Anne's Reviews > Alys, Always

I unreservedly loved this highly accomplished novel, which has one of the best unreliable narrators I’ve come across in ages – a story of manipulation told so beautifully that it’s chilling. Frances remains peculiarly likeable throughout, despite the way she deceives her way into the lives of the Flyte family after simply being present at the death of “Alice”. The style reminded me tremendously of Zoe Heller, but maybe that had more to do with the echoes of Barbara Covett in Notes on a Scandal – but this was a really original and different read, with well drawn and far less likeable characters all seen through Frances’ distorted lens. A wonderful short novel, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next one by Harriet Lane.