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The Confession
Alternate cover for this ISBN here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear.
Just an hour later the attacker, JP Carney, has handed himself in to the police. He confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn't know the identity of his victim. With a man as notorious as Harry McNamara, the detectives cannot help wondering, was this really a random act of violence or is it linked to one of Harry's many sins: corruption, greed, betrayal?
This gripping psychological thriller will have you questioning, who - of Harry, Julie and JP - is really the guilty one? And is Carney's surrender driven by a guilty conscience or is his confession a calculated move in a deadly game?
Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear.
Just an hour later the attacker, JP Carney, has handed himself in to the police. He confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn't know the identity of his victim. With a man as notorious as Harry McNamara, the detectives cannot help wondering, was this really a random act of violence or is it linked to one of Harry's many sins: corruption, greed, betrayal?
This gripping psychological thriller will have you questioning, who - of Harry, Julie and JP - is really the guilty one? And is Carney's surrender driven by a guilty conscience or is his confession a calculated move in a deadly game?
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2018
531 people are currently reading
4646 people want to read
About the author
Jo Spain
24 books1,186 followersJo Spain is the author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series and several international No. 1 bestselling standalone novels. Her first book, With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 796 reviews
November 13, 2018
Be prepared! The prologue is going to leave you speechless and horrified!
OK...You’ve been warned!
This book takes an unusual approach, in that the end result is exposed in the first chapter. You just have no idea how you got there.
Harry is a financial tycoon. Bank owner. And for a man like Harry, money and power are as vital to him as the air he breathes.
After he’s tried and acquitted of financial fraud, Harry and his wife firmly believe their problems are now conveniently behind them. Uh-uh! The worst is yet to come.
Into their home walks J.P. Carney with a singular goal.
Julie is immediately paralyzed with fear, as she watches helplessly while her husband Harry is brutally beaten.
When he’s satisfied with his handy work, J.P. leans in and whispers something into Harrys’ ear.
Told from three POV's
Julie: When she first met Harry and fell in love. Followed by a fairy-tale romance and wedding. Can this fantasy and marital bliss actually last? Or is there a hefty price to pay when you live with a tycoon?
JP Carney: Grew up in broken, dysfunctional family. Left home with his little sister in tow, with no intention of ever looking back. And as a dutiful big brother, he’s promised to give his sister a better life than what their parents provided.
Detective Sergeant Alice Moody: Officer in charge of the investigation to determine the motive behind the attack. She instinctively knows there are more than a few pieces missing.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I was immediately intrigued with the backstories of both Julie and JP. I was so caught up in both stories I was completely spun around as the plot unfolded.
My first by this author, and will most definitely be looking for her next release!
Thank you to Sarah Poppe at Crooked Lane Books for proving me with an ARC via NetGalley to read and review.
OK...You’ve been warned!
This book takes an unusual approach, in that the end result is exposed in the first chapter. You just have no idea how you got there.
Harry is a financial tycoon. Bank owner. And for a man like Harry, money and power are as vital to him as the air he breathes.
After he’s tried and acquitted of financial fraud, Harry and his wife firmly believe their problems are now conveniently behind them. Uh-uh! The worst is yet to come.
Into their home walks J.P. Carney with a singular goal.
Julie is immediately paralyzed with fear, as she watches helplessly while her husband Harry is brutally beaten.
When he’s satisfied with his handy work, J.P. leans in and whispers something into Harrys’ ear.
Told from three POV's
Julie: When she first met Harry and fell in love. Followed by a fairy-tale romance and wedding. Can this fantasy and marital bliss actually last? Or is there a hefty price to pay when you live with a tycoon?
JP Carney: Grew up in broken, dysfunctional family. Left home with his little sister in tow, with no intention of ever looking back. And as a dutiful big brother, he’s promised to give his sister a better life than what their parents provided.
Detective Sergeant Alice Moody: Officer in charge of the investigation to determine the motive behind the attack. She instinctively knows there are more than a few pieces missing.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I was immediately intrigued with the backstories of both Julie and JP. I was so caught up in both stories I was completely spun around as the plot unfolded.
My first by this author, and will most definitely be looking for her next release!
Thank you to Sarah Poppe at Crooked Lane Books for proving me with an ARC via NetGalley to read and review.
January 2, 2018
Jo Spain writes a dark and twisted psychological thriller that is truly compelling and gripping. It gives us a picture of Ireland with its growth as a Celtic Tiger, built on shifting and corrupt sands leading to an economic and banking collapse, a state that bailed out the banks whilst ordinary people paid the price. One such banker/financier is disgraced Harry McNamara, acquitted of financial fraud in 2012. Harry and his wife, Julie, are watching TV, thinking they have got away with it, when a stranger appears in their living room with a golf club. A terrifyingly brutal and savage attack on Harry with the golf club takes place in front of a shocked and immobile Julie. At the end, the stranger whispers to Harry whilst he lies dying. A little later, John Paul Carney covered in blood, hands himself in at the police station, confessing to killing Harry whilst experiencing a psychotic episode. As it happens, Harry is not dead, but he is in a coma and the prognosis is not good.
The narrative is delivered from the perspective of three people, Julie, JP Carney and DS Alice Moody. The story makes headline news, the notorious Harry had been front page news during his trial. There are many that are unsympathetic and feel that he got what he deserved. A guilt ridden Julie spends her days at Harry's bedside wondering why she did nothing whilst Harry was beaten. Carney maintains he has never met and never heard of Harry, it was just an unfortunate coincidence that he found the open back door when he was experiencing mental health issues. The psychiatrists agree that he was not responsible as he is placed in a mental health hospital. The large and corpulent Alice does not believe Carney, and thinks there is much more to the story as she digs into the lives of Harry, Julie and Carney. The narrative goes back in time, to how Harry and Julie met, had a lavish wedding and settled in a happy marriage initially that grew progressively more dark and fraught through the years. A child eluded the couple, and as Julie tries to turn a blind eye to the dark activities that Harry engages in, she turns increasingly to drink as she becomes a raging alcoholic. Julie's insecurities refuse to allow her to leave her marriage, the couple support each other through their secrets. Carney grew up in poverty, with a mother with mental health issues who leaves him and his younger sister, Charlie, in London. The father takes them home to Ireland but is ill equipped to look after them. Carney brings up his sister single handedly.
In a well plotted and gripping story, Jo Spain makes you care about the characters even when you don't really like them very much. I just did not want to stop reading the book, I had to find out what happened. The suspense and tension is wracked sky high in this fast paced novel with short chapters. I felt some sympathy for a naive and emotionally dependent Julie at times, particularly as she begins to unravel as she can no longer ignore his faults. Harry is manipulative, a man with a dark side for whom making money is what makes his life tick, by whatever means necessary. Despite everything the two manage to keep their marriage going and at the heart of it is their love for each other, they have no-one else. What possible connection could this power couple have with Carney, a man from the other end of the economic and social spectrum? All becomes clear by the end of this entertaining and thoroughly absorbing thriller. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
The narrative is delivered from the perspective of three people, Julie, JP Carney and DS Alice Moody. The story makes headline news, the notorious Harry had been front page news during his trial. There are many that are unsympathetic and feel that he got what he deserved. A guilt ridden Julie spends her days at Harry's bedside wondering why she did nothing whilst Harry was beaten. Carney maintains he has never met and never heard of Harry, it was just an unfortunate coincidence that he found the open back door when he was experiencing mental health issues. The psychiatrists agree that he was not responsible as he is placed in a mental health hospital. The large and corpulent Alice does not believe Carney, and thinks there is much more to the story as she digs into the lives of Harry, Julie and Carney. The narrative goes back in time, to how Harry and Julie met, had a lavish wedding and settled in a happy marriage initially that grew progressively more dark and fraught through the years. A child eluded the couple, and as Julie tries to turn a blind eye to the dark activities that Harry engages in, she turns increasingly to drink as she becomes a raging alcoholic. Julie's insecurities refuse to allow her to leave her marriage, the couple support each other through their secrets. Carney grew up in poverty, with a mother with mental health issues who leaves him and his younger sister, Charlie, in London. The father takes them home to Ireland but is ill equipped to look after them. Carney brings up his sister single handedly.
In a well plotted and gripping story, Jo Spain makes you care about the characters even when you don't really like them very much. I just did not want to stop reading the book, I had to find out what happened. The suspense and tension is wracked sky high in this fast paced novel with short chapters. I felt some sympathy for a naive and emotionally dependent Julie at times, particularly as she begins to unravel as she can no longer ignore his faults. Harry is manipulative, a man with a dark side for whom making money is what makes his life tick, by whatever means necessary. Despite everything the two manage to keep their marriage going and at the heart of it is their love for each other, they have no-one else. What possible connection could this power couple have with Carney, a man from the other end of the economic and social spectrum? All becomes clear by the end of this entertaining and thoroughly absorbing thriller. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
January 10, 2018
EXCERPT: It's the first spray of my husband's blood hitting the television screen that will haunt me in the weeks to come - a perfect diagonal splash, each droplet descending like a vivid red tear.
That and the sound of his skull cracking as the blows from the golf club rain down.
THE BLURB: Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear.
Just an hour later the attacker, JP Carney, has handed himself in to the police. He confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn't know the identity of his victim. With a man as notorious as Harry McNamara, the detectives cannot help wondering, was this really a random act of violence or is it linked to one of Harry's many sins: corruption, greed, betrayal?
This gripping psychological thriller will have you questioning, who - of Harry, Julie and JP - is really the guilty one? And is Carney's surrender driven by a guilty conscience or is his confession a calculated move in a deadly game?
MY THOUGHTS: I was excited by the first third of The Confession by Jo Spain. After that point, the novel seemed to lose some impetus and I began to struggle to maintain my interest. I found myself skimming large parts of the characters back stories, which were mainly irrelevant, in parts downright depressing, and far too long. And it never really picked up again. I never regained that feeling of excitement and by 70% in I had figured out what was going on, which is not necessarily a problem, as it could have been clever, but I found the ending to be somewhat clumsily executed and too drawn out.
The story is told from three points of view: that of Julie, the victim’s wife; JP, the victim’s killer; and Alice, the investigating officer. Don't expect to like any of the characters, not even the murder victim.
They are all thoroughly unlikeable, but quite realistic, so full marks to Jo Spain for her characterisation. She has a good grasp of human relationships, the petty jealousies and games of oneupmanship.
Instead of just being an okay read, The Confession could be a really good book. It just needs a bit more judicious editing. Having said that, a lot of people will love this book, and you may be one of them. So if you enjoyed the excerpt and like the sound of the blurb, please go ahead and get a copy of The Confession and let me know what you think of it.
The Confession by Jo Spain will be published by Hachette Australia 11 January, 2018.
Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Confession by Jo Spain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
That and the sound of his skull cracking as the blows from the golf club rain down.
THE BLURB: Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear.
Just an hour later the attacker, JP Carney, has handed himself in to the police. He confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn't know the identity of his victim. With a man as notorious as Harry McNamara, the detectives cannot help wondering, was this really a random act of violence or is it linked to one of Harry's many sins: corruption, greed, betrayal?
This gripping psychological thriller will have you questioning, who - of Harry, Julie and JP - is really the guilty one? And is Carney's surrender driven by a guilty conscience or is his confession a calculated move in a deadly game?
MY THOUGHTS: I was excited by the first third of The Confession by Jo Spain. After that point, the novel seemed to lose some impetus and I began to struggle to maintain my interest. I found myself skimming large parts of the characters back stories, which were mainly irrelevant, in parts downright depressing, and far too long. And it never really picked up again. I never regained that feeling of excitement and by 70% in I had figured out what was going on, which is not necessarily a problem, as it could have been clever, but I found the ending to be somewhat clumsily executed and too drawn out.
The story is told from three points of view: that of Julie, the victim’s wife; JP, the victim’s killer; and Alice, the investigating officer. Don't expect to like any of the characters, not even the murder victim.
They are all thoroughly unlikeable, but quite realistic, so full marks to Jo Spain for her characterisation. She has a good grasp of human relationships, the petty jealousies and games of oneupmanship.
Instead of just being an okay read, The Confession could be a really good book. It just needs a bit more judicious editing. Having said that, a lot of people will love this book, and you may be one of them. So if you enjoyed the excerpt and like the sound of the blurb, please go ahead and get a copy of The Confession and let me know what you think of it.
The Confession by Jo Spain will be published by Hachette Australia 11 January, 2018.
Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Confession by Jo Spain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 11, 2018
Well.....
What just happened here today?
I read this. Yes I read this in one sitting not doing much else, it’s gripping story that hauls you in by the scruff of your neck.
It starts with an appalling event, a murder. Julie’s husband lies dead after a blood curdling graphic attack. I dare you not to imagine it as his wife looks on and witnesses it.
At the beginning we know just what’s is happening. You find out who did it.
Yes no guessing. We are told.
But we aren’t told why until the last page.
The lives interested by a few.
It’s diffi to write a review without giving anything away.
This is dark, twisty, thought provoking.
This is brilliant stuff!
Remarkablely different.
What just happened here today?
I read this. Yes I read this in one sitting not doing much else, it’s gripping story that hauls you in by the scruff of your neck.
It starts with an appalling event, a murder. Julie’s husband lies dead after a blood curdling graphic attack. I dare you not to imagine it as his wife looks on and witnesses it.
At the beginning we know just what’s is happening. You find out who did it.
Yes no guessing. We are told.
But we aren’t told why until the last page.
The lives interested by a few.
It’s diffi to write a review without giving anything away.
This is dark, twisty, thought provoking.
This is brilliant stuff!
Remarkablely different.
June 5, 2018
Compelling and Dark with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested. An Irish Crime Novel which I really enjoyed.
My first Jo Spain novel and I really enjoyed this well plotted and dark thriller/ mystery style novel.
The opening chapter really catches the readers attention and this was a book that kept me entertained and intrigued over the sunny bank holiday weekend.
Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear. It looks like Harry's many sins - corruption, greed, betrayal - have finally caught up with him
Loved the despicable characters which were realistic and extremely well drawn. The plot is pretty fast paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy their thriller/crime novels dark and compelling.
My first Jo Spain novel and I really enjoyed this well plotted and dark thriller/ mystery style novel.
The opening chapter really catches the readers attention and this was a book that kept me entertained and intrigued over the sunny bank holiday weekend.
Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear. It looks like Harry's many sins - corruption, greed, betrayal - have finally caught up with him
Loved the despicable characters which were realistic and extremely well drawn. The plot is pretty fast paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy their thriller/crime novels dark and compelling.
September 6, 2018
Well, I most certainly need to thank my Goodreads pal Krystin @ (Here's The Fucking Twist) for her very entertaining review of this novel. She managed to lower my expectations and I ended up enjoying this a lot more than she did. So, thanks, Krystin! :)
(I would have posted a link to her review but the Goodreads "Formatting tips" are nearly impossible for me to figure out. Me not so smart. Ha!)
This is a "Why Did He Do It?" book and I have to say that the more I read the more I needed to know the answer to this question.
The opening chapter starts with a bang! The infamous banker Harry MacNamara is bludgeoned to death by a golf club wielding lunatic within his own living room and it is witnessed by his loyal wife, Julie, who was only able to watch frozen in fear.
J.P. Carney willingly turns himself in and admits to the heinous crime. The problem is he refuses to tell the authorities as to why he did it. He claims that he has no idea who Harry McNamara is. He picked the house completely at random and that an internal rage just over took him in that moment. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Clearly there is a lot more behind this than just blind rage or is there?
I will admit that the world of banking and finance holds no interest for me. So when these things were discussed my eyes did gloss over a bit BUT (thanks to Krystin) I was expecting them and I really did just skim through those parts to get to the more juicy bits.
"Gallagher nodded in a way that said he was completely in the dark but couldn't cope with another explanation."
Gallagher, dude, I feel your pain hence the skimming of those sections.
Part 4 of this book had me racing through the pages. I'd say this book was a win for me! 4 stars!
Thank you to Sarah @ Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for kindly sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
(I would have posted a link to her review but the Goodreads "Formatting tips" are nearly impossible for me to figure out. Me not so smart. Ha!)
This is a "Why Did He Do It?" book and I have to say that the more I read the more I needed to know the answer to this question.
The opening chapter starts with a bang! The infamous banker Harry MacNamara is bludgeoned to death by a golf club wielding lunatic within his own living room and it is witnessed by his loyal wife, Julie, who was only able to watch frozen in fear.
J.P. Carney willingly turns himself in and admits to the heinous crime. The problem is he refuses to tell the authorities as to why he did it. He claims that he has no idea who Harry McNamara is. He picked the house completely at random and that an internal rage just over took him in that moment. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Clearly there is a lot more behind this than just blind rage or is there?
I will admit that the world of banking and finance holds no interest for me. So when these things were discussed my eyes did gloss over a bit BUT (thanks to Krystin) I was expecting them and I really did just skim through those parts to get to the more juicy bits.
"Gallagher nodded in a way that said he was completely in the dark but couldn't cope with another explanation."
Gallagher, dude, I feel your pain hence the skimming of those sections.
Part 4 of this book had me racing through the pages. I'd say this book was a win for me! 4 stars!
Thank you to Sarah @ Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for kindly sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 8, 2018
3 Stars
Julie and Harry were in their house, watching a movie when the stranger walked into their living room, swung the golf club at Harry and beat him! But then one hour later the stranger came to the police station and handed himself in! But he claimed he doesn't know this couple, he just snapped (because of what they had and he didn't have)! And the thing is the police couldn’t find anything that links Harry to the stranger! So is the stranger telling the truth? He really doesn’t know the victim? Was it just a random act of violence? Or if he knew them why is he lying? And more importantly, why did he handle himself in?
The story started really good but because it was so slow and predictable towards the end I somehow lost my interest, for the last 20% I really was struggling to finish it! Told in multiple POV, 1st and 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel. I can’t tell it was a good Mystery/Thriller (because in my opinion, it wasn’t) but hope you enjoy it more than me!
Julie and Harry were in their house, watching a movie when the stranger walked into their living room, swung the golf club at Harry and beat him! But then one hour later the stranger came to the police station and handed himself in! But he claimed he doesn't know this couple, he just snapped (because of what they had and he didn't have)! And the thing is the police couldn’t find anything that links Harry to the stranger! So is the stranger telling the truth? He really doesn’t know the victim? Was it just a random act of violence? Or if he knew them why is he lying? And more importantly, why did he handle himself in?
The story started really good but because it was so slow and predictable towards the end I somehow lost my interest, for the last 20% I really was struggling to finish it! Told in multiple POV, 1st and 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel. I can’t tell it was a good Mystery/Thriller (because in my opinion, it wasn’t) but hope you enjoy it more than me!
July 6, 2017
So moving on in the “Ones to Watch in 2018” feature we have Jo Spain’s “The Confession” her first psychological thriller and with any luck for us readers, not her last.
I am used to this type of book by now, I enjoy the majority that I read but these days I look for those that do something different or something special. I wouldn’t say that The Confession necessarily has a whole new hook in to the psychological thriller genre but what I WOULD say is it has that X-Factor, that indescribable something that makes it stand above the rest.
A multi-stranded story taking in three separate narratives – Julie, the wife who sits aghast and unable to move as she watches her Husband brutally beaten, JP, the attacker and Alice, the detective determined to get to the bottom of things – The Confession slowly and intelligently reveals the intersecting lives that have lead inevitably to this one brutal moment. JP Delaney says of this book “Enthralling, Spain dissects her character’s secrets with razor-sharp precision” – That is spot on and exactly what happens over the course of the story and you cannot look away. This is yet another one sitting (relatively speaking) read for me, the whole thing was entirely fascinating.
I can’t give too much away, this book has twists of character so beautifully done that I would not want to even risk letting anything out before you read it yourself – but you’ll find out about Julie, about Harry who we only meet in retrospect and through the filtered eye of others, about JP and even about Alice, the author bringing this eclectic group dynamic to incredibly authentic life.
Viewed through a glass darkly, the true nature of the players in this drama slowly emerges, their realities and their consequences – it is gripping gripping stuff and takes the notion of a “Whydunnit” to whole new levels.
You’ll find out who did it on the very first page. On the last page you’ll find out why…
I am used to this type of book by now, I enjoy the majority that I read but these days I look for those that do something different or something special. I wouldn’t say that The Confession necessarily has a whole new hook in to the psychological thriller genre but what I WOULD say is it has that X-Factor, that indescribable something that makes it stand above the rest.
A multi-stranded story taking in three separate narratives – Julie, the wife who sits aghast and unable to move as she watches her Husband brutally beaten, JP, the attacker and Alice, the detective determined to get to the bottom of things – The Confession slowly and intelligently reveals the intersecting lives that have lead inevitably to this one brutal moment. JP Delaney says of this book “Enthralling, Spain dissects her character’s secrets with razor-sharp precision” – That is spot on and exactly what happens over the course of the story and you cannot look away. This is yet another one sitting (relatively speaking) read for me, the whole thing was entirely fascinating.
I can’t give too much away, this book has twists of character so beautifully done that I would not want to even risk letting anything out before you read it yourself – but you’ll find out about Julie, about Harry who we only meet in retrospect and through the filtered eye of others, about JP and even about Alice, the author bringing this eclectic group dynamic to incredibly authentic life.
Viewed through a glass darkly, the true nature of the players in this drama slowly emerges, their realities and their consequences – it is gripping gripping stuff and takes the notion of a “Whydunnit” to whole new levels.
You’ll find out who did it on the very first page. On the last page you’ll find out why…
May 15, 2021
If you really want to read this book, then do it. I'm in the minority when it comes to my opinion of this book. Personally, I had a hard time getting into the book and I grew more and more frustrated with both the story and the characters. I skimmed half the book just to get to the twist in the story, but they left me cold. I think that one of the reasons for me not liking the book is that I just didn't give a damn about the characters and reading about their past, JP (the attacker) tragic upbringing, and Julie (the wife) naive marriage. I was not enjoying this pity party and I grew more and more annoyed with them. Then, we have the police POV (Alice) to add to the drama, which instead just added one more character that I didn't find interesting to the story.
So, why did I finish the book? I just wanted to know what the BIG thing was. Why he did it. So, I skimmed the book, which worked quite well actually, I got the gist, was not impressed, and can now move on.
As I said before this book is well-liked with a LOT of 5-star reviews, it's just me negative Nancy that couldn't stand the book!
So, why did I finish the book? I just wanted to know what the BIG thing was. Why he did it. So, I skimmed the book, which worked quite well actually, I got the gist, was not impressed, and can now move on.
As I said before this book is well-liked with a LOT of 5-star reviews, it's just me negative Nancy that couldn't stand the book!
November 29, 2017
Julie’s seemingly idyllic life is shattered one night when a stranger walks into her home and beats her banker husband near to death in front of her. He whispers something into his ear before giving himself up to the police and confessing to the assault – whydunit?
Jo Spain’s The Confession is a fairly decent crime/mystery novel. It has an uneven story that’s quite well-written and even occasionally compelling! However large parts of it are uninteresting and feel superfluous while the ending is a bit of an unsatisfying anti-climax.
The story is told from three perspectives: Julie, the victim’s wife; JP, the attacker; and DC Alice Moody, the investigating officer. I don’t know why Moody got her own chapters as they failed to add anything much overall and, despite some amusing dialogue between her and her boss, only added pointless pages to an already bloated narrative. Maybe, in the same vein as similar genre novels, Spain is trying to make her into a recurring character she’ll be able to build future books around like Michael Connelly’s Bosch or Ian Rankin’s Rebus, except Moody isn’t nearly as intriguing.
JP’s backstory was largely unnecessary too. We only really needed to catch up with him once his life crosses paths with the other characters; we didn’t need to hear about his gloomy childhood/adolescence, which, in its excessively depressing detail, just felt like reading misery-porn. Abusive drunk father, crazy mother, growing up poor in Ireland - yeesh, what is this, Angela’s Ashes: Redux?
Julie and her husband Harry are essentially a modern day Jane Eyre/Rochester and, while not an original setup, it’s still interesting to discover Harry’s dark secret life unfolding through his innocent wife’s eyes.
Spain is a good storyteller too, slowly parcelling out answers to the questions surrounding the central mystery - how do the characters know each other, what’s the motive, what was whispered, and so on - to keep you turning the pages at a steady clip to find out. It’s not a predictable story as she kept me guessing til the end and I was genuinely curious to know the answers to it all even if what’s revealed is somewhat underwhelming.
The Confession is a flawed novel. It’s basically an unpleasant story about unpleasant people doing unpleasant things to each other which becomes a bit much at times, as well as making it difficult to care about or root for anyone in particular. For that alone I couldn’t say I always enjoyed reading it. However the characters and their voices are convincingly realistic which is an argument in itself against “likeability” for the author’s high level of skill.
Ultimately I still found it overlong with large parts of the story being irrelevant, particularly with regards Moody’s character. Despite the grim subject matter, The Confession is a light and accessible easy read with just enough going on to hold the attention - a sufficiently readable, if unimpressive, airplane book and nothing more.
Jo Spain’s The Confession is a fairly decent crime/mystery novel. It has an uneven story that’s quite well-written and even occasionally compelling! However large parts of it are uninteresting and feel superfluous while the ending is a bit of an unsatisfying anti-climax.
The story is told from three perspectives: Julie, the victim’s wife; JP, the attacker; and DC Alice Moody, the investigating officer. I don’t know why Moody got her own chapters as they failed to add anything much overall and, despite some amusing dialogue between her and her boss, only added pointless pages to an already bloated narrative. Maybe, in the same vein as similar genre novels, Spain is trying to make her into a recurring character she’ll be able to build future books around like Michael Connelly’s Bosch or Ian Rankin’s Rebus, except Moody isn’t nearly as intriguing.
JP’s backstory was largely unnecessary too. We only really needed to catch up with him once his life crosses paths with the other characters; we didn’t need to hear about his gloomy childhood/adolescence, which, in its excessively depressing detail, just felt like reading misery-porn. Abusive drunk father, crazy mother, growing up poor in Ireland - yeesh, what is this, Angela’s Ashes: Redux?
Julie and her husband Harry are essentially a modern day Jane Eyre/Rochester and, while not an original setup, it’s still interesting to discover Harry’s dark secret life unfolding through his innocent wife’s eyes.
Spain is a good storyteller too, slowly parcelling out answers to the questions surrounding the central mystery - how do the characters know each other, what’s the motive, what was whispered, and so on - to keep you turning the pages at a steady clip to find out. It’s not a predictable story as she kept me guessing til the end and I was genuinely curious to know the answers to it all even if what’s revealed is somewhat underwhelming.
The Confession is a flawed novel. It’s basically an unpleasant story about unpleasant people doing unpleasant things to each other which becomes a bit much at times, as well as making it difficult to care about or root for anyone in particular. For that alone I couldn’t say I always enjoyed reading it. However the characters and their voices are convincingly realistic which is an argument in itself against “likeability” for the author’s high level of skill.
Ultimately I still found it overlong with large parts of the story being irrelevant, particularly with regards Moody’s character. Despite the grim subject matter, The Confession is a light and accessible easy read with just enough going on to hold the attention - a sufficiently readable, if unimpressive, airplane book and nothing more.
May 24, 2018
The Confession by Jo Spain is a rip roaring psychological thriller with a very unique and original premise - you find out who did it on the first page and on the last page you find out why, the rest of the plot in between focuses on the unravelling of what actually happened and surrounding circumstances. It is SO difficult to find thrillers with wholly new ideas and a storyline that sets them apart from the rest but this really manages to do that. There are just so many blurbs I read that could literally be swapped out and put in the place of loads of others. No-one wants to read the same sort of thing over and over so when I come across a synopsis that makes the book sound distinct, I grab it rather swiftly.
Let me tell you, Spain did a cracking job! It is so well plotted. Just the right pace and a lot of surprising twists and turns throughout. It's a struggle to write a great review without giving away the story and I feel this is definitely one of those books that work best the less you know about them, so I won't give away any of the details for the benefit of those who haven't had the pleasure of reading this one as of yet.
This title shuns the usual formula of a lot of crime writing and does its own thing. You learn who the attacker and the victim is at the very beginning. The motive, situation, and background of the crime is what the remainder of the plot details and is done in a clever and innovative way. The story is told against the backdrop of the Irish Celtic Tiger era and the main characters, while generally dislikable due to their actions, are well portrayed, They are also realistic and believable, which always helps.
I absolutely cannot wait for more of this authors writing, I hope it isn't too long before she releases another book. It is not possible to state how compelling and engaging it is so I will just say - READ IT!!
I would like to thank Jo Spain, Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me tell you, Spain did a cracking job! It is so well plotted. Just the right pace and a lot of surprising twists and turns throughout. It's a struggle to write a great review without giving away the story and I feel this is definitely one of those books that work best the less you know about them, so I won't give away any of the details for the benefit of those who haven't had the pleasure of reading this one as of yet.
This title shuns the usual formula of a lot of crime writing and does its own thing. You learn who the attacker and the victim is at the very beginning. The motive, situation, and background of the crime is what the remainder of the plot details and is done in a clever and innovative way. The story is told against the backdrop of the Irish Celtic Tiger era and the main characters, while generally dislikable due to their actions, are well portrayed, They are also realistic and believable, which always helps.
I absolutely cannot wait for more of this authors writing, I hope it isn't too long before she releases another book. It is not possible to state how compelling and engaging it is so I will just say - READ IT!!
I would like to thank Jo Spain, Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2018
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Jo Spain, and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
This is my first venture into the writing of Jo Spain and it will surely not be my last! Spain offers a well-developed novel that mixes the thrill of a mystery with the intrigue of a multi-voiced narrative that seeks to explore an act of extreme violence. While Harry and Julie McNamara are watching television one evening, someone discretely makes their way inside and repeatedly strikes Harry across the head with a golf club. A panicked call to the authorities after the attacker has fled finds Mr. McNamara taken to the hospital, clinging to life. Detective Sergeant Alice Moody takes the lead on the case, trying to ascertain who might have wanted to attack McNamara, a rich Irish banker. With Harry clinging to life in a coma, the reader discovers one John Paul “JP” Carney has been arrested in conjunction with the attack, though he seems not to remember the event, or have any reason to have approached the McNamara manse. The story offers a present-time narrative through the eyes of DS Moody, who is trying to build a case and discover a motive that Carney may have had. Julie McNamara and JP Carney offer up their own perspectives, both as backstories and with flashes of present-day, as it relates to the larger McNamara crime. Was the attack on Harry McNamara completely random? How might JP have ever run in the same circles as a powerful banker? Why has Julie been so hands-off since a suspect was detained? All this and more fills the reader’s mind as they push through this novel. Spain leaves the reader wondering until the very end as they, like DS Moody, slowly peel back the proverbial onion to see the core of the crime. Perfect for those who like mysteries that slowly develop and then come together with a BANG!
This being my first venture into the world of Jo Spain, I was not sure what to expect. It would seem that she has quite the following, with an established novel series already, but I cannot help but feel that this standalone novel could convince many to take a gamble on more of her work. Spain does a masterful job of using her characters to propel the story forward, in that interesting ‘multiple perspective’ narrative. This allows the reader to develop a closeness with Julia McNamara, JP Carney, and DS Alice Moody independently and as a larger whole. There is much backstory, as mentioned above, for the latter two characters, while Moody seeks to keep her chapters in the present and focussed on the case. The reader can feel more of a closeness to Julia and JP, thereby helping them to have a better idea as to the foundation of the attack that saw Harry McNamara injured so grievously. Taking the time to develop these characters in short order fuels the momentum of the story and enriches the narrative for the curious reader. The story proves to be quick paced and is a mystery that has little downtime as the authorities race against the clock to gather needed evidence. How could an attack on a wealthy gentleman who has no ties to the attacker have played out? What role, if any, did the wife have to the man who came in wielding a golf club? Who was Harry McNamara, away from the headlines he generated because of his profession? All this and more enters the fray in a narrative that flows through short chapters jammed with information. The dedicated reader will surely polish this off quickly, but be left with a wonderful residue as it all comes together, demanding more of Spain’s work in short order.
Kudos, Madam Spain, for a wonderful piece. While it was my first of your novels, it will surely not be the last!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
This is my first venture into the writing of Jo Spain and it will surely not be my last! Spain offers a well-developed novel that mixes the thrill of a mystery with the intrigue of a multi-voiced narrative that seeks to explore an act of extreme violence. While Harry and Julie McNamara are watching television one evening, someone discretely makes their way inside and repeatedly strikes Harry across the head with a golf club. A panicked call to the authorities after the attacker has fled finds Mr. McNamara taken to the hospital, clinging to life. Detective Sergeant Alice Moody takes the lead on the case, trying to ascertain who might have wanted to attack McNamara, a rich Irish banker. With Harry clinging to life in a coma, the reader discovers one John Paul “JP” Carney has been arrested in conjunction with the attack, though he seems not to remember the event, or have any reason to have approached the McNamara manse. The story offers a present-time narrative through the eyes of DS Moody, who is trying to build a case and discover a motive that Carney may have had. Julie McNamara and JP Carney offer up their own perspectives, both as backstories and with flashes of present-day, as it relates to the larger McNamara crime. Was the attack on Harry McNamara completely random? How might JP have ever run in the same circles as a powerful banker? Why has Julie been so hands-off since a suspect was detained? All this and more fills the reader’s mind as they push through this novel. Spain leaves the reader wondering until the very end as they, like DS Moody, slowly peel back the proverbial onion to see the core of the crime. Perfect for those who like mysteries that slowly develop and then come together with a BANG!
This being my first venture into the world of Jo Spain, I was not sure what to expect. It would seem that she has quite the following, with an established novel series already, but I cannot help but feel that this standalone novel could convince many to take a gamble on more of her work. Spain does a masterful job of using her characters to propel the story forward, in that interesting ‘multiple perspective’ narrative. This allows the reader to develop a closeness with Julia McNamara, JP Carney, and DS Alice Moody independently and as a larger whole. There is much backstory, as mentioned above, for the latter two characters, while Moody seeks to keep her chapters in the present and focussed on the case. The reader can feel more of a closeness to Julia and JP, thereby helping them to have a better idea as to the foundation of the attack that saw Harry McNamara injured so grievously. Taking the time to develop these characters in short order fuels the momentum of the story and enriches the narrative for the curious reader. The story proves to be quick paced and is a mystery that has little downtime as the authorities race against the clock to gather needed evidence. How could an attack on a wealthy gentleman who has no ties to the attacker have played out? What role, if any, did the wife have to the man who came in wielding a golf club? Who was Harry McNamara, away from the headlines he generated because of his profession? All this and more enters the fray in a narrative that flows through short chapters jammed with information. The dedicated reader will surely polish this off quickly, but be left with a wonderful residue as it all comes together, demanding more of Spain’s work in short order.
Kudos, Madam Spain, for a wonderful piece. While it was my first of your novels, it will surely not be the last!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
January 23, 2018
A man walks into the home of a disgraced banker and his wife, Julie. The man launches an unspeakable attack on Harry as a horror struck Julie watches., frozen with fear. The attacker then hands himself into the police. He claims he did not know the identity of his victim but the Detectives can not help wondering if this really was a random attack of violence.
Jo Spain certainly knows how to pull you in and have you engrossed in the book from the first few pages. The characters in the book are not very likeable but that is how they need to be to make the story work. I did not know where the story was going as there were many twists and surprises. The ending was not what I expected either. This is a dark, gripping and cleverly written book. This is my first Jo Spain book but it won't be my last. I do highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Jo Spain for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jo Spain certainly knows how to pull you in and have you engrossed in the book from the first few pages. The characters in the book are not very likeable but that is how they need to be to make the story work. I did not know where the story was going as there were many twists and surprises. The ending was not what I expected either. This is a dark, gripping and cleverly written book. This is my first Jo Spain book but it won't be my last. I do highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Jo Spain for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2022
Book Blog | Bookstagram
“That was us at the beginning of our fairytale. But here’s the thing about fairytales. Sometimes they’re darker than you can ever imagine.”
I don’t think I’ve ever read a “thriller” this unthrilling before. This was slowwwwwwwww. Boring, even.
The Confession by Jo Spain is billed as a dark thriller, but it’s really more of a depressing autobiography of the main characters whose POVs wehave to endure get to experience - how they got to that moment in 2012 when a banker is getting his head bashed in by a stranger with a golf club.
The novel started out with a bang of blood and brutality that grabs the reader by the throat when Harry the banker is viciously attacked while his wife, Julie, watches in stunned horror. Think Neegan and Glen. It was some disturbing shit. But that was the first and the last of that kind of entertainment.
That horrifying pace was never maintained. Instead, it settled into a mundane telling of personal events. The path to alcoholism, the troubles of marriage and co-dependence, the struggle of infertility. The effects of a poor upbringing and the tragedy of mental illness. Nothing about the writing was bad per se, actually it was quite the opposite. The prose provided the reader with a vivid experience, and an understanding of the characters at a base level.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t give a shit about them. And this approach to the writing drained all the energy out of the plot, making it feel sluggish.
And the characters… ugh. Talk about unlikable. Whiny bitch babies drinking and crying themselves into self-made drama and rich people problems. I don’t mind being troubled or damaged. I do mind endless pity parties, and that’s basically what this felt like. Not even the villain was interesting, he came across as pathetic, giving up on life. Definitely not an evil mastermind.
This was just so boring to me.
Did not enjoy.
⭐⭐ | 2 stars
book source: Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
“That was us at the beginning of our fairytale. But here’s the thing about fairytales. Sometimes they’re darker than you can ever imagine.”
I don’t think I’ve ever read a “thriller” this unthrilling before. This was slowwwwwwwww. Boring, even.
The Confession by Jo Spain is billed as a dark thriller, but it’s really more of a depressing autobiography of the main characters whose POVs we
The novel started out with a bang of blood and brutality that grabs the reader by the throat when Harry the banker is viciously attacked while his wife, Julie, watches in stunned horror. Think Neegan and Glen. It was some disturbing shit. But that was the first and the last of that kind of entertainment.
That horrifying pace was never maintained. Instead, it settled into a mundane telling of personal events. The path to alcoholism, the troubles of marriage and co-dependence, the struggle of infertility. The effects of a poor upbringing and the tragedy of mental illness. Nothing about the writing was bad per se, actually it was quite the opposite. The prose provided the reader with a vivid experience, and an understanding of the characters at a base level.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t give a shit about them. And this approach to the writing drained all the energy out of the plot, making it feel sluggish.
And the characters… ugh. Talk about unlikable. Whiny bitch babies drinking and crying themselves into self-made drama and rich people problems. I don’t mind being troubled or damaged. I do mind endless pity parties, and that’s basically what this felt like. Not even the villain was interesting, he came across as pathetic, giving up on life. Definitely not an evil mastermind.
This was just so boring to me.
Did not enjoy.
⭐⭐ | 2 stars
book source: Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
June 8, 2021
Well I enjoyed the prologue was very in your face & very dramatic to say the least,but yes there is a big but from there on it was a slow burn.
I don't know why I get so many of these books 😭 maybe it's just bad luck it wasn't compelling nor exciting I think it lacked grittiness even though it was a dark read it just left me a bit empty.
I don't know why I get so many of these books 😭 maybe it's just bad luck it wasn't compelling nor exciting I think it lacked grittiness even though it was a dark read it just left me a bit empty.
June 15, 2018
I had this book sitting on my kindle for sometime before I got round to reading it but was well worth waiting for.
JP Carney walks into the home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie and unleashes a brutal attack on Harry leaving his wife to witness the horror. Carney then proceeds to hand himself in to the police and confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn't know the identity of his victim. The police are left wondering whether this can be true that a man as notorious as Harry McNamara can really be a victim of a random act of violence or does the truth lie in Harry's dark side, a life full of corruption, greed and betrayal.
This is a book full of twists and well crafted characters and makes excellent reading.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
JP Carney walks into the home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie and unleashes a brutal attack on Harry leaving his wife to witness the horror. Carney then proceeds to hand himself in to the police and confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn't know the identity of his victim. The police are left wondering whether this can be true that a man as notorious as Harry McNamara can really be a victim of a random act of violence or does the truth lie in Harry's dark side, a life full of corruption, greed and betrayal.
This is a book full of twists and well crafted characters and makes excellent reading.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2018
4.5 ⭐️’s! A suspenseful thriller that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go! WOW...Jo Spain is fantastic at keeping the twists and turns coming.
We find out who the attacker is at the start of the book, but it isn’t until the end that we find out the reason behind it.
Late one night, a stranger walks into the home of banker—Harry McNamara—and his wife—Julie. He brutally attacks Harry with a golf club, while his wife watches...frozen by fear.
JP Carney walks into a police station and confesses to beating a man to death, but claims he doesn’t know the victim and has no reason for his behavior.
JP and Harry couldn’t be more different. JP grew up poor, with a mentally-ill mother and an alcoholic father. The family lived in shoddy housing on public assistance and JP took over the care of his little sister at a young age. Meanwhile, Harry was a filthy-rich banker with a lavish lifestyle. He lived in a million-dollar home with his wife and he was used to getting everything he wanted.
Harry was just found innocent in a highly-sensationalized fraud trial, so the detective doesn’t believe this is a random act of violence. And she’s suspicious that Julie knows things she’s not sharing.
This gripping psychological thriller will have you wondering who is really the guilty one—Harry, Julie or JP? And what is the reason behind Carney's confession—a guilty conscience or a calculated move?
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#TheConfession #NetGalley
We find out who the attacker is at the start of the book, but it isn’t until the end that we find out the reason behind it.
Late one night, a stranger walks into the home of banker—Harry McNamara—and his wife—Julie. He brutally attacks Harry with a golf club, while his wife watches...frozen by fear.
JP Carney walks into a police station and confesses to beating a man to death, but claims he doesn’t know the victim and has no reason for his behavior.
JP and Harry couldn’t be more different. JP grew up poor, with a mentally-ill mother and an alcoholic father. The family lived in shoddy housing on public assistance and JP took over the care of his little sister at a young age. Meanwhile, Harry was a filthy-rich banker with a lavish lifestyle. He lived in a million-dollar home with his wife and he was used to getting everything he wanted.
Harry was just found innocent in a highly-sensationalized fraud trial, so the detective doesn’t believe this is a random act of violence. And she’s suspicious that Julie knows things she’s not sharing.
This gripping psychological thriller will have you wondering who is really the guilty one—Harry, Julie or JP? And what is the reason behind Carney's confession—a guilty conscience or a calculated move?
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#TheConfession #NetGalley
January 17, 2018
It’s getting harder and harder to find a book with something original, a uniqueness that sets it apart from its counterparts, but I had a feeling after reading the description of The Confession that this would provide something new. Holy smokes was I right!!
Right from the first page you understand that you’re reading something exciting, a brutal crime has been committed and the perpetrator is no secret, so where’s the mystery? In the why, the actions that led up to this brutal attack and Spain reveals the truth in a slow, meticulous unraveling that left me reeling by the end. You hear from Julie, the wife of the victim, JP the perpetrator and Alice the police officer working the case. It also flips back and forth between present day and both Julie and JP’s histories. Of the three Alice was my clear favorite, she was a fantastic character and I would love to see her again!
This was my first time reading a Spain book and it will not be my last, she has a real way with words, a piercing writing style that grips you all the way through. The pacing was spot on and the characterization was superb, I can’t recommend this one enough.
The Confession in three words: Remarkable, Engrossing and Finely Honed.
Right from the first page you understand that you’re reading something exciting, a brutal crime has been committed and the perpetrator is no secret, so where’s the mystery? In the why, the actions that led up to this brutal attack and Spain reveals the truth in a slow, meticulous unraveling that left me reeling by the end. You hear from Julie, the wife of the victim, JP the perpetrator and Alice the police officer working the case. It also flips back and forth between present day and both Julie and JP’s histories. Of the three Alice was my clear favorite, she was a fantastic character and I would love to see her again!
This was my first time reading a Spain book and it will not be my last, she has a real way with words, a piercing writing style that grips you all the way through. The pacing was spot on and the characterization was superb, I can’t recommend this one enough.
The Confession in three words: Remarkable, Engrossing and Finely Honed.
January 20, 2018
Well... that was full on! What a beginning and that ending as well.... speechless really.!
I can't believe I had this book for so long before I read it... started it this afternoon and between Australian Open matches I have just finished it. NetGalley tells me that publication date in Jan 25th but I saw this at the shops this morning.
Reading this book you know who the murderer is.. which I am not used to. What you don't know is why. The story goes back in the lives of the main characters.. Harry - the victim., Julie - his wife and JP - the murderer. I read this in a few hours so that tells you how engrossing the story is.. definitely one that I could not put down.
My first read by this author... certainly won't be the last.
Thanks to NetGalley via Quercia Books for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions. I can't recommend this book more!!!
I can't believe I had this book for so long before I read it... started it this afternoon and between Australian Open matches I have just finished it. NetGalley tells me that publication date in Jan 25th but I saw this at the shops this morning.
Reading this book you know who the murderer is.. which I am not used to. What you don't know is why. The story goes back in the lives of the main characters.. Harry - the victim., Julie - his wife and JP - the murderer. I read this in a few hours so that tells you how engrossing the story is.. definitely one that I could not put down.
My first read by this author... certainly won't be the last.
Thanks to NetGalley via Quercia Books for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions. I can't recommend this book more!!!
July 21, 2022
This book starts off with a loud thud.
A man breaks into a wealthy Irish banker's house and viciously bludgeons the banker with a golf club.
The banker's wife witnesses the attack, frozen with fear.
The attacker, covered in the banker's blood, confesses his crime to the police with vivid details.
The attacker tells the police that he snapped and assaulted a complete stranger, with no premeditation.
Was the attacker's confession truthful? Why was the wealthy banker attacked and bludgeoned to death?
"The Confession" was an intricately plotted, riveting, and engrossing tale of a toxic marriage, a deeply troubled man, and a tenacious Detective Sargeant.
All protagonists were deeply flawed with their own personal confessions that were compelling, heart-wrenching, and impossible to predict.
In most psychological thrillers, readers need to identify the killer and his/her motive.
In "The Confession", readers already know the attacker's identity. Instead, the attacker's motive is the mystery.
I listened to the full cast audiobook and all of the narrators did a superb job with the narration.
This novel was written in 2018 yet somehow escaped my radar.
Author Jo Spain completely wowed me and I look forward to listening to more titles by this author.
5 solid stars.
A man breaks into a wealthy Irish banker's house and viciously bludgeons the banker with a golf club.
The banker's wife witnesses the attack, frozen with fear.
The attacker, covered in the banker's blood, confesses his crime to the police with vivid details.
The attacker tells the police that he snapped and assaulted a complete stranger, with no premeditation.
Was the attacker's confession truthful? Why was the wealthy banker attacked and bludgeoned to death?
"The Confession" was an intricately plotted, riveting, and engrossing tale of a toxic marriage, a deeply troubled man, and a tenacious Detective Sargeant.
All protagonists were deeply flawed with their own personal confessions that were compelling, heart-wrenching, and impossible to predict.
In most psychological thrillers, readers need to identify the killer and his/her motive.
In "The Confession", readers already know the attacker's identity. Instead, the attacker's motive is the mystery.
I listened to the full cast audiobook and all of the narrators did a superb job with the narration.
This novel was written in 2018 yet somehow escaped my radar.
Author Jo Spain completely wowed me and I look forward to listening to more titles by this author.
5 solid stars.
February 18, 2018
3.5 stars
Given that The Confession opens with a man walking into the home of disgraced banker, Harry McNamara, beating him to a pulp in front of his wife, Julie, and subsequently handing himself into the nearest garda station this stand-alone psychological thriller is firmly intended as a “whydunnit”, concerned with the motives of the killer rather than any need to establish their identity. With McNamara having done much to exacerbate Ireland’s economic boom and mass investment as the head of HM Capital, the collapse and bailout of the company at the expense of taxpayers has left him a man with plenty of enemies. Having successfully passed the buck onto his right hand man and escaped prosecution for his part in the fraudulent dealings he remains a marked man so when JP Carney confesses to having killed him, his claim that he had no idea of the man’s identity doesn’t ring true for tenacious DS Alice Moody. As thirty-two-year-old JP Carney claims that something made him snap and his actions were not premeditated his solicitor is quick to lodge a defence of a temporary psychotic episode making him thereby unfit to stand trial. Whilst DS Moody’s superiors and the Director of Public Prosecution might be happy to accept JP’s story at face value and chalk up a quick resolution to a case which runs the risk of attracting far too much public and media interest, Moody is more pragmatic.
When Station Sergeant Dean Gallagher assigns the case to senior DS Alice Moody, a “walking sequoia” of a woman with a prolific clear up ratio her gut instinct is one of scepticism, with Carney’s almost preternatural aura of calm and suspicions that Julie McNamara might have more than an idea who Carney is than she is willing to let on. In common with a younger DI Vera Stanhope, Alice is a cumbersome and shrewd woman who is more than a match for her male counterparts, trumping their wise cracks with plenty of her own verbal and making a spirited investigator. I was concerned that the banter and Alice’s unintentional comedy moments would reduce the police involvement to inanity, but this is prevented by Alice’s part in the competing narratives being of significantly less focus as the novel progresses. This was somewhat disappointing as I felt that Alice was a character ripe for development with enough hints towards her hidden vulnerabilities to be expanded upon, however in terms of directing the investigation her role is superfluous and in the end she merely seems to represent an objective observer to the admissions that follow.
The Confession unfolds through the use of a multiple narrative structure, Alice being seen in the third-person present tense and JP and Julie both in the first-person but with a mixture of past and current events relayed. With both Julie and JP gradually recounting their own histories and inevitably coming to explore how a working class lad from East London with a tragic upbringing has collided with the idyllic lifestyle of a Teflon coated Harry McNamara, DS Alice Moody stands outside of the unfolding reminisces and her limited role is more as a bridge to adjoin the two stories. The three narratives are all easily distinguishable and have a markedly different ‘feel’, all the more impressive for a story that converges upon common ground.
There is more than a hint of the confessional about Julie’s disclosures which follow her path from a vibrant young girl hailing from a rural Irish village with little to offer an ambitious student who dreams of becoming a teacher. Departing for imposing Trinity College in Dublin, she first encounters Harry McManus at the college ball and is overwhelmed by the attentions of a confident and suave professional man of twenty-seven. Wedded at twenty-four and soon losing her independence, Julie only recognises the signs of a toxic union long after the horse has bolted and her story never attempts to excuse her actions and escape blame, but rather to justify some of her responses. Whilst she might not be a particularly likeable character this does not prevent her narrative strand being engaging and absorbing, in marked contrast to that of JP Carney’s which begins with a wretched childhood and trudge through his early years and although this should be emotive, for me it was a lacklustre tale which failed to offer much in the way of clues as to how the lives of JP, Julie and Harry McManus collided until well after half way through. Although pitiable, JP’s narrative is mundane whereas perhaps if Jo Spain had picked up his story further on through his lifetime and skipped some of the early onerous details it might have proved more riveting.
Whilst a compelling read throughout I never found The Confession actively gripping, and much of my interest was more out of curiosity to see the line that author, Jo Spain would take and never one of fervent urgency. In a novel of very few surprises my dismay was that much of what arose was eminently predictable, with the majority of readers being overly familiar with the financial crash of 2008, which Ireland was not alone in experiencing and was was mirrored to a greater or lesser degree worldwide. Whilst the early 1990s growth that characterised the Celtic tiger economy may have been marked by unprecedented highs not of the scale seen in England the basic facts are not mired in doubt and any reader who loosely followed the news will be well aware of the events, making much of Jo Spain’s early detail irrelevant. In this sense I found much of the first half of The Confession was a case of “teaching grandma to suck eggs” - and an over-familiarity with the events risking the reader tuning out.
My overriding frustration is that it is patently obvious from the get-go that there is a connection between JP Carney and Harry McNamara, thereby making Spain’s needless belabouring of the point during a first half with few clues immediately forthcoming feel hideously tiresome. Likewise, the skeletons in the closet of the McNamara’s marriage of seedy affairs, drug taking, dodgy dealings and debauched living are easily guessable with many of the shocks conceivable from simply reading the premise. Anyone who has read a handful of psychological thrillers will be conversant with how the question of what goes on behind closed doors has been covered to exhaustion and will be unsurprised by the revelations.
In short. The Confession is an intriguing and engaging read which is as much a lesson in the recent economic history of Ireland as to that of the toxic marriage of two addictive individuals, bound together by a twisted sense of loyalty and their co-dependency. In contrast to so many psychological thrillers The Confession thankfully remains in largely realistic territory, however there isn’t a great sense of impetus or dynamism to the story and along with JP’s wretched past and a conclusion which is difficult to swallow (because it appears so contrary to the character’s actions throughout the novel), I doubt it will leave a lasting impression on me.
Given that The Confession opens with a man walking into the home of disgraced banker, Harry McNamara, beating him to a pulp in front of his wife, Julie, and subsequently handing himself into the nearest garda station this stand-alone psychological thriller is firmly intended as a “whydunnit”, concerned with the motives of the killer rather than any need to establish their identity. With McNamara having done much to exacerbate Ireland’s economic boom and mass investment as the head of HM Capital, the collapse and bailout of the company at the expense of taxpayers has left him a man with plenty of enemies. Having successfully passed the buck onto his right hand man and escaped prosecution for his part in the fraudulent dealings he remains a marked man so when JP Carney confesses to having killed him, his claim that he had no idea of the man’s identity doesn’t ring true for tenacious DS Alice Moody. As thirty-two-year-old JP Carney claims that something made him snap and his actions were not premeditated his solicitor is quick to lodge a defence of a temporary psychotic episode making him thereby unfit to stand trial. Whilst DS Moody’s superiors and the Director of Public Prosecution might be happy to accept JP’s story at face value and chalk up a quick resolution to a case which runs the risk of attracting far too much public and media interest, Moody is more pragmatic.
When Station Sergeant Dean Gallagher assigns the case to senior DS Alice Moody, a “walking sequoia” of a woman with a prolific clear up ratio her gut instinct is one of scepticism, with Carney’s almost preternatural aura of calm and suspicions that Julie McNamara might have more than an idea who Carney is than she is willing to let on. In common with a younger DI Vera Stanhope, Alice is a cumbersome and shrewd woman who is more than a match for her male counterparts, trumping their wise cracks with plenty of her own verbal and making a spirited investigator. I was concerned that the banter and Alice’s unintentional comedy moments would reduce the police involvement to inanity, but this is prevented by Alice’s part in the competing narratives being of significantly less focus as the novel progresses. This was somewhat disappointing as I felt that Alice was a character ripe for development with enough hints towards her hidden vulnerabilities to be expanded upon, however in terms of directing the investigation her role is superfluous and in the end she merely seems to represent an objective observer to the admissions that follow.
The Confession unfolds through the use of a multiple narrative structure, Alice being seen in the third-person present tense and JP and Julie both in the first-person but with a mixture of past and current events relayed. With both Julie and JP gradually recounting their own histories and inevitably coming to explore how a working class lad from East London with a tragic upbringing has collided with the idyllic lifestyle of a Teflon coated Harry McNamara, DS Alice Moody stands outside of the unfolding reminisces and her limited role is more as a bridge to adjoin the two stories. The three narratives are all easily distinguishable and have a markedly different ‘feel’, all the more impressive for a story that converges upon common ground.
There is more than a hint of the confessional about Julie’s disclosures which follow her path from a vibrant young girl hailing from a rural Irish village with little to offer an ambitious student who dreams of becoming a teacher. Departing for imposing Trinity College in Dublin, she first encounters Harry McManus at the college ball and is overwhelmed by the attentions of a confident and suave professional man of twenty-seven. Wedded at twenty-four and soon losing her independence, Julie only recognises the signs of a toxic union long after the horse has bolted and her story never attempts to excuse her actions and escape blame, but rather to justify some of her responses. Whilst she might not be a particularly likeable character this does not prevent her narrative strand being engaging and absorbing, in marked contrast to that of JP Carney’s which begins with a wretched childhood and trudge through his early years and although this should be emotive, for me it was a lacklustre tale which failed to offer much in the way of clues as to how the lives of JP, Julie and Harry McManus collided until well after half way through. Although pitiable, JP’s narrative is mundane whereas perhaps if Jo Spain had picked up his story further on through his lifetime and skipped some of the early onerous details it might have proved more riveting.
Whilst a compelling read throughout I never found The Confession actively gripping, and much of my interest was more out of curiosity to see the line that author, Jo Spain would take and never one of fervent urgency. In a novel of very few surprises my dismay was that much of what arose was eminently predictable, with the majority of readers being overly familiar with the financial crash of 2008, which Ireland was not alone in experiencing and was was mirrored to a greater or lesser degree worldwide. Whilst the early 1990s growth that characterised the Celtic tiger economy may have been marked by unprecedented highs not of the scale seen in England the basic facts are not mired in doubt and any reader who loosely followed the news will be well aware of the events, making much of Jo Spain’s early detail irrelevant. In this sense I found much of the first half of The Confession was a case of “teaching grandma to suck eggs” - and an over-familiarity with the events risking the reader tuning out.
My overriding frustration is that it is patently obvious from the get-go that there is a connection between JP Carney and Harry McNamara, thereby making Spain’s needless belabouring of the point during a first half with few clues immediately forthcoming feel hideously tiresome. Likewise, the skeletons in the closet of the McNamara’s marriage of seedy affairs, drug taking, dodgy dealings and debauched living are easily guessable with many of the shocks conceivable from simply reading the premise. Anyone who has read a handful of psychological thrillers will be conversant with how the question of what goes on behind closed doors has been covered to exhaustion and will be unsurprised by the revelations.
In short. The Confession is an intriguing and engaging read which is as much a lesson in the recent economic history of Ireland as to that of the toxic marriage of two addictive individuals, bound together by a twisted sense of loyalty and their co-dependency. In contrast to so many psychological thrillers The Confession thankfully remains in largely realistic territory, however there isn’t a great sense of impetus or dynamism to the story and along with JP’s wretched past and a conclusion which is difficult to swallow (because it appears so contrary to the character’s actions throughout the novel), I doubt it will leave a lasting impression on me.
January 20, 2018
As soon as I read the description of this book I knew I had to read it. It sounded to good to miss and I wasn’t wrong.
The beginning and ending has to be the best parts of the book. Don’t get me wrong the rest is good to but it’s very rare that the very first page of a book leaves me reeling and desperate to carry on reading, but The Confession does just that.
I was as desperate as Julie and the police as to why a stranger would just walk into someones home and brutally murder someone when they seemingly have no connection or reasoning to do it.
The story flicks between JP, Alice and Julie so that we get a mixture of past and present leading up to the big question, why?
Harry had it all. He was good looking, rich and a lovely wife. As we get to find out more about him though, he wasn’t that nice a man. I could understand why Julie loved him and I think in his own way harry loved her also very much but it’s a bit of a toxic relationship. Julie was certainly an interesting character also. She is a bit like an onion where we get to see different layers of her the further into the story we get. I certainly had a lot of empathy for her.
Alice I loved. She is so unlike any typical detectives you read in a crime novel but she is extremely clever and she reminded me slightly of Columbo where people write her off but she is a lot more intelligent than they think.
The Confession is without a doubt going to be a much talked about book and I predict a lot of peoples top read of 2018. From the brilliant start to the surprising ending, this really is one book that fans of psychological thrillers do not want to miss out on.
My thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The beginning and ending has to be the best parts of the book. Don’t get me wrong the rest is good to but it’s very rare that the very first page of a book leaves me reeling and desperate to carry on reading, but The Confession does just that.
I was as desperate as Julie and the police as to why a stranger would just walk into someones home and brutally murder someone when they seemingly have no connection or reasoning to do it.
The story flicks between JP, Alice and Julie so that we get a mixture of past and present leading up to the big question, why?
Harry had it all. He was good looking, rich and a lovely wife. As we get to find out more about him though, he wasn’t that nice a man. I could understand why Julie loved him and I think in his own way harry loved her also very much but it’s a bit of a toxic relationship. Julie was certainly an interesting character also. She is a bit like an onion where we get to see different layers of her the further into the story we get. I certainly had a lot of empathy for her.
Alice I loved. She is so unlike any typical detectives you read in a crime novel but she is extremely clever and she reminded me slightly of Columbo where people write her off but she is a lot more intelligent than they think.
The Confession is without a doubt going to be a much talked about book and I predict a lot of peoples top read of 2018. From the brilliant start to the surprising ending, this really is one book that fans of psychological thrillers do not want to miss out on.
My thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
March 30, 2023
Money, booze, sex - lots of all of it, then throw in some jealousy, toxic masculinity and children abandoned by their mother and a father who succumbs to drinking, et voila, a recipe for a drama.
I finished it.
I finished it.
January 11, 2018
The Confession – A Psychological Thriller at its Best
What excites me about Jo Spain’s writing is that she is not afraid to try something new to keep the reader on their toes, compelling you to read on. The Confession is another ground- breaking thrilling from Jo Spain that will keep you enthralled from beginning to the end. Once you start reading the book becomes compulsive, and you will become totally enveloped within the plot which is so intense.
What sets this thriller apart from others, is that you know who the murderer is from the beginning. What makes this book tick is they way you are left trying to work out the motives for the murder that will have you questioning yourself and what you have read. This is a psychological thriller at its best, questioning the three main characters and what were the actual reasons behind the murder.
Harry McNamara is a disgraced Irish banker who fuelled the Celtic Tiger economy on falsehoods, gambles and none of his money. He is beaten to death in front of his wife in their living room by a man with a golf club. He whispers something in Harry’s ear and then disappears, while Julie McNamara just sits shocked in her chair. The murderer then goes and hands himself in to the police and confesses to the murder.
DS Alice Moody is assigned the case, she finds that them man confessing to the murder of Harry McNamara, JP is a loner with no links to his victim. Other than confess to the murder he says nothing to the police other than to get himself placed in a mental health facility as it has been agreed he has had some form of psychotic event.
What makes this thriller so twisted is the way we see the story behind each character and what built up to that fatal night. The reason for the attack, and why McNamara was the victim and why JP is so happy to sit on in a mental health facility.
The Confession will keep you gripped from beginning to end, it is like an adult game of twister with all the pleasure involved. You will love this book and want to recommend it to all you know.
What excites me about Jo Spain’s writing is that she is not afraid to try something new to keep the reader on their toes, compelling you to read on. The Confession is another ground- breaking thrilling from Jo Spain that will keep you enthralled from beginning to the end. Once you start reading the book becomes compulsive, and you will become totally enveloped within the plot which is so intense.
What sets this thriller apart from others, is that you know who the murderer is from the beginning. What makes this book tick is they way you are left trying to work out the motives for the murder that will have you questioning yourself and what you have read. This is a psychological thriller at its best, questioning the three main characters and what were the actual reasons behind the murder.
Harry McNamara is a disgraced Irish banker who fuelled the Celtic Tiger economy on falsehoods, gambles and none of his money. He is beaten to death in front of his wife in their living room by a man with a golf club. He whispers something in Harry’s ear and then disappears, while Julie McNamara just sits shocked in her chair. The murderer then goes and hands himself in to the police and confesses to the murder.
DS Alice Moody is assigned the case, she finds that them man confessing to the murder of Harry McNamara, JP is a loner with no links to his victim. Other than confess to the murder he says nothing to the police other than to get himself placed in a mental health facility as it has been agreed he has had some form of psychotic event.
What makes this thriller so twisted is the way we see the story behind each character and what built up to that fatal night. The reason for the attack, and why McNamara was the victim and why JP is so happy to sit on in a mental health facility.
The Confession will keep you gripped from beginning to end, it is like an adult game of twister with all the pleasure involved. You will love this book and want to recommend it to all you know.
May 14, 2022
I liked the last chapters, but it just took too long to get to the juicy parts. I love a good story, but when it unfolds so slowly I loose interest.
October 5, 2017
5/5 - I need to find new words for GRIPPING because I don't think "Gripping" does this book justice - The Confession by Jo Spain was not only gripping it was "riveting, thrilling, unputdownable and overall captivating throughout." (Thank you Google for your help!).
We start the book with a vicious attack on a man in front of his wife by a complete stranger - or do we? We then begin the tense journey to find out who is this random attacker, why did he attack Harry and then turn himself in to the police and what does his wife Julia have to do with the attack? We are taken back to the beginning of each character's life through alternating chapters and just when you think you've worked out why, when, who the author throws in a humdinger of a twist and you are left dumbstruck and bemused.
Julie - the wife tells us her story from the moment she first met and fell in love with the enigmatic and successful Harry to the moment she watched a random attack beat him senseless with a golf club. JP - the attacker tells us his life story - warts and all, full of heartbreak and determination and how he finds himself confessing to attempted murder, but my favourite character is Alice Moody the policewoman in charge of this investigation - she was absolutely WONDERFUL and deserves her own book.
A thoroughly brilliant, page turning, tense and exceptional psychological thriller that is definitely 100% GRIPPING.
We start the book with a vicious attack on a man in front of his wife by a complete stranger - or do we? We then begin the tense journey to find out who is this random attacker, why did he attack Harry and then turn himself in to the police and what does his wife Julia have to do with the attack? We are taken back to the beginning of each character's life through alternating chapters and just when you think you've worked out why, when, who the author throws in a humdinger of a twist and you are left dumbstruck and bemused.
Julie - the wife tells us her story from the moment she first met and fell in love with the enigmatic and successful Harry to the moment she watched a random attack beat him senseless with a golf club. JP - the attacker tells us his life story - warts and all, full of heartbreak and determination and how he finds himself confessing to attempted murder, but my favourite character is Alice Moody the policewoman in charge of this investigation - she was absolutely WONDERFUL and deserves her own book.
A thoroughly brilliant, page turning, tense and exceptional psychological thriller that is definitely 100% GRIPPING.
September 23, 2022
well, if there's something
hilarious in the way Irish
authors tend to portrait
their investigators this
book shines with it. :D
hilarious in the way Irish
authors tend to portrait
their investigators this
book shines with it. :D
November 17, 2017
This book is a thriller told in the perspectives of three characters. There is the wife, the attacker of the wife's husband, and the detective. It was great to see the points of view of all of these characters and what their motives/thoughts etc were.
Everything comes together in an interesting way. Nothing was overly overwhelming or shocking, but there was something realistic about the events. A lot of the story also feels like a contemporary, and for that I was not overly horrified by anything that took place.
I did not really enjoy the plot. The writing included a lot of backstory and it made everything progress at a slow pace. There was also a lot of internal dialogue, which made me feel less connected the story.
Thank you to Quercus for the advanced reader copy that I received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Everything comes together in an interesting way. Nothing was overly overwhelming or shocking, but there was something realistic about the events. A lot of the story also feels like a contemporary, and for that I was not overly horrified by anything that took place.
I did not really enjoy the plot. The writing included a lot of backstory and it made everything progress at a slow pace. There was also a lot of internal dialogue, which made me feel less connected the story.
Thank you to Quercus for the advanced reader copy that I received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2018
I read The Confession fairly quickly. Its an Irish psychological thriller with a highly divisive set of characters. I found myself compelled to read the book at every opportunity, and its definitely an interesting read. It covers some of the financial history that we have lived through as well which you’ll appreciate (maybe wrong choice of word, but you know what I mean!) if you’re Irish like me!
November 11, 2018
3.5 stars
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