Gilly Macmillan is simply brilliant!! This was my first book by her, and I was completely entranced by her writing to the point I took my kindle everywhere with me. I loved her characters, each one was so different. Wickedness flowed in the veins of some, helplessness and blindness in others.
The emotions she evoked from me rushed through my being, simply twisting by insides in a knot of panic. I could see the insidious evil, yet I could do nothing to warn the daughter Jo about nanny Hannah who was looking after her daughter Ruby in her mother’s home The Holt Hall.
The story started with Jo and Ruby coming back to her mum’s place after the death of her husband. A human skull was found in the lake near The Holt Hall. That started the police investigation to dig into the past, which scared Jo’s mum to the core. It was presumed to be of nanny Hannah, but suddenly Hannah showed up at the doorstep. And the story rolled on. Whose skull was it? Who was lying, who was telling the truth? Who was evil, who was good?
Evil often came wearing the skin of the good, and this book proved it. So many times, I was simply so overwhelmed with the thrill in the story that I had to put my kindle down to take deep breaths and calm my heart. I wanted to tap the main character Jo’s shoulder to warn her. I wanted to shake her to make her see what was happening to her daughter Ruby.
There were layers of plots and complexities of human nature all embellished like the colors of an abstract painting, which appeared to be thrown at random, but had more rhythm and sequence to it than what could be seen by the human eye. Perceptions changed when the author wrote different chapters. Every word made me question, wonder what happened. I had a theory about the story, and I was so happy to be proved wrong.
This book was seriously bad for my heart as it kept my pulse soaring high.
I loved it!!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Random House Cornerstone, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Gilly Macmillan is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar-nominated author of What She Knew, The Perfect Girl and Odd Child Out.
She grew up in Swindon and studied at Bristol University and The Courtauld Institute of Art in London. She has worked at The Burlington Magazine and the Hayward Gallery and has been a lecturer in photography.
She now writes full-time and lives in Bristol with her family.
Seven-year-old Jocelyn loves her nanny more than her own mother.
When her nanny disappears one night, Jo never gets over the loss.
How could she vanish without saying goodbye?
Thirty years on, Jo is forced to return to her family home and confront her troubled relationship with her mother. When human remains are discovered in the grounds of the house, Jo begins to question everything.
Then an unexpected visitor knocks at the door and Jo’s world is destroyed again as, one by one, she discovers her childhood memories aren’t what they seemed.
What secrets was her nanny hiding – and what was she running away from? And can Jo trust what her mother tells her?
Publication Date: 1st May 2019
Publisher: Cornerstone Digital
65 Responses
5 stars and no niggles 🙂 I have to read this one. Great review, Shalini. This one sounds so good.
This was my first Gilly book… I loved it… The rest of her books are now in my wishlist
They are just as good! You do not get bored with her stories.
I LOVE this author and cannot wait to read this!
Thanks to you, I got to her book. It was simply wonderful 😍 thanks for all the shares and author tagging
That is good to hear 👍
No problem about the shares. I enjoy your book reviews.
Aww thank you so much ❤️
I love your 5 star reviews, Shalini!! Just got this book and now I’m excited💜
Yayy… I hope you love it too. I was a bag of emotions. I kept reacting while reading
After your great review I want to read that book too 🙂 thx
Thank you Monica I hope you like the book too ❤️
Nice to see a book you could love.
Exactly… After a long time too 😍
Oh sure!! Give me more to put on my never-ending TBR!! ❤️
Hahaha you should see my amazon list
If only I had the money to buy them all
Wouldn’t that be wonderful!!
Great review, Shalini! Made me go and add the book straightaway! I love books that keep you guessing until the very end.
Thank you so much ❤️ it was really a fun read
I absolutely loved your review, Shalini! It made me chuckle thinking of you snatching your kindle up and then putting it down to catch your breath, then snatching it up to read some more…hahaha! Now I have to check this out. It sounds amazing. 🙂 Have a great evening, my friend. 🙂
Hey Leslie, thank you so much for the love you send across to me. Love you back and more, my darling
Odd Child Out and I Know You Know were brilliant as well
Awww thank you ❤️ this book triggered my words I didn’t do anything. Gilly is fabulous
Such a great review! I really want to read this one! It’s already on my TBR.
I hope you love it as much as I did
So glad you loved this one as much as I did!!
So happy I read her book… ❤️
Adding this one to the TBR!! Awesome review 🙂
Thank you so much ❤️ this was really fun ♥️
I love the sound of this story! Fab review.
Thanks Yvo ❤️
“Evil wearing the skin of the good” definitely sounds like a thrilling read. Great review!
It was really good. Hope you enjoy it too
I have to admit I skim read this post because from the first few lines I knew I would want to read it 😬 I’m going to find it on my kindle now and save this review for when I’ve read it!
Yayy great!! Hope you love it too♥️
Woah.. my heart is pounding with adrenalin even after reading your review! I don’t know how I’d cope with the actual book…
Thank you so much.. I am sure you will like it.
But I have to admit I kept reacting to my kindle
Fantastic review!
Thank you Nicki❤️
Wow check you and your thrill ride of a story. I’m glad you and your poor heart survived. And no snacking!
Hmm yeah no snacking… Last 2 cookies left..
This was fabulous.. I have to read her other books soon
Wow, it sounds like you really loved it! That’s awesome!!
It was really great… Thank you ❤️
You are adding to my TBR list now 🤣🤣 xx
Yayyy that’s great ❤️
Whoa! Awesome review, Shalini. Sounds like an amazing read, I totally want to read it now. 😊❤️
Thank you Rose. It was really great. ❤️ Have my mails to you gone in spam or lost?
You’re welcome! Girrrl, I’ve been somewhat MIA for a bit from social and email. I will check it today. But I’m sure my answer is yes to you😊 😊
I have sent both mails reply and with attachments
Yahoo! A 5 star breaking that dry spell. And an excellent review. Sounds super!
Woohoo I loved this book. Thank you Gin ❤️
That’s such a great review..!
Thank you so much. The book was great
Lady, your review transported me, NOW I NEED TO READ THIS! Excellent post!!!
This was EXCELLENT
.. I LOVED THIS AUTHOR
If you gave this 5 stars then this means it is a MUST read for me!!!!! I can’t get my hands on this one soon enough!
I didn’t know this author had written many books. Now I want to get my hands on her other books. Hope you like it too
Looking forward to reading this one ,Great Review Shalini !
I am sure you are going to enjoy it ❤️
I have this title coming up soon on my TBR. So glad to hear that you enjoyed it.
I am sure you would love it