My review
This book barely escaped being a DNF by the skin of its teeth… Whew!! A thriller of secrets which didn’t thrill or entice me.
I love a book which has secrets hidden in its pages, but the writing here was so s. l. o. w., that everything in the world including painting my nails distracted me away from it.
The story goes thus, Helen is going through a separation, her mum Barbara is diagnosed with breast cancer. She comes down for surgery, has an overdose of medications, and soon after, Helen’s child Barney is kidnapped.
The story was told in many different timelines and with different POVs at a pace slower than a snail. (It had me banging my head on the kindle, gently!!) Not a good sign at all. Barbara’s husband Neil was the ostrich, buried his head in the sand, not ever wondering about her past. Aaaghhh!!
My first book by Joanne Sefton, and instead of me feeling all the emotions of the book, the book, for the first time, felt my varied emotions: excited, bewildered, bored, I dozed holding the kindle, perked up for the last 20% then disillusioned and resigned.
The premise was good, but the pace slow, the characters unlikable, the dampened plot reveal, followed by The End. My biggest niggle was not any of the above factors, it was – I was told main character Helen was a good mom. I didn’t ever feel that, there were no such scenes shown. She was more overwhelmed with everything.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Avon, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating: 2 stars
About the Author
Joanne Sefton lives in Bath and as well as writing, she is a working barrister and mother. She is Scottish and has an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa University.
Book blurb
Nobody in Barbara Marsden’s family knows about her past, least of all her daughter Helen. But someone wants the truth to come out.
When Helen discovers a sinister note at Barbara’s house, she can’t understand who would want to threaten her mother. She’s determined to find out who sent it, but soon realises her search might hurt her own family and put Barbara at risk…
What really happened all those years ago? And who is going to end up paying the price?
Product Details
Publication date : 3rd September 2018
Publisher : Avon
57 Responses
Thrillers aren’t my usual genre and I can’t imagine one at a slow pace.
Thanks for the heads up.
I’m currently reading a rather slow book but it’s exquisitely written so I’m savoring it! HUNGER by Samantha Chang.
Wow… Maybe it was just me. Others have all lived it. But I just couldn’t get into it at all. I have red nails now, painted them while reading this book
I have red nails too!
Oh dear, great honest review! Hoping your next read is better, Shalini!
My next read is Carol Wyer, she writes fab books. Thank you
I’ll look her books up!
Penned well with deep as well as beautiful descriptions on everything
Liked it
& I’m really felt so happy to read your reviews after a short break .
Hey Akshaya how is life. Happy deepavali
Oh it’s moving with my laziness like a snail
& Happy Diwali
Hahaha enjoy life whatever pace it moves at
There seems to be a LOT going on with too many points of view. Thank you for your straightforward and fair review.
Well my nails are red and well pedicured. So a job well done
Definitely not one for me then. Hope your next read is more exciting.
I hope so too
OMGosh – thank you for this honest review. I wish there many more reviewers just like you Shalini!! I know you will have a great book waiting for you this week! Enjoy!
Mackey… Hahaha thank you so much. Most liked this book. I just couldn’t get into it… This wasnt for me. On the brighter side, I have painted toes
Yikes – I’ve been there, recently in fact. Hope your next read blows your socks off
I hope so too
Ugh… This defintitely sounds tedious!
… I’m getting really bored with the whole multiple POV trope too… There’s way too much of it…
Heyyy I have red nails!!
Ha ha!! Well, at least something good came from it!
See I knew you would get it
That’s too bad. Too many POVs can definitely kill a great story.
I agree… This was too slow for me… A thriller should thrill, then a thriller is a thriller!!
That is so disappointing, because the cover is actually quite attractive.
I’m laughing picturing you trying to swipe the kindle with wet nails and not getting polish on your clothes or kindle or furniture…hahaha! At least you have your nails done now 
Better luck with the next book.
Hahaha Maybelline paint dries fast in a minute or so… I took more time with my toes… They look fab in red!!
Everyone liked the book… I so didn’t….
Haha. I’ll bet. You should do a post on your new painted nails, since it sounds like you had more fun with that. HA.
Hehehe…
Thank you for such an honest review, at least your nails look amazing and I hope your kindle survived the headbanging.
Hahaha gentle headbanging… My kindle has a flip cover, so I am safe
Haha, mine too!
God don’t you hate it when you look at the reviews and everyone else loved it except you? Have SOOO been there. However, Shalini, this review was excellent, as always. Honest and I loved it. (Also, needed a laugh today–thank you!)
Gin, I have red nails due to the distraction. So I am happy. I recently read a book that I raved and raved and others hated it….
Oh no! Sorry this didn’t work for you!
Hey It did
I have red nails
Oh thats a pain . getting through something that you don’t like to read. I feel so bad returning a half read book to the library.
I have never tried to paint my nails and read a book. Will try that next time I have a not-so-interesting one to read.
Hahaha Deepa, the book didn’t pull me at all, so I took a detour!!
And what an interesting detour ..
ugh… just ugh…
GREAT review, I love the honesty here.
Thanks Didi… It is just me… Others have liked the book… But I painted nails.
LOL yeah I read in the other comments that you chose read. I had to laugh because I totally painted mine red today!
Yayyy go red!!
Well…this sounds awesome….erm…not
It’s been a while since I have seen such a negative review for a book from you. But that’s what I always like about you: you are always honest! Lol…and at least you got to paint your nails 
Yp they are sexy red!!
can’t stand books like that.
I agree
Fantastic and honest review, Shalini! I’m sorry this book didn’t work out for you. At least your nail polish is ready, it’s sometimes so hard to find the time, energy and motivation for doing it!
Hahaha get a slow book and do the nails…
Worked for me… Thank you Dora 
Maybe I’ll do that
Sorry this one put you to sleep, Shalini. I start doing mundane things too when a book doesn’t hold my attention. Loved your honest review.
Thanks Laurie… You are a darling
I have red nails 
Too bad this was a miss for you Shalini. That happens to everyone. Nice, honest review.
Thanks Carla
