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What She Saw
How far would you go to keep your daughter safe?
Everyone knows Leona would do anything for her daughter, Beth: she moved to Church Langdon to send Beth to the best school, built a business to support them and found the perfect little cottage to call home. They hike together, shop together, share their hopes and fears. It’s the relationship every mother dreams of.
But Leona never talks about why they moved to the Lake District.
She’s never told Beth anything about her father.
She says Beth should never speak to strangers. She says Beth doesn’t need friends.
She’s only trying to protect her daughter.
When Leona answers the phone one morning, her heart stops as she hears a voice from her past.
She’s given her daughter everything, but now she must tell her the truth. And once it’s out, can she keep her little girl safe?
What She Saw is a gripping psychological thriller with an incredible twist that will make your jaw drop. If you love The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl or Behind Closed Doors you’ll be consumed by this.
Everyone knows Leona would do anything for her daughter, Beth: she moved to Church Langdon to send Beth to the best school, built a business to support them and found the perfect little cottage to call home. They hike together, shop together, share their hopes and fears. It’s the relationship every mother dreams of.
But Leona never talks about why they moved to the Lake District.
She’s never told Beth anything about her father.
She says Beth should never speak to strangers. She says Beth doesn’t need friends.
She’s only trying to protect her daughter.
When Leona answers the phone one morning, her heart stops as she hears a voice from her past.
She’s given her daughter everything, but now she must tell her the truth. And once it’s out, can she keep her little girl safe?
What She Saw is a gripping psychological thriller with an incredible twist that will make your jaw drop. If you love The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl or Behind Closed Doors you’ll be consumed by this.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
1694 people are currently reading
1878 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Clarke
24 books225 followersWendy Clarke has had over three hundred short stories published in national women’s magazines. With a degree in psychology, and intrigued with how the human mind can affect behaviour, it was inevitable she would eventually want to explore her darker side. What She Saw is her debut psychological thriller, published by Bookouture. Wendy lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex and when not writing is usually dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
May 3, 2019
Absorbing. Intense. Suspenseful.
A well constructed thriller that started off slowly and ended with a GASP. Wendy Clark’s debut novel is a bit of a genre mash up. This book perfectly combined women’s fiction with psychological thriller. An entertaining story that combined character development, relationship dynamics, dark Secrets, hurtful lies, crazy twists, and wild turns. I would advise you however to completely ignore the blurb it is a bit misleading.
This book bounces around between time and perspective. We are told the story from both Leona and Beth’s perspectives, as well as Ria‘s story in tandem. Leona is a loving devoted overprotective mother with a secret past. Beth her daughter now 15 is fiercely trying to break out of her mothers clutches. She does not feel as though she fits in at school and soon finds herself entangled with an older man. Ria is pregnant and in a bad situation. She married a man who she thought was the love of her life. Unfortunately she now finds herself trapped in a marriage to a controlling narcissist. You know that Leona and Ria‘s story somehow are tied together, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how. Then there’s this older man that Beth is involved with, how does he fit into the story?
This book was like a puzzle, so many pieces that I enjoyed trying to put together. I liked how things were slowly revealed to us through Leona‘s sessions with her therapist. I was seriously confounded at how Ria could have possibly hurt Leona so terribly. I was also disturbed that a 24 year old and a 15-year-old were involved, but it did eventually play into the story. The last 20% of this book was seriously intense. The stress was palpable and I was as anxious as these characters. And that ending... well played Miss Clark!
*** thank you so much Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
A well constructed thriller that started off slowly and ended with a GASP. Wendy Clark’s debut novel is a bit of a genre mash up. This book perfectly combined women’s fiction with psychological thriller. An entertaining story that combined character development, relationship dynamics, dark Secrets, hurtful lies, crazy twists, and wild turns. I would advise you however to completely ignore the blurb it is a bit misleading.
This book bounces around between time and perspective. We are told the story from both Leona and Beth’s perspectives, as well as Ria‘s story in tandem. Leona is a loving devoted overprotective mother with a secret past. Beth her daughter now 15 is fiercely trying to break out of her mothers clutches. She does not feel as though she fits in at school and soon finds herself entangled with an older man. Ria is pregnant and in a bad situation. She married a man who she thought was the love of her life. Unfortunately she now finds herself trapped in a marriage to a controlling narcissist. You know that Leona and Ria‘s story somehow are tied together, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how. Then there’s this older man that Beth is involved with, how does he fit into the story?
This book was like a puzzle, so many pieces that I enjoyed trying to put together. I liked how things were slowly revealed to us through Leona‘s sessions with her therapist. I was seriously confounded at how Ria could have possibly hurt Leona so terribly. I was also disturbed that a 24 year old and a 15-year-old were involved, but it did eventually play into the story. The last 20% of this book was seriously intense. The stress was palpable and I was as anxious as these characters. And that ending... well played Miss Clark!
*** thank you so much Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
April 16, 2019
This is a well constructed and gripping psychological thriller that I really did find hard to put down as I really wanted to know what happened.
The main character Leona lives in the beautiful English lake district with her partner Scott and teenage daughter Beth. Although Leona makes a good living making silver jewellery for sale at the local markets while Scott leads hiking tours in the local area, she suffers from anxiety about the past. Twelve years before Leona fled London with Beth when a woman called Ria did something shocking and now she worries about Ria re-emerging into her life. On top of that her daughter Beth is deeply unhappy, being bullied at school and playing truant. Ria's story is told in parallel with Leona's and it is not a pleasant one as she was lured into marriage by a charming but abusive and controlling man who watched her every move and didn't allow her to see her friends or leave the house.
Skillfully written and culminating in a suspenseful climax in the very rugged and atmospheric lake district landscape, I did not see the very clever twist coming. Highly recommended if you enjoy this genre. 4.5★.
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy to read
The main character Leona lives in the beautiful English lake district with her partner Scott and teenage daughter Beth. Although Leona makes a good living making silver jewellery for sale at the local markets while Scott leads hiking tours in the local area, she suffers from anxiety about the past. Twelve years before Leona fled London with Beth when a woman called Ria did something shocking and now she worries about Ria re-emerging into her life. On top of that her daughter Beth is deeply unhappy, being bullied at school and playing truant. Ria's story is told in parallel with Leona's and it is not a pleasant one as she was lured into marriage by a charming but abusive and controlling man who watched her every move and didn't allow her to see her friends or leave the house.
Skillfully written and culminating in a suspenseful climax in the very rugged and atmospheric lake district landscape, I did not see the very clever twist coming. Highly recommended if you enjoy this genre. 4.5★.
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy to read
August 6, 2019
Predictably good, if makes any sense??
I think I have read so many psychological thrillers that I guessed some ( not all ) of the ‘twists’ quite early on....it was however a perfectly acceptable tale and one I enjoyed
The setting in the Lake District is portrayed beautifully ( many years since been there ) and made me want to re-visit, the author obviously knows the area extremely well
and equally adores it, the love shines out for all things Cumbria!
Interesting characters and you get to know them quite deeply and about their past and present, the emphasis is on the past as Leona one of the main characters has one!, not one to be ashamed of but one to fear....and the past is back ready to shatter all she has built in her new life, problem is her hubby and daughter know nothing about her past, but they will and when they find out.....well you know the rest!
A good solid thriller, picks up speed as it goes along and is a worthy read
8/10 4 Stars
I think I have read so many psychological thrillers that I guessed some ( not all ) of the ‘twists’ quite early on....it was however a perfectly acceptable tale and one I enjoyed
The setting in the Lake District is portrayed beautifully ( many years since been there ) and made me want to re-visit, the author obviously knows the area extremely well
and equally adores it, the love shines out for all things Cumbria!
Interesting characters and you get to know them quite deeply and about their past and present, the emphasis is on the past as Leona one of the main characters has one!, not one to be ashamed of but one to fear....and the past is back ready to shatter all she has built in her new life, problem is her hubby and daughter know nothing about her past, but they will and when they find out.....well you know the rest!
A good solid thriller, picks up speed as it goes along and is a worthy read
8/10 4 Stars
May 3, 2019
EXCERPT: 'Shall I go on with the story?'
Lisa looks at the clock on the wall. 'We could extend the session by thirty minutes if you like. I think it's important we talk about how it all ended, don't you?'
My heart is beating a tattoo in my chest, but I know that I have to go on. The only problem is... which story to tell?
ABOUT THIS BOOK: She lied to her daughter to save her family.
Everyone knows Leona would do anything for her daughter Beth: she moved to Church Langdon to send Beth to the best school, worked hard to build a successful business to support them and found them the perfect little cottage to call home. Leona and Beth hike together, shop together, share their hopes and fears with one another. People say they’re more like best friends than mother and daughter.
It’s the relationship every mother dreams of.
But their closeness means that Beth struggles to make friends. Her mother has kept her sheltered from the world. She’s more reliant on her mother’s love. More vulnerable.
When Beth finds an envelope hidden under the floorboards of their home, the contents make her heart stop. Everything she thought she knew about her mother is a lie. And she realises there is no one she can turn to for help.
What if you’ve been protected from strangers your whole life, but the one person you can’t trust is the person closest to home?
MY THOUGHTS: I don't really think that this synopsis at all accurate - there are a lot of inconsistencies with the actual circumstances as written in the book. But, putting that niggle aside, I mostly enjoyed this read. It drags a little in places, is sometimes a tad repetitive, occasionally a bit angst ridden, but overall it was interesting enough to keep me turning the (virtual) pages.
There was one point when the phrase "Move on people, there's nothing to see here" was running through my mind...but I kept reading. There are no great surprises (well, not for me), but the idea was good, the writing style relaxed and easy to read, and yes, I would read more from this author.
Three very solid stars.
THE AUTHOR: Wendy Clarke has had over three hundred short stories published in national women’s magazines. With a degree in psychology, and intrigued with how the human mind can affect behaviour, it was inevitable she would eventually want to explore her darker side. What She Saw is her debut psychological thriller, published by Bookouture. Wendy lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex and when not writing is usually dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC for review. All opinions expressed in this review are 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 webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Lisa looks at the clock on the wall. 'We could extend the session by thirty minutes if you like. I think it's important we talk about how it all ended, don't you?'
My heart is beating a tattoo in my chest, but I know that I have to go on. The only problem is... which story to tell?
ABOUT THIS BOOK: She lied to her daughter to save her family.
Everyone knows Leona would do anything for her daughter Beth: she moved to Church Langdon to send Beth to the best school, worked hard to build a successful business to support them and found them the perfect little cottage to call home. Leona and Beth hike together, shop together, share their hopes and fears with one another. People say they’re more like best friends than mother and daughter.
It’s the relationship every mother dreams of.
But their closeness means that Beth struggles to make friends. Her mother has kept her sheltered from the world. She’s more reliant on her mother’s love. More vulnerable.
When Beth finds an envelope hidden under the floorboards of their home, the contents make her heart stop. Everything she thought she knew about her mother is a lie. And she realises there is no one she can turn to for help.
What if you’ve been protected from strangers your whole life, but the one person you can’t trust is the person closest to home?
MY THOUGHTS: I don't really think that this synopsis at all accurate - there are a lot of inconsistencies with the actual circumstances as written in the book. But, putting that niggle aside, I mostly enjoyed this read. It drags a little in places, is sometimes a tad repetitive, occasionally a bit angst ridden, but overall it was interesting enough to keep me turning the (virtual) pages.
There was one point when the phrase "Move on people, there's nothing to see here" was running through my mind...but I kept reading. There are no great surprises (well, not for me), but the idea was good, the writing style relaxed and easy to read, and yes, I would read more from this author.
Three very solid stars.
THE AUTHOR: Wendy Clarke has had over three hundred short stories published in national women’s magazines. With a degree in psychology, and intrigued with how the human mind can affect behaviour, it was inevitable she would eventually want to explore her darker side. What She Saw is her debut psychological thriller, published by Bookouture. Wendy lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex and when not writing is usually dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC for review. All opinions expressed in this review are 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 webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 24, 2019
What She Saw was a slow burn of a story to begin with but once you get into it you really do struggle to put it down. Set in the beautiful Lake District this story just gets to you, even though it takes some time to work out really what is happening. Definitely worth sticking with, a twist that I did not pick.
Leona and her daughter Beth are close. Leona is a very protective mother and Beth is now a teenager and wanting some independence and freedom. But Leona has dark secrets that not even her husband knows about. She begins to have panic attacks and goes back to see her therapist. This is where we learn all about Ria... but who is she and how does she fit into the story?
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Leona and her daughter Beth are close. Leona is a very protective mother and Beth is now a teenager and wanting some independence and freedom. But Leona has dark secrets that not even her husband knows about. She begins to have panic attacks and goes back to see her therapist. This is where we learn all about Ria... but who is she and how does she fit into the story?
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
April 24, 2019
I'm sad because I wanted to like this book. But in my opinion the first half was boring, and at around 50% I knew exactly what will be the plot twist. And it is weird that the things in the blurb happened in the book at 70%. 70%! What's the point of this? Like this, the blurb has almost nothing to do with the story. I'm sorry but for me this was not a good book. It was not bad, but I didn't get the thrill I wanted from it.
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
June 12, 2022
This standalone psychological thriller by author Wendy Clarke is a good solid read. I don’t claim it to be the best book I have read this year but certainly entertaining.
Leona worships her daughter Beth and would go to any lengths for her. When they moved to Church Langdon, Beth did everything possible to make sure Beth was enrolled at the best school. The business she grew was done directly to support them and pay for the cottage they live in. Leona and Beth are very close and spend time hiking, shopping together as well as other things to keep their relationship strong.
Although the mother and daughter spend a lot of time together Leona keeps two subjects very secretive. She never mentions anything about Beth’s father or why they actually moved to the Lake District. Leona is very protective of her daughter and tries to avoid Beth mixing with friends or other people generally.
One morning when Leona answers the phone she recognises a voice from her past and fears she will now have to tell Beth the truth. The problem is once the truth is out can she keep her daughter safe.
This was a solid read, well written, interesting plot and good characters.
Leona worships her daughter Beth and would go to any lengths for her. When they moved to Church Langdon, Beth did everything possible to make sure Beth was enrolled at the best school. The business she grew was done directly to support them and pay for the cottage they live in. Leona and Beth are very close and spend time hiking, shopping together as well as other things to keep their relationship strong.
Although the mother and daughter spend a lot of time together Leona keeps two subjects very secretive. She never mentions anything about Beth’s father or why they actually moved to the Lake District. Leona is very protective of her daughter and tries to avoid Beth mixing with friends or other people generally.
One morning when Leona answers the phone she recognises a voice from her past and fears she will now have to tell Beth the truth. The problem is once the truth is out can she keep her daughter safe.
This was a solid read, well written, interesting plot and good characters.
March 21, 2019
Great book! I was on the edge of my seat reading it. Leona is a single mother of Beth and has a boyfriend Scott. Beth is having a hard time fitting.in at school. Scott is the on,u father she has. Now that Beth is a teenager she shares less and less with her mom. But Leona has secrets too. Big ones.
June 6, 2019
What She Saw is a broken family/bad ex-husband/maladjusted child/trust no one psych thriller, but done so much better than most. Wendy Clarke unfurls just enough - at just the right pace - to keep us properly drooling for more information. I could not rip myself away from this book.
5 stars!
5 stars!
July 22, 2019
Wendy Clarke's debut novel "What She Saw" is cleverly plotted and skillfully written. Fans of women's fiction will appreciate the careful, piercingly accurate character studies. Devotees of the psychological thriller are sure to appreciate the surprise twist. If you've ever lost a sister, a friend or neighbor, or even yourself to a guy who starts out charming but gradually escalates into an abusive, manipulative, controlling, flaming narcissist, this would be a good novel to recommend. The longer a woman delays fleeing, the harder it becomes to flee.
From the opening pages, we know Leona is haunted by a woman from her past, the dreaded Ria. What could Ria have done to have Leona hating her so much? After a while, I started thinking Leona was hard to like, and I wondered how her husband could be so patient with her. Her daughter Beth isn't patient with her at all. The synopsis describes them "more like best friends than mother and daughter," but that was before Beth turned fifteen, getting bullied at school, developing an attitude toward her parents, and forming a friendship with a mysterious stranger who could be really dangerous and she'd be too naive and trusting to keep herself out of harm's way.
The hiking scenes are beautiful, and I love Leona's artistry as well a the photographer's sensitivity.
Leona suffers anxiety attacks and increasing fears that Ria will somehow come back to haunt her, which leads Leona into counseling. Finally, in small, teasing increments, we come to know what Ria did. What we don't know is how Leona will put the pieces back together again.
The climax is dramatic and riveting. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed. I keep trying to find thrillers that are literary as well as tightly constructed, but so far, I gravitate toward literary and find thrillers to be too predictable. That's just me. And I have to confess, I did not anticipate all the twists and turns in this story.
Thank you, Net Galley, for an ARC of this novel.
#WhatSheSaw #NetGalley
From the opening pages, we know Leona is haunted by a woman from her past, the dreaded Ria. What could Ria have done to have Leona hating her so much? After a while, I started thinking Leona was hard to like, and I wondered how her husband could be so patient with her. Her daughter Beth isn't patient with her at all. The synopsis describes them "more like best friends than mother and daughter," but that was before Beth turned fifteen, getting bullied at school, developing an attitude toward her parents, and forming a friendship with a mysterious stranger who could be really dangerous and she'd be too naive and trusting to keep herself out of harm's way.
The hiking scenes are beautiful, and I love Leona's artistry as well a the photographer's sensitivity.
Leona suffers anxiety attacks and increasing fears that Ria will somehow come back to haunt her, which leads Leona into counseling. Finally, in small, teasing increments, we come to know what Ria did. What we don't know is how Leona will put the pieces back together again.
The climax is dramatic and riveting. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed. I keep trying to find thrillers that are literary as well as tightly constructed, but so far, I gravitate toward literary and find thrillers to be too predictable. That's just me. And I have to confess, I did not anticipate all the twists and turns in this story.
Thank you, Net Galley, for an ARC of this novel.
#WhatSheSaw #NetGalley
May 3, 2019
What a cracker of a story, I loved reading it, a thrill captured my being and didn't let go, not that I wanted the book to release me. It was the perfect read for a dreary afternoon.
The story had a winding route to a direct road. Leona stayed with boyfriend Scott and 15 year old daughter Beth, till Leona saw Ria, and her past rushed through her like a tidal wave bringing with it the debris which she would rather forget. Panic attacks and a visit to the therapist unfolded the story of physical and psychological abuse.
My first book by Wendy Clarke, and I loved following the author down the lanes that she led me to. I could keenly feel the fear of the main character, Leona. After reading so many thrillers, I did know some of the lanes of the merry track, yet I was exhilarated to run down them. And yes, the pages turned fast.
My niggles were tiny, it took me two tries to get into it, and the story was predictable but that didn't hamper my read. The writing kept me hooked. It felt like little bursts of shivery delight. And I was in thrall right up to the end.
The story had a winding route to a direct road. Leona stayed with boyfriend Scott and 15 year old daughter Beth, till Leona saw Ria, and her past rushed through her like a tidal wave bringing with it the debris which she would rather forget. Panic attacks and a visit to the therapist unfolded the story of physical and psychological abuse.
My first book by Wendy Clarke, and I loved following the author down the lanes that she led me to. I could keenly feel the fear of the main character, Leona. After reading so many thrillers, I did know some of the lanes of the merry track, yet I was exhilarated to run down them. And yes, the pages turned fast.
My niggles were tiny, it took me two tries to get into it, and the story was predictable but that didn't hamper my read. The writing kept me hooked. It felt like little bursts of shivery delight. And I was in thrall right up to the end.
May 2, 2019
I hve never read anything by this author before, but after reading this story, I just have to read every single book she publishes from now on.
The beginning might be a bit slow, but the author gives you the feeling something big is going to happen and it keeps you alerted. The story takes us back to the past to start the revelations and I thought the idea behind this book was brilliant.
You know the feeling when you actually should stop reading but you can’t keep your hands from turning the pages and add one more chapter and one more and …? Well, to me, this was this kind of story.
It was a very good debut and I am looking forward to what she will do to keep us entertained with in the next book. 5 stars.
Thank you, Wendy Clarke, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
The beginning might be a bit slow, but the author gives you the feeling something big is going to happen and it keeps you alerted. The story takes us back to the past to start the revelations and I thought the idea behind this book was brilliant.
You know the feeling when you actually should stop reading but you can’t keep your hands from turning the pages and add one more chapter and one more and …? Well, to me, this was this kind of story.
It was a very good debut and I am looking forward to what she will do to keep us entertained with in the next book. 5 stars.
Thank you, Wendy Clarke, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
May 11, 2019
Domestic drama set in the picturesque Lake District of Cumbria. A mother, Leona Travis, has gone to great lengths to create a normal, happy home for her teenaged daughter, Beth. They live with Leona's boyfriend, Scott Newman, and have a quiet, private little family. Their life, however, is a bit of a sham and held together by secrets and lies that Leona has told in an attempt to keep them safe. It's unfortunate that everything starts to unravel and the truth comes out. NO SPOILERS
The scenic views and vistas are described in loving detail and it is definitely a landscape that calls to many. The setting is quite an important part of the story given its isolation and magesty. Beauty is a central theme as both mother and daughter are talented in the arts. The characters are stereotypical and were a bit hard for me to relate to. There is quite a bit of repetition of feelings and angst with the main points of the plot dribbled out slowly across the chapters that are told in alternating points of view. The revelations did not come as any surprise and there was only minor suspense and thrill, but it kept me entertained for a couple of hours even though I'd figured out everything shortly into my reading.
This is a debut in the psychological category and I think the writing shows promise so I'd read another book by this author in the future. It may be that this genre is getting old as so many books like this have already been published. I don't think the synopsis as given on this page is very accurate.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
The scenic views and vistas are described in loving detail and it is definitely a landscape that calls to many. The setting is quite an important part of the story given its isolation and magesty. Beauty is a central theme as both mother and daughter are talented in the arts. The characters are stereotypical and were a bit hard for me to relate to. There is quite a bit of repetition of feelings and angst with the main points of the plot dribbled out slowly across the chapters that are told in alternating points of view. The revelations did not come as any surprise and there was only minor suspense and thrill, but it kept me entertained for a couple of hours even though I'd figured out everything shortly into my reading.
This is a debut in the psychological category and I think the writing shows promise so I'd read another book by this author in the future. It may be that this genre is getting old as so many books like this have already been published. I don't think the synopsis as given on this page is very accurate.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
July 7, 2020
"The subconscious is good at burying bad memories. Locking them up until, one day, something happens to turn the key and release them."
Leona appears to have the perfect life: a man that loves her, a daughter and a thriving jewelry business. Yet something is amiss. Since moving to the small town in which she lives, she rarely takes her eyes off Beth, her daughter, and prefers that she does not draw attention to herself. In fact, the least, Beth involves herself with others, the better. Because lurking behind a seemingly ordered life exists a secret that can undo everything.
Periodically, I enjoy reading a book that has thrills and mystery. While browsing the Kindle selection (an action that I love but not so much my wallet) I came across this title.What She Saw delivered and it was an intriguing book. Leona lives in a small town, has a successful hand-made jewelry business, a man that cares for her and Beth. On the outside, it seems a good life but this life was created for her, not chosen by Leona. Leona carries a secret that only she knows and lately, its threatening to reveal itself. A secret that can destroy everything she holds dear. What is worse is that the most vulnerable is Beth. Beth, of course, has no notion of this and is in fact, dealing with problems of her own. As Leona does her best to shelter her daughter and prevent from life as she knows it from collapsing, she struggles with keeping herself one step ahead of trouble. This narrative starts off slowly and gradually builds up. There is a sense of uncertainty and initially Leona almost comes off as an unreliable narrator. The pace compliments the narrative. Some details were surprising but some were easier to deduce. The reveal was not entirely a surprise but I enjoyed the way it build up to it. Overall, it was a book that I liked and was glad to have read.
Leona appears to have the perfect life: a man that loves her, a daughter and a thriving jewelry business. Yet something is amiss. Since moving to the small town in which she lives, she rarely takes her eyes off Beth, her daughter, and prefers that she does not draw attention to herself. In fact, the least, Beth involves herself with others, the better. Because lurking behind a seemingly ordered life exists a secret that can undo everything.
Periodically, I enjoy reading a book that has thrills and mystery. While browsing the Kindle selection (an action that I love but not so much my wallet) I came across this title.What She Saw delivered and it was an intriguing book. Leona lives in a small town, has a successful hand-made jewelry business, a man that cares for her and Beth. On the outside, it seems a good life but this life was created for her, not chosen by Leona. Leona carries a secret that only she knows and lately, its threatening to reveal itself. A secret that can destroy everything she holds dear. What is worse is that the most vulnerable is Beth. Beth, of course, has no notion of this and is in fact, dealing with problems of her own. As Leona does her best to shelter her daughter and prevent from life as she knows it from collapsing, she struggles with keeping herself one step ahead of trouble. This narrative starts off slowly and gradually builds up. There is a sense of uncertainty and initially Leona almost comes off as an unreliable narrator. The pace compliments the narrative. Some details were surprising but some were easier to deduce. The reveal was not entirely a surprise but I enjoyed the way it build up to it. Overall, it was a book that I liked and was glad to have read.
May 19, 2019
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Oh wow! I did not really know what to expect from this novel, but the synopsis really drew me in, and from the start to the end I found myself unable to put this book down. It's brilliantly written and overall I'd say it's pretty believable too, an advantage that I feel isn't always the case with books that fall into this kind of genre.
The characters are likable and interesting, and I felt for Leona and her family - even Beth with her typical teenage moodswings! There were also some big surprises that took me completely by surprise, and that I LOVED. There were also some other elements that I was convinced I could see coming, but didn't end up being what I thought they would be, and I was really pleased about that as it didn't feel as predictable as I thought it would be.
Overall this is a truly addictive read, with twists along the way that are bound to keep you guessing, and I am really excited to see what Wendy Clarke comes out with next - can it top this brilliant read?
Oh wow! I did not really know what to expect from this novel, but the synopsis really drew me in, and from the start to the end I found myself unable to put this book down. It's brilliantly written and overall I'd say it's pretty believable too, an advantage that I feel isn't always the case with books that fall into this kind of genre.
The characters are likable and interesting, and I felt for Leona and her family - even Beth with her typical teenage moodswings! There were also some big surprises that took me completely by surprise, and that I LOVED. There were also some other elements that I was convinced I could see coming, but didn't end up being what I thought they would be, and I was really pleased about that as it didn't feel as predictable as I thought it would be.
Overall this is a truly addictive read, with twists along the way that are bound to keep you guessing, and I am really excited to see what Wendy Clarke comes out with next - can it top this brilliant read?
May 1, 2019
Leona is a great mom to her daughter, Beth. She lives with the man she loves, Scott and can't think of anything else she could want. Then Leona starts having panic attacks and starts seeing a therapist and things aren't always as they seem. Beth finds papers hidden in her mom's room and confuses her and she runs. Beth had met a man a few year older than her and she starts having feelings for him and him for her but he doesn't think they should be together because she is only 16. Beth loves to draw and is always found with a sketchbook and especially drawing eagles. Leona makes jewelry and seems to make a living at it. They once were very close but Beth is now having trouble in school but won't tell her mom she is being bullied. I kind of figured out what was going on as Leona was telling her story to the therapist.
I received this from Bookouture and NetGalley for an honest review.
I received this from Bookouture and NetGalley for an honest review.
May 1, 2019
Full review coming as part of a blog tour. But my highlights are
- gorgeous Lake District setting
- a plotline that initially felt predictable, but only because I was barking up the wrong tree!
- I loved the narrators, and the element of mystery around them
- a storyline that hooked me immediately and had me reading as fast as I could when it reached the climax
- gorgeous Lake District setting
- a plotline that initially felt predictable, but only because I was barking up the wrong tree!
- I loved the narrators, and the element of mystery around them
- a storyline that hooked me immediately and had me reading as fast as I could when it reached the climax
April 18, 2019
What an exciting read this was! I was hooked from very early on and had a hard time putting this book down. The author did an excellent job weaving in all the intricate parts of this story. Leona lives with her boyfriend Scott and she has a 15-year-old daughter, Beth, who has started giving her mother a hard time. Beth meets a mysterious photographer in the mountains and they form a friendship which also complicates things between Beth and her mother. Leona starts having panic attacks and begins seeing her therapist, Lisa, and all the past secrets begin to be revealed. There are many twists, turns and surprises in this fantastic read and the author ties everything together very nicely in the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller as you will not be disappointed. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this great book.
January 2, 2020
This is a tense psychological thriller set within the Lake District. Leona is a single parent to Beth, and they have always been best friends as well as mother and daughter. There have been no secrets between them, but as Beth gets older secrets begin to emerge on both sides of their relationship.
The tension in this book began to build quite early on. The setting of the Lake District, whilst beautiful, added to the suspense which ran throughout the book! The writing was great and it kept me well and truly hooked from the very beginning. Whilst the pace was slower at the beginning, as the story moved on the pace picked up and it moved along at a rate of knots, not giving you chance to catch your breath before it moved onto the next twist in the story!!!
The story is told from several character’s perspectives and the characters all fit well into the story and give it great depth and realism. The storyline twisted and turned so much that towards the end it began to make me feel dizzy! The end was fabulous, it was certainly an ending I didn’t expect or see coming, and it was full of heart-stopping moments and nail-biting tension! If you like a psychological thriller that drags you right into the heart of the story, makes your heart beat faster and keeps you thinking about it long after you’ve finished, then this is the book for you!
The tension in this book began to build quite early on. The setting of the Lake District, whilst beautiful, added to the suspense which ran throughout the book! The writing was great and it kept me well and truly hooked from the very beginning. Whilst the pace was slower at the beginning, as the story moved on the pace picked up and it moved along at a rate of knots, not giving you chance to catch your breath before it moved onto the next twist in the story!!!
The story is told from several character’s perspectives and the characters all fit well into the story and give it great depth and realism. The storyline twisted and turned so much that towards the end it began to make me feel dizzy! The end was fabulous, it was certainly an ending I didn’t expect or see coming, and it was full of heart-stopping moments and nail-biting tension! If you like a psychological thriller that drags you right into the heart of the story, makes your heart beat faster and keeps you thinking about it long after you’ve finished, then this is the book for you!
January 11, 2020
BEWARE of SPOILER
If you love The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl or Behind Closed Doors you’ll be consumed by this.
Who wrote this blurb? It was misleading. This book is slow pace and the writing style wasn't helping either. Behind Closed Doors for example started out strong. It hooked readers to know more. But, this book was plain boring.
A woman left behind an abusive relationship only to scare herself at every turn. And to make matter worst, when she left the past behind, she should have be done with it instead of telling the people she left that she's okay.
And then we have the daughter with her own issue. Instead of sharing it with her stepdad, who was more normal than her mom, she decided hiding was the best thing.
So, we have a mother wanting to protect her daughter from the world and we have a daughter who wanted freedom.
If you love The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl or Behind Closed Doors you’ll be consumed by this.
Who wrote this blurb? It was misleading. This book is slow pace and the writing style wasn't helping either. Behind Closed Doors for example started out strong. It hooked readers to know more. But, this book was plain boring.
A woman left behind an abusive relationship only to scare herself at every turn. And to make matter worst, when she left the past behind, she should have be done with it instead of telling the people she left that she's okay.
And then we have the daughter with her own issue. Instead of sharing it with her stepdad, who was more normal than her mom, she decided hiding was the best thing.
So, we have a mother wanting to protect her daughter from the world and we have a daughter who wanted freedom.
April 28, 2019
"What she saw" by Wendy Clarke was a slow start and I nearly gave up reading it. But then all of a sudden Bang this book was brilliant. So stick with it.
Leona is living in the Lake District with her partner Scott and her fifteen year old daughter called Beth. Leona makes her own jewellery for a living and is very happy with everything However, However, Leona is hiding a big secret and she has hidden it from Scott and her daughter.
Whilst visiting her local shop to pick up a few bits Leona becomes spooked when she sees someone who looks like Ria, a face from her past. She leaves the local shop in a state of panic and becomes scared of everything around her.
Who is Ria?
What has Ria got to do with Leona?
Leona's past starts to come out and she has to visit her therapist to talk about who Ria is. Leona has become very protective over Beth. WoW............Leona has a dangerous past and you will find out throughout this book why she is this way.
This book will keep you on your toes and has lots of twists and turn that will leave you amazed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Leona is living in the Lake District with her partner Scott and her fifteen year old daughter called Beth. Leona makes her own jewellery for a living and is very happy with everything However, However, Leona is hiding a big secret and she has hidden it from Scott and her daughter.
Whilst visiting her local shop to pick up a few bits Leona becomes spooked when she sees someone who looks like Ria, a face from her past. She leaves the local shop in a state of panic and becomes scared of everything around her.
Who is Ria?
What has Ria got to do with Leona?
Leona's past starts to come out and she has to visit her therapist to talk about who Ria is. Leona has become very protective over Beth. WoW............Leona has a dangerous past and you will find out throughout this book why she is this way.
This book will keep you on your toes and has lots of twists and turn that will leave you amazed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
April 21, 2019
Oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book. It has a bit of everything and the artistry and scenery just add to the gorgeousness of it.
Leona lives with her partner Scott and daughter Beth in the picturesque Lake District. Leona makes her own jewellery and her life is a happy one but something from the past is haunting her. A visit to the local shop leaves her is a state of panic as she is sure that she has seen the face of Ria !! Who is Ria and what could she have done the has made Leona so scared of her reappearing in her life. To try and stop her dwindling mental health Leona visits a therapist and we gradually find out the truth about Ria.
This is a great psychological thriller with some very complex characters that I absolutely loved and really wanted to find out about their past and present. This really is a book that needs to be added to you reading list and one that you will be sure will keep you hooked until the very last page.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
Leona lives with her partner Scott and daughter Beth in the picturesque Lake District. Leona makes her own jewellery and her life is a happy one but something from the past is haunting her. A visit to the local shop leaves her is a state of panic as she is sure that she has seen the face of Ria !! Who is Ria and what could she have done the has made Leona so scared of her reappearing in her life. To try and stop her dwindling mental health Leona visits a therapist and we gradually find out the truth about Ria.
This is a great psychological thriller with some very complex characters that I absolutely loved and really wanted to find out about their past and present. This really is a book that needs to be added to you reading list and one that you will be sure will keep you hooked until the very last page.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
May 5, 2019
This story has all of the elements to keep any mystery/suspense lover awake long
after their normal bedtime. The vivid descriptions of the characters and settings of the story makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action. For years Leona was a single mom to her daughter Beth and they did everything together. Eventually, Leona meets Scott, a local villager, and the three form a small family. Beth adores Scott and quickly accepts him as her Dad. They seem to live a simple, but seemingly perfect life. Leona has a lot of secrets from her past and when she makes a decision to revisit a part of her past, things quickly change that will forever impact and possibly threaten her life, Beth's life and Scott's life. The conclusion contains twists and turns and a shocking, but satisfying end. Sometimes psychological abuse is as painful as physical abuse. A great book!! It stays with you long after you've finished reading. Thank-you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Wendy Clarke for an ARC in exchange for a honest review. Posted also on Goodreads and Amazon
after their normal bedtime. The vivid descriptions of the characters and settings of the story makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action. For years Leona was a single mom to her daughter Beth and they did everything together. Eventually, Leona meets Scott, a local villager, and the three form a small family. Beth adores Scott and quickly accepts him as her Dad. They seem to live a simple, but seemingly perfect life. Leona has a lot of secrets from her past and when she makes a decision to revisit a part of her past, things quickly change that will forever impact and possibly threaten her life, Beth's life and Scott's life. The conclusion contains twists and turns and a shocking, but satisfying end. Sometimes psychological abuse is as painful as physical abuse. A great book!! It stays with you long after you've finished reading. Thank-you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Wendy Clarke for an ARC in exchange for a honest review. Posted also on Goodreads and Amazon
July 9, 2020
5 stars. Full of secrets, deception and watch out for the twists! A psychological thriller that deserves to have "psychological" in neon lights! The book set off with intrigue and even though I could see where we might be headed, I needed to know more.
I recently read The Bride by Wendy Clarke which is her newer book and loved it so much I went into my TBR pile to read this one because I wanted to keep the Wendy Clark thriller ride going for as long as I could :-)
excellent writing, beautiful scenic descriptions and dark dark personal anguish.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I recently read The Bride by Wendy Clarke which is her newer book and loved it so much I went into my TBR pile to read this one because I wanted to keep the Wendy Clark thriller ride going for as long as I could :-)
excellent writing, beautiful scenic descriptions and dark dark personal anguish.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 23, 2019
This is a great psychological thriller that had me hooked throughout.
The story is told from three points of view, Leona, Beth and Ria.
Leona is struggling to cope with panic attacks that have started up again recently, and her husband and daughter notice something is wrong.
Even though they are a close family, Leona does not share her problems, and neither does Beth.
Beth is not enjoying school due to a group of nasty girls but can’t speak to her mum about it.
We find out that Leona has had a difficult past but it’s not until later in the book that we find out what happened.
Ria’s story links in with the two of them and has also had a difficult time.
This story comes together in a breathtaking way and I was glued to it until the end.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The story is told from three points of view, Leona, Beth and Ria.
Leona is struggling to cope with panic attacks that have started up again recently, and her husband and daughter notice something is wrong.
Even though they are a close family, Leona does not share her problems, and neither does Beth.
Beth is not enjoying school due to a group of nasty girls but can’t speak to her mum about it.
We find out that Leona has had a difficult past but it’s not until later in the book that we find out what happened.
Ria’s story links in with the two of them and has also had a difficult time.
This story comes together in a breathtaking way and I was glued to it until the end.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
March 15, 2019
What She Saw is a gripping, page turning thriller , mystery that will keep you turning the pages and saying just one more page.
The author slowly reels you into the life of Leona and her daughter Beth ,who Leona is over protective with . Or is she ?
Even though a lot of the suspense is towards the end of the book , I still found myself wanting to find out what was going with Leona.
The story starts to unfold and then you are more than hooked. All the characters were portrayed well and you can't help but sympathize with them.
Can't wait to read more by Wendy Clarke.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read What She Saw.
The author slowly reels you into the life of Leona and her daughter Beth ,who Leona is over protective with . Or is she ?
Even though a lot of the suspense is towards the end of the book , I still found myself wanting to find out what was going with Leona.
The story starts to unfold and then you are more than hooked. All the characters were portrayed well and you can't help but sympathize with them.
Can't wait to read more by Wendy Clarke.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read What She Saw.
May 3, 2019
From its opening pages, I was totally enthralled by this book – a wonderful piece of scene-setting, springtime in the Lake District seen through Leona’s eyes and drawn in loving detail, an introduction to the book’s characters, and a feeling of total contentment. And then things suddenly change – a distressing incident in the village shop, an uncomfortable glimpse of the past, and that calm is totally shattered. And then we immerse ourselves in the day-to-day lives of Leona and her family – her relationship with her “husband” Scott, her daughter’s struggles at school and her means of escape – but always with a sense of unease as Leona’s state of mind becomes increasingly unstable. And then comes that twist, and a very clever layering of the past and present as the shadows and secrets of the past are uncovered.
The writing is quite wonderful – that sense of unease and discomfort is relentless and inescapable, but also totally irresistible. When I knew part of the story, I found myself anticipating what might happen next, and where the threat was coming from – only to find that I’d got things entirely wrong, and more than once. I finished this book in the early hours, totally unable to put it down until I’d read to the very end, pulse racing and totally gripped by the story. The pacing is quite perfect – that gentle start, a steady escalation full of clever twists and turns, and an ending every bit as explosive as I’d hoped for.
The characters are superb – and not just Leona herself. The portrayal of daughter Beth is wonderful – there are points in the book when you feel for her with a physical ache, and it’s one of the best pieces of writing about a troubled and vulnerable teen that I’ve read in a long time. The whole story is surprisingly hard-hitting, and all the better for being so unexpected – this is such clever writing. And another – of the many things – I really liked was the strong visual sense: the photography, Beth’s art with its recurring motifs, the powerful sense of place created by the vivid descriptions.
I can see attention being drawn to the “jaw-dropping twist”, but this book is so much more than that. And rather than Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, I’d like to make my own comparisons – Paula Daly is the obvious one with the Lakes setting and domestic detail, but this book also reminded me of the excitement I felt when reading the earlier books of Barbara Copperthwaite and Sheryl Browne.
But Wendy Clarke’s voice is very much her own, and it’s a voice I liked very much indeed – this story is thoroughly compelling and highly original. Very much recommended by me – this might quite possibly one of my books of the year.
The writing is quite wonderful – that sense of unease and discomfort is relentless and inescapable, but also totally irresistible. When I knew part of the story, I found myself anticipating what might happen next, and where the threat was coming from – only to find that I’d got things entirely wrong, and more than once. I finished this book in the early hours, totally unable to put it down until I’d read to the very end, pulse racing and totally gripped by the story. The pacing is quite perfect – that gentle start, a steady escalation full of clever twists and turns, and an ending every bit as explosive as I’d hoped for.
The characters are superb – and not just Leona herself. The portrayal of daughter Beth is wonderful – there are points in the book when you feel for her with a physical ache, and it’s one of the best pieces of writing about a troubled and vulnerable teen that I’ve read in a long time. The whole story is surprisingly hard-hitting, and all the better for being so unexpected – this is such clever writing. And another – of the many things – I really liked was the strong visual sense: the photography, Beth’s art with its recurring motifs, the powerful sense of place created by the vivid descriptions.
I can see attention being drawn to the “jaw-dropping twist”, but this book is so much more than that. And rather than Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, I’d like to make my own comparisons – Paula Daly is the obvious one with the Lakes setting and domestic detail, but this book also reminded me of the excitement I felt when reading the earlier books of Barbara Copperthwaite and Sheryl Browne.
But Wendy Clarke’s voice is very much her own, and it’s a voice I liked very much indeed – this story is thoroughly compelling and highly original. Very much recommended by me – this might quite possibly one of my books of the year.
May 2, 2019
What She Saw was a very gripping, twisty psychological thriller that had I had more time I would have finished in a day as I didn’t really want to put it down.
Leona lives with her partner, Scott and her daughter, Beth in the beautiful Lake District. Leona earns her living by making and selling jewellery but is suffering from panic attacks when we first meet her that are gradually getting worse. Beth is fifteen and being bullied at school but doesn’t want to share it with her family so is trying to struggle on. Ria is at university and has just met the love of her life but this quickly turns sour resulting in Gareth taking over her whole life and abusing her mentally and physically.
I liked how these three peoples lives ran singularly at the beginning and then gradually starting to intertwine as the story progressed. This is a well written thriller that I enjoyed, the characters were true and the majority that were meant to be likeable were and I felt for Leona at times with the hard decisions she had to make.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Leona lives with her partner, Scott and her daughter, Beth in the beautiful Lake District. Leona earns her living by making and selling jewellery but is suffering from panic attacks when we first meet her that are gradually getting worse. Beth is fifteen and being bullied at school but doesn’t want to share it with her family so is trying to struggle on. Ria is at university and has just met the love of her life but this quickly turns sour resulting in Gareth taking over her whole life and abusing her mentally and physically.
I liked how these three peoples lives ran singularly at the beginning and then gradually starting to intertwine as the story progressed. This is a well written thriller that I enjoyed, the characters were true and the majority that were meant to be likeable were and I felt for Leona at times with the hard decisions she had to make.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2019
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of Wendy Clarke’s ‘What She Saw’ in exchange for an honest review.
Leona has lived in the Lake District for the past twelve years with her teenage daughter, Beth, and Scott, her partner of nine years. She makes handcrafted silver jewellery that she sells at craft fairs while Scott leads walking tours for tourists. It all seems idyllic though it wouldn’t be much of a psychological thriller if that was the entire picture.
Recently Leona has been experiencing panic attacks linked to her past and the memory of her friend Ria. She is anxious about Ria coming back into her life. Why? She soon is seeing a therapist to resolve this.
In addition, Beth is been bullied by a group of mean girls at the private school she attends and she has been bunking off. Leona is over protective while Beth is being sullen and uncommunicative.
The chapters move between Leona, Beth and Ria. In Ria’s chapters we learn of her marriage to a controlling man, who slowly cut her off from her friends and family.
I found this a gripping read. Clarke does take her time in establishing her characters and the atmospheric setting before increasing the tension to a nail-biting climax. Still there were times when Leona’s behavior drove me to distraction. Still that does demonstrate how invested I was in her story.
Overall, I felt that this was a strong debut and will certainly be looking out for her future projects.
Leona has lived in the Lake District for the past twelve years with her teenage daughter, Beth, and Scott, her partner of nine years. She makes handcrafted silver jewellery that she sells at craft fairs while Scott leads walking tours for tourists. It all seems idyllic though it wouldn’t be much of a psychological thriller if that was the entire picture.
Recently Leona has been experiencing panic attacks linked to her past and the memory of her friend Ria. She is anxious about Ria coming back into her life. Why? She soon is seeing a therapist to resolve this.
In addition, Beth is been bullied by a group of mean girls at the private school she attends and she has been bunking off. Leona is over protective while Beth is being sullen and uncommunicative.
The chapters move between Leona, Beth and Ria. In Ria’s chapters we learn of her marriage to a controlling man, who slowly cut her off from her friends and family.
I found this a gripping read. Clarke does take her time in establishing her characters and the atmospheric setting before increasing the tension to a nail-biting climax. Still there were times when Leona’s behavior drove me to distraction. Still that does demonstrate how invested I was in her story.
Overall, I felt that this was a strong debut and will certainly be looking out for her future projects.
May 1, 2019
This is a good read; a story with twists and turns and a couple of intertwined stories.
Leona and her daughter have always been close, but as Beth hits her middle teens the barriers are up. Leona feels her life beginning to fall apart when she suffers a series of panic attacks. Unable to confide in her partner or her beloved daughter, she finds the past closing in on her. Beth has her own worries - attending a school where she stands out for being normal, she is unhappy and unable to share with her mum. As the story unfolds, we get to understand more of what's going on with both their lives . . .
I enjoyed this one. Flowing smoothly, it's a well-written novel. However, for me, the clues were just a bit obvious and for the most part what happened next was what I expected - it held few surprises for me. Perhaps I've just read too many psychological thrillers lately? Not that it takes away from the fact that this is an excellent debut novel and Wendy Clarke is an author I would be happy to read again. For me, it's well worth four stars.
Leona and her daughter have always been close, but as Beth hits her middle teens the barriers are up. Leona feels her life beginning to fall apart when she suffers a series of panic attacks. Unable to confide in her partner or her beloved daughter, she finds the past closing in on her. Beth has her own worries - attending a school where she stands out for being normal, she is unhappy and unable to share with her mum. As the story unfolds, we get to understand more of what's going on with both their lives . . .
I enjoyed this one. Flowing smoothly, it's a well-written novel. However, for me, the clues were just a bit obvious and for the most part what happened next was what I expected - it held few surprises for me. Perhaps I've just read too many psychological thrillers lately? Not that it takes away from the fact that this is an excellent debut novel and Wendy Clarke is an author I would be happy to read again. For me, it's well worth four stars.
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