I confess that I tend not to read the blurb about books and go by the front cover. This allows me the freedom to be immersed in the book without any preconceptions about the plot or characters.
This book totally surprised me. From the very first chapter, I was on edge and in shock, and I pretty much stayed in that way until the final page.
The children in a small town are traumatised when their martial arts teacher gets a pellet gun and starts shooting them. One mum, Eve, calls the police who shoot the man dead. But the ramifications of this event leave a lasting memory that continues to affect them all 30 years later.
In the present, Eve is trying to sell her house, having never been happy there. She shows potential buyer Claire around and they seem to get on well. But Claire’s life is turned upside down when her husband Tim admits that he has lost all of their money through an investment that went wrong. Tim’s parents offer to buy Eve’s house for the young family so that they have a place to live and Claire reluctantly accepts.
The initial rapport between Eve and Claire is shattered when it is revealed that Tim used to date Eve’s daughter Isobel.
The narrative throughout the book is split between Eve and Claire so we are able to see both viewpoints and devleop sympathy and empathy towards both women.
There are lots of spooky instances through the book which were unsettling for the characters, especially in light of the trauma they had experienced as children, and I was unsure whether there was a supernatural element to the plot but all was revealed by the end…
The revelations at the end of the book were completely unexpected and made me re-think my opinion of all the events of the book. Great finale!
THE MEMORY by Lucy Dawson
I look down at her, lying fast asleep – always my little girl, and so beautiful. She gives a low moan as her head turns restlessly on the pillow. It reminds me of the soft growl of a cornered animal. Where is my poor child? What is she dreaming?
People always notice my daughter, Isobel. How could they not? Incredibly beautiful… until she speaks.
An unsettling, little-girl voice, exactly like a child’s, but from the mouth of a full-grown woman.
Izzie might look grown-up, but inside she’s trapped. Caught in the day it happened – the day that broke her from within.
I know why my daughter is the way she is. There’s nothing I could have done to save her… is there?
An unputdownable psychological thriller about families and secrets, perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Shalini Boland and Lisa Jewell.
About me by Lucy Dawson:
I’ve been writing psychological suspense novels since 2008, when my first bestseller – His Other Lover – was published. I write full time (mostly on the playroom sofa) from my home in Devon, where I live with my husband and children. Before that, I used to edit a magazine for six to twelve year old girls for a living, making absolutely no use whatsoever of my psychology degree from Warwick University, but it was a lot of fun.
I’m addicted to writing about the extraordinary things that can happen to ordinary people – stories that jump in at the deep end, with a gasp. When readers take the time out to let me know they’ve stayed up all night because they couldn’t put the book down, it makes my day.
I really enjoy catching up with readers and always reply to emails. You can reach me at lucy@lucydawsonbooks.com. I’m also on Twitter @lucydawsonbooks and have a Facebook page at lucydawsonbooks. Alternatively you can download a free short story of mine at www.lucydawsonbooks.com or if you want to look at a lot of pictures of the beach and books that I’m reading, find me on Instagram at lucydawsonbooks.
What a book! I’d advise you to read only if you have a strong stomach as the detail of the murders is very graphic, but the book itself is just exquisite.
Beth Young is a police officer starting out in a new team and her first case is a gruesome murder. A man is found at a stately home ruin. He has feathers attached to his back and has been forced to breathe fire. Soon more bodies are found and a serial killer in on the loose.
The description of the injuries is horrific and detailed but described in a factual way by the pathologist so it does not seem gratuitous or excessive. We get the emotional reaction from Beth as she struggles to comprehend how one human could do that to another.
We follow the police investigation but also see the preparation as the killer stalks his next victim. The danger is almost palpable as the reader waits for him to make his move…
I really really loved this book. It is interesting to read about a new police officer finding her feet on the job, negotiating office politics and developing working relationships with colleagues.
The book is fast paced and never loses momentum. It is fascinating to see inside the killer’s mind through the parts of narrative that focus on his life and experiences. The psychological impact of the past cannot be underestimated.
Beth has a past that haunts her as well: she has a significant facial injury caused by being stabbed with a broken bottle and the perpetrator was never brought to justice. This book is the first to feature Beth and I look forward to following her career in its sequels.
Title: THE SILENT DEAD
Author: GRAHAM SMITH
Publication Day: 30th November 2018
Buy Links :
Description:
He’d found an angel for his collection. But one angel at a time was never enough…
Detective Beth Young has just joined the Cumbrian major crimes team when a body is found posed in a ritualistic manner – arms spread and graceful wings attached – at a crumbling castle in the hills of the Lake District.
The entire police force are on red alert. But Beth begins to feel she’s the only one who can follow the disturbing clues left by the twisted killer. Because she doesn’t think like everyone else. To Beth, crimes are puzzles she can solve. Even if real life is a little harder.
As more bodies are discovered in derelict stately homes across the Lake District, she knows she’s in a race against time.
But the killer is looking for another victim to add to his collection… Will Beth be able to save her? Or will he get there first?
A tenacious young detective with scars both physical and emotional, Beth Young will stop at nothing in her fight for justice for the innocent. The Silent Dead is the first book in the series. Set in the Lake District, it is perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, LJ Ross, and Peter James.
Author Bio:
Graham Smith is the bestselling author of four explosive crime thrillers in the Jake Boulder series, Watching the Bodies, The Kindred Killers, Past Echoes and Die Cold. Watching the Bodies spent over two weeks at number one in the Amazon UK chart and Amazon CA charts. Graham is also the author of the popular DI Harry Evans series and has collections of short stories and novellas. His latest novel – The Silent Dead is published by Bookouture and set in Cumbria / the Lake District, featuring DC Beth Young.
He is the proud father of a young son. As a time served joiner he has built bridges, houses, dug drains and slated roofs to make ends meet. Since 2000 he has been manager of a busy hotel and wedding venue near Gretna Green, Scotland.
An avid fan of crime fiction since being given one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books at the age of eight, he has also been a regular reviewer for the well-respected review site Crimesquad.com since 2010.
When not working, his time is spent reading, writing and playing games with his son. He enjoys socialising and spending time with friends and family.
Author Social Media Links:
I have been looking back over some of the recipes I have put on my blog this year and noticed that some that I used for picnics are actually perfect for Christmas party finger food as well.
This Christmas I intend to make my mocha tarts, cheese frittata bites and pizza tartlets so that I have plenty of sweet and savoury snacks available (all gluten free while the others chow down on shopbought!)
I don’t actually have any favourite Christmas recipes. Chris is in charge of Christmas dinner due to his competence at roasts (I only did my first one in September!)
I usually have cauliflower cheese as a main course as this is what my parents always did but Chris and his family serve it as a side dish!
I do make my own mince pies every year as the whole family love them and also some Christmas biscuits.
What are your favourite recipes that you make every year or do you like experimenting at Christmas?
For a while now I have been having trouble justifying being vegetarian and not going one stage further and becoming vegan. I have decided to give it a try in the new year!
I am giving myself a few weeks to plan menus, buy in ingredients and check what is already in my cupboards, and use up what I already have as I would hate to waste food.
I have been impressed by the passion of Lush and The Body Shop when I have been to blogger events in recent months. However, my main inspiration has been Facebook. Watching videos about the cruelty in the dairy and farming industries had been heartbreaking (and yes, I do know that many animals are kept in humane conditions but having babies taken away is torture no matter what species).
When I was at uni and went vegetarian (almost 20 years ago!), a fellow student told me I was being unethical as I wasn’t supporting my fellow humans who rely on farming for their livelihood and I do agree with this to some extent. But it is impossible that everyone would choose to become vegetarian or vegan at once so the culture could change gradually and techniques could adapt to keep the economy afloat.
Einstein famously said “Nothing will benefit health or increase chances of survival on earth as the evolution to a vegetarian diet”. 25,000 people die each day from hunger. Every single day. They could be fed with the food that is used for animal feed and the space for growing that food could be converted to human crops as the number of animals bred for slaughter and slavery reduces.
Chris will be joining me on this vegan journey. He is intolerant to dairy but finds it difficult to avoid as the only one in the house and is easily tempted! I will offer the children vegan food but won’t insist they have it and won’t object to continue cooking them meat. They have the right to make their own choices.
I admit to being concerned about how I will cope and I’ll admit that I’m not sure if I will continue it long term. I currently drink about a pint of milk a day and my daily coffee sachets and pods will have to be replaced. I have cheese on practically everything.
I dread the extra time that it will take to check ingredients as I already spend ages shopping to get products that are wheat free due to my allergy. But I am hoping for a health benefit too: when I was diagnosed with my wheat allergy in 2001, I was told that dairy would probably be the next allergy that I get (I grow into them 🙁 ) so I hope that cutting it out will have a positive effect on my urticaria and eczema which have never improved despite daily antihistamines for the last 17 years!
If you have any tips, recipes or favourite vegan products then please let me know in the comments!
