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MY REVIEW
One mistake in 2003 caused havoc in the present due to the guilt it evoked. Author Lisa Bradley used this as the plot arc in writing a story enveloped in suspense and a sense of haunting.
Leah was the chief editor in 2003 and chose to portray the details of missing girls in her paper, one on the front page and the other several pages down, in a corner, based on tips from the police. But the problem was the girl on the front page was a white blonde and the one on the 7th was black. That disparity led to huge backlash.
In the present times, someone was using her guilt to stalk her with candles and paper dolls, cut out of newspaper. None, including husband Chris, believed her when she could feel someone catching up with her.
My first book by this author, I found it an easy read where moments and scenes felt familiar, yet there was an addictive feel to it. I wasn’t invested in the main character, but there was a vulnerability to her. I loved her dialogues with best friend and son. They were humorous and snappy.
The pace was erratic, I didn’t mind it as it gave me a chance to flip through pages faster. The ending was indeed a surprise, never expected it. Overall, an intriguing tale.
VERDICT – Can be read through if the review felt interesting.
MY RATING
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.BOOK LINKS
AMAZON USA: https://amzn.to/2ISlDmm
AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2Wmp3Rz
BOOK BLURB
You’ve never forgiven yourself for that fatal decision. Someone else hasn’t either – and they’re going to make you pay.When Leah was editor of her local paper, two teenage girl went missing. One, Hope, was middle-class and white, from a perfect nuclear family. The other, Tilly, was a black girl from a council estate – and a habitual runaway. Leah made the decision to put Hope on the front page, and she was found the next day. Tilly got a small mention on page 18, and was never seen again.Sixteen years on Leah still blames herself for the consequences of her decision. And now strange things are happening to her. She finds herself being stalked by an unknown stranger who starts leaving paper dolls for her, cut from the newspapers she used to edit, and lit candles in her house and garden. These are the same candles Leah lights for Tilly in church every year as way of seeking some kind of redemption.Her husband, son and friend, Bunty, believe the struggle of no longer working and the ongoing guilt over Tilly’s murder are making her delusional. They think Leah is making the dolls and lighting the candles herself. Is is all in Leah’s head? Or is there a far more real danger lurking nearby…
BOOK DETAILS
Publication Date: August 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my journey down its pages, straight from the heart. STRICTLY HONEST and UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be found here.
6 Responses
This sounds good
You’ve got me intrigued! Fab review! xx
humorous and snappy banter appeals to me
Sounds very interesting. Will put it on my list. There will be much more lockdowns, in future. Hope you are well, Shalini! At least i am sure a virus will not fight against a doc like you. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
I wear double mask to stay away from everyone including a virus 😂😂
Reblogged this on Angie Dokos.