Compulsion

by Hilary Norman

Frankie Barnes had a tormented life until she found the perfect career to suit her obsession with hygiene. As a cleaner, she can scrub away to her heart's content at her clients' homes, be paid and even valued for her pains. But Frankie suffers from other compulsions too and the greatest of them all is the compulsion to have. Many children covet or even steal other kids' toys, but even as a child, Frankie's yearnings went much deeper. Roz Bailey's house is exactly the kind of house Frankie's always wanted. The kind of house she deserves. The house she has to have, no matter what. Jude Brown is a builder by day, artist by night. He and speech therapist Alex Levin have both survived tragedies. Thrown together by a workmate's accident, they're both working hard at reshaping their lives - and sometimes, hardworking people need a little help around the house. Alex has never known anyone who loves cleaning as much as Frankie Barnes. And Alex's home is the prettiest cottage Frankie's ever laid eyes on.

Genres: Thriller, Suspense

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Born and raised in London, loved reading but deeply lazy about writing at school, preferring drama. A brief acting career, then moved into the production side at the BBC's radio drama department - later at London's Capital Radio, by which time the writing "switch" had been flicked on. Spent as much time as possible travelling in the US, working and writing. First novel, IN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP published in 1986 after five years of writing. Wrote sagas with big dramatic finishes in the early days, and then, as the body count rose, made the move into psychological suspense and thrillers. Last book LAST RUN soon out in trade paperback, and the latest (and 20th) -RALPH'S CHILDREN - out soon in hardcover.
Living in London with husband Jonathan, and dog Poppy.

Reviews

[Thessia · Rating 4 out of 5]

es war sehr spannend und hatte mal eine andere Thematik als Thema, über das ich so noch nichts gelesen habe.
ausserdem sind die Bücher von Hilary norman gut für zwischendurch, da man nicht lange dran liest.

[Steve Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman with a compulsion disorder will stop at nothing to get a house.

This is an enjoyable read with the main character very much in the Kathy Bates mould. It's her character which completely makes this novel the gripping and indeed compulsive read that it is!

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good suspense filled thriller. The short chapters, switching between scenes, keeps you on the edge of your chair.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the way this book was written. Short and to the point paragraphs, short chapters. Not overly on the edge of your seat, nail biting stuff but a quick read and a decent, believable plot. I liked it enough to look at the authors other books

[Zauberlehrling! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hat mir gut gefallen. Die Geschichte war spannend und gut erzählt. Die Figuren vielleicht ein bißchen zu zweidimensional, aber alles in allem recht bildhaft. Empfehlenswert.