secrets to hide and who could do anything to keep their secrets just that- secret.
I have to say that ‘Beneath The Skin’ is extremely well written and I found it hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel as the writing is so good. I was hooked on this book from the very first word on the very first page and like a moth to a flame, I just couldn’t stop reading. To say that I became addicted to this book is a massive understatement. I found that I just couldn’t put the book down and no it wasn’t glued to my hand. I just had to keep reading to see just how many other layers to the story there were and to see what other revelations came out. The pages were turning that fast that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I knew it I had finished the book, which I had conflicting feelings about. I was pleased to see how the story ended but because I was enjoying the writing style so much I just wanted the story to continue. I begrudged having to put the book down to take my two loopy Labrador girlies out for a run, which did not go down well at all. After I finished this book I really did feel as though I had been on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns, stomach churning and breath taking moments. Just when you though things had settled down then off the action would go again. There were times when I almost had to read through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next. At times I was even arguing with the characters and the book, which believe it or not is a good sign. I have far too vivid an imagination and when I become totally immersed in the story, I ‘live’ the story and feel as though I am actually there as one of the characters.
In short, I absolutely, totally and utterly flipping well loved reading ‘Beneath The Skin’ and I can’t wait to read what comes next from this super talented author. I would recommend this book to anybody. I award this book an easy 5* out of 5* but I would award it more stars if I could because I really did enjoy it that much.
August 1, 2017
Beneath the Skin is a startling debut. It slowly put me under its spell, until I was absolutely beneath its skin. With characters that pulsate off the page, complex relationships, and dark mysteries, this novel follows the lives of four couples. Their dramas are revealed slowly, patiently, and beautifully, until the breath-taking climax. I can’t recommend this enough.
October 5, 2017
Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.
Antonia has a secret, a secret she has never told anyone and it causes her to cut herself on Friday nights when her husband is at the pub and her best friend is drinking. It turns out that Antonia isn't the only that has secrets. Sophie is hiding things as well, and so is her husband David and her other friend Olivia.
David is driven to commit suicide, which leads to Antonia coming clean about the self-harm to Mike, who is Olivia's husband. Sophie drives Antonia away after learning that she called her husband to discuss things with him. Sophie thinks that they slept together because she knows that Sami has been cheating.
Mike and Antonia struggle with an attraction, but when Antonia finds out about the baby Olivia is carrying she shuts the fledgling attraction down before anything else happens and before she comes clean about any other secrets. Soon all of the little lies come to head in a tragic manner.
This was a bit of a mystery but it felt more like Big Little Lies than a thriller. It is also a bit of a slow burn, it told from several different perspectives and it took me a while to get into it. On some levels, none of the characters are particularly likable, but the story is compelling once you set aside expectations for a thrilling mystery.
I think one of it's more compelling aspects is that guilt and little lies can turn into so much more. I know that is cryptic, but I hate spoilers so that's all your getting from me. So stick it out and once the story starts coming together it is totally worth it in the end.
Antonia has a secret, a secret she has never told anyone and it causes her to cut herself on Friday nights when her husband is at the pub and her best friend is drinking. It turns out that Antonia isn't the only that has secrets. Sophie is hiding things as well, and so is her husband David and her other friend Olivia.
David is driven to commit suicide, which leads to Antonia coming clean about the self-harm to Mike, who is Olivia's husband. Sophie drives Antonia away after learning that she called her husband to discuss things with him. Sophie thinks that they slept together because she knows that Sami has been cheating.
Mike and Antonia struggle with an attraction, but when Antonia finds out about the baby Olivia is carrying she shuts the fledgling attraction down before anything else happens and before she comes clean about any other secrets. Soon all of the little lies come to head in a tragic manner.
This was a bit of a mystery but it felt more like Big Little Lies than a thriller. It is also a bit of a slow burn, it told from several different perspectives and it took me a while to get into it. On some levels, none of the characters are particularly likable, but the story is compelling once you set aside expectations for a thrilling mystery.
I think one of it's more compelling aspects is that guilt and little lies can turn into so much more. I know that is cryptic, but I hate spoilers so that's all your getting from me. So stick it out and once the story starts coming together it is totally worth it in the end.
November 8, 2017
When I bought this book, I thought that it would be a psychological thriller, the title and the blurb suggested that but it is not, and at the end of part one I was somehow disappointed to find out it wasn’t what I was expecting it would be, but I continued to read it and eventually I ended up liking it. As I said, it is not a thriller but somehow it is a psychology novel. It is about the people’s characters, their bad sides, they look perfect, happy and confident but deep down are depressed, have self-esteem issues and are far from being perfect.
It is the story of a group of friends that act like they are best friends but they don’t think twice to betray the so-called friends. I hated almost all the characters, the only ones that I really felt for are Antonia and her mother, Rupert, Mike and his daughter Rachel. Throughout the novel I wanted to hug them and tell them to stay strong.
If you are looking for a drama type novel this is for you.
It is the story of a group of friends that act like they are best friends but they don’t think twice to betray the so-called friends. I hated almost all the characters, the only ones that I really felt for are Antonia and her mother, Rupert, Mike and his daughter Rachel. Throughout the novel I wanted to hug them and tell them to stay strong.
If you are looking for a drama type novel this is for you.
September 2, 2020
*thank you to Netgalley, Caroline England and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3 stars.
This is a bit hard to rate. Because on one hand, it was well written, I enjoyed the style and as a first novel this was impressive. On the other hand. I had been expecting more of a fast paced mystery thriller and this wasn't quite that. It focused more on telling the story of the characters and I felt the ending was a bit flat. If you don't mind something more along the lines of just a drama based story with some mystery more so than a psychological thriller then this is sure to be one to pick. Maybe if I had gone into this with no expectations I would have liked it more. Just goes to show that how you advertise a novel to be of a particular genre, means quite a lot.
3 stars.
This is a bit hard to rate. Because on one hand, it was well written, I enjoyed the style and as a first novel this was impressive. On the other hand. I had been expecting more of a fast paced mystery thriller and this wasn't quite that. It focused more on telling the story of the characters and I felt the ending was a bit flat. If you don't mind something more along the lines of just a drama based story with some mystery more so than a psychological thriller then this is sure to be one to pick. Maybe if I had gone into this with no expectations I would have liked it more. Just goes to show that how you advertise a novel to be of a particular genre, means quite a lot.
October 4, 2017
The description on this book sounds so mysterious that I had as thrilled when I received it however I was very disappointed after trying very hard to get past the first five chapters. I felt like there were way to many character point of views being told all at once and on each chapter it would have helped being told who's point of view it had changed to because in not doing so even each paragraph the character's change and it all starts getting muddled and frankly aggravating. The characters all seem annoying and whiny with their problems and the first part of it just drones on about that definitely one star for me sadly.
September 28, 2017
What a beautifully crafted, intelligent and gripping debut novel. I was delighted to get my hands on an early copy of this dark, twisty tale about the interconnected lives of four intriguing couples. Beneath the Skin is brimming with complex characters and relationships, plus enough secrets and lies to keep even the keenest reader on their toes throughout. The South Manchester / Cheshire setting provides the perfect backdrop for this superior page-turner: a sumptuous serving of domestic noir that's not to be missed.
October 5, 2017
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 362
Publisher - Avon
Blurb from Goodreads
No-one remembers your past. But you do.
‘Antonia, Antonia. My name is Antonia.’
It’s been her name for many years. But sometimes, like tonight, she forgets.
Antonia has a secret. A secret so dark and so deep that she can barely admit it to herself. Instead, she treats herself to Friday night sessions of self-harm while her husband David is at the pub, and her best friend Sophie is drinking too much wine a few doors down.
Nobody close to her knows the truth about what the teenage Antonia saw all those years ago. No-one, that is, except her mother. But Candy is in a care home now, her mind too addled to remember the truth. Antonia is safe. Isn’t she?
The lies start small. They always do. But when the tightly woven story you’ve told yourself begins to unravel, the truth threatens to come to the surface. And then what’s going to happen?
My Review
This was a very different read from what I was expecting, especially with the blurb and PR material I was expecting a psychological thriller type read. In fact it is about secrets, mental health, friendships, lies, family and the facade we put on compared to the reality of our (the individuals in the story) lives.
The book centers around the lives of our main characters, mostly split into four couples who are "friends" of different degrees. Dysfunctional relationships, friendships, work colleagues and acquaintances. Family life is a huge center of the story, especially with the hinting of Antonia and her past, she self harms and doesn't like to think about the past. She worries about her mother, who is in a care home, letting something slip. The book centers around Antonia's relationships, her coping mechanisms and her bizarre friendship with Sophie not to mention morals and how we can never truly outrun our past.
It peels the societal scab and exposes some of the most selfish and nasty side of people, how we interact with people in our inner circles, keeping secrets that bind friendship whilst never exposing some of their own personal demons. This is Antonia's story, with her husband David, her oldest friend Sophie and their inner social circle. A dark tale with raw humanity, it is a slow burner to start with as we get introduced to all the characters, building up in tension and at the last quarter pulling the rug from under your feet. I genuinely get put off books that give a different blurb to the actual story and as a slow burner it took me a bit to settle into. However by half way through I was invested in the characters and really wanted to see where it was going. The latter chapters really brought it together and shocked me as I hadn't anticipated where it was going. I went back and forth on my rating for this one, 3.5 changed to 4 stars as I thought it dealt with so many issues and themes and overall really liked it. I will keep an eye out for this authors future offerings and as always my thanks to the publisher for introducing me to a new author!
Pages - 362
Publisher - Avon
Blurb from Goodreads
No-one remembers your past. But you do.
‘Antonia, Antonia. My name is Antonia.’
It’s been her name for many years. But sometimes, like tonight, she forgets.
Antonia has a secret. A secret so dark and so deep that she can barely admit it to herself. Instead, she treats herself to Friday night sessions of self-harm while her husband David is at the pub, and her best friend Sophie is drinking too much wine a few doors down.
Nobody close to her knows the truth about what the teenage Antonia saw all those years ago. No-one, that is, except her mother. But Candy is in a care home now, her mind too addled to remember the truth. Antonia is safe. Isn’t she?
The lies start small. They always do. But when the tightly woven story you’ve told yourself begins to unravel, the truth threatens to come to the surface. And then what’s going to happen?
My Review
This was a very different read from what I was expecting, especially with the blurb and PR material I was expecting a psychological thriller type read. In fact it is about secrets, mental health, friendships, lies, family and the facade we put on compared to the reality of our (the individuals in the story) lives.
The book centers around the lives of our main characters, mostly split into four couples who are "friends" of different degrees. Dysfunctional relationships, friendships, work colleagues and acquaintances. Family life is a huge center of the story, especially with the hinting of Antonia and her past, she self harms and doesn't like to think about the past. She worries about her mother, who is in a care home, letting something slip. The book centers around Antonia's relationships, her coping mechanisms and her bizarre friendship with Sophie not to mention morals and how we can never truly outrun our past.
It peels the societal scab and exposes some of the most selfish and nasty side of people, how we interact with people in our inner circles, keeping secrets that bind friendship whilst never exposing some of their own personal demons. This is Antonia's story, with her husband David, her oldest friend Sophie and their inner social circle. A dark tale with raw humanity, it is a slow burner to start with as we get introduced to all the characters, building up in tension and at the last quarter pulling the rug from under your feet. I genuinely get put off books that give a different blurb to the actual story and as a slow burner it took me a bit to settle into. However by half way through I was invested in the characters and really wanted to see where it was going. The latter chapters really brought it together and shocked me as I hadn't anticipated where it was going. I went back and forth on my rating for this one, 3.5 changed to 4 stars as I thought it dealt with so many issues and themes and overall really liked it. I will keep an eye out for this authors future offerings and as always my thanks to the publisher for introducing me to a new author!
February 8, 2019
The Wife's Secret (previously published as Beneath The Skin, which is the title of the paperback version I read) is very much a character driven story. There are several complex characters, all with their own secrets, all intertwined in one way or another. A very complicated, but enthralling, mess of emotion!
It will be difficult to review without giving too much away, but I'll try.
The story is predominantly focused on Antonia who is a quiet and seemingly broken character, but one who appears to the world as a woman with everything. She is beautiful, has a loving husband and a beautiful home, but has she ever really loved David? It's not a spoiler to say that she has a dark secret and a past she tries to forget. Wondering what that was kept me intrigued throughout. I can't say I found her a particularly likeable character, but I didn't dislike her either. I guess I didn't understand some of things she did, but then I didn't live her life.
Her friendship with Sophie is a complicated one too, as Sophie knows things no-one else knows and she seems to feel somewhat beholden to her.
I didn't warm to Sophie at all, or her husband, Sami, although both are quite fascinating. Both have pasts that they'd rather forget and their marriage is extremely fragile due to the secrets they both keep from each other. They don't seem very well suited, even though they love each other in their own ways.
Mike's and Olivia's marriage is less than perfect also and this becomes all the more apparent as the story unfolds, with devastating consequences.
This was an absolutely compelling read full of lies and deceit. The suspense starts from the very first page and doesn't let up until the very end. I was totally hooked and I highly recommend.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
It will be difficult to review without giving too much away, but I'll try.
The story is predominantly focused on Antonia who is a quiet and seemingly broken character, but one who appears to the world as a woman with everything. She is beautiful, has a loving husband and a beautiful home, but has she ever really loved David? It's not a spoiler to say that she has a dark secret and a past she tries to forget. Wondering what that was kept me intrigued throughout. I can't say I found her a particularly likeable character, but I didn't dislike her either. I guess I didn't understand some of things she did, but then I didn't live her life.
Her friendship with Sophie is a complicated one too, as Sophie knows things no-one else knows and she seems to feel somewhat beholden to her.
I didn't warm to Sophie at all, or her husband, Sami, although both are quite fascinating. Both have pasts that they'd rather forget and their marriage is extremely fragile due to the secrets they both keep from each other. They don't seem very well suited, even though they love each other in their own ways.
Mike's and Olivia's marriage is less than perfect also and this becomes all the more apparent as the story unfolds, with devastating consequences.
This was an absolutely compelling read full of lies and deceit. The suspense starts from the very first page and doesn't let up until the very end. I was totally hooked and I highly recommend.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
August 2, 2018
A compelling drama about four couples, linked through friendship, work and shared history. The writing style took me a couple of chapters to get used to, jumping quickly from one narrator to another to another. Each of the narrators is given to musing on the past, the other characters, other relationships and their own motives and desires. They are all quite introspective and rather good at analysing their own psyches, scarred and battered though they all are. Several of them have conversations with themselves in their heads and can be their own worst critics. This style might not be to everyone’s taste but I enjoyed it and found the unfolding events intriguing, always keen to discover what would happen next.
There were only two of the characters that I really liked though the author skilfully evokes empathy and some sympathy for all the characters at different stages. Most of the characters have secrets, large and small, that we gradually discover throughout the book, some I predicted, others I did not and there were some events that took me completely by surprise. There were a couple of loose ends that were not tied up by the conclusion of the book but I still felt satisfied when I finished it.
All in all, an engaging and entertaining read.
There were only two of the characters that I really liked though the author skilfully evokes empathy and some sympathy for all the characters at different stages. Most of the characters have secrets, large and small, that we gradually discover throughout the book, some I predicted, others I did not and there were some events that took me completely by surprise. There were a couple of loose ends that were not tied up by the conclusion of the book but I still felt satisfied when I finished it.
All in all, an engaging and entertaining read.
October 19, 2017
Three women. Three secrets.
‘Antonia, Antonia. My name is Antonia.’
It’s been her name for many years. But sometimes, like tonight, she forgets.
Antonia has a secret. A secret so dark and so deep that she can barely admit it to herself. Instead, she treats herself to Friday night sessions of self-harm while her husband David is at the pub, and her best friend Sophie is drinking too much wine a few doors down.
Nobody close to her knows the truth about what the teenage Antonia saw all those years ago. No-one, that is, except her mother. But Candy is in a care home now, her mind too addled to remember the truth. Antonia is safe. Isn’t she?
Antonia is beautiful and happily married. Her life is perfect. So why does she hurt herself when nobody’s watching?
Sophie is witty, smart and married to the best-looking man in town. She likes a drink, but who doesn’t?
Olivia is pretending to be a happy wife and mother. But her secret could tear her family apart.
Their lies start small, they always do. But if they don’t watch out, the consequences will be deadly. And then what’s going to happen?
I enjoyed this book even though it wasn’t what I thought it would be. The writing is good, the characters are believable. 4*
‘Antonia, Antonia. My name is Antonia.’
It’s been her name for many years. But sometimes, like tonight, she forgets.
Antonia has a secret. A secret so dark and so deep that she can barely admit it to herself. Instead, she treats herself to Friday night sessions of self-harm while her husband David is at the pub, and her best friend Sophie is drinking too much wine a few doors down.
Nobody close to her knows the truth about what the teenage Antonia saw all those years ago. No-one, that is, except her mother. But Candy is in a care home now, her mind too addled to remember the truth. Antonia is safe. Isn’t she?
Antonia is beautiful and happily married. Her life is perfect. So why does she hurt herself when nobody’s watching?
Sophie is witty, smart and married to the best-looking man in town. She likes a drink, but who doesn’t?
Olivia is pretending to be a happy wife and mother. But her secret could tear her family apart.
Their lies start small, they always do. But if they don’t watch out, the consequences will be deadly. And then what’s going to happen?
I enjoyed this book even though it wasn’t what I thought it would be. The writing is good, the characters are believable. 4*
October 24, 2017
Gripping!
I was hooked from the beginning of this novel!
Just couldn't put it down!
Exposed the frailties and secrets of human nature!
Off to try and find another of Caroline England's books now!
I was hooked from the beginning of this novel!
Just couldn't put it down!
Exposed the frailties and secrets of human nature!
Off to try and find another of Caroline England's books now!
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