Kind of Cruel

…by Sophie Hannah.

Amber Hewerdine presents to a hypnotherapist Ginny Saxon. Much against her beliefs. However, it’s the last resort to help with her insomnia. Amber hasn’t had a good night’s sleep since the murder of her best friend Sharon two years ago. Despite her cynical view of her therapist, Amber finds herself drifting and then saying the words “Kind, Cruel, Kind of Cruel“. But what do those words mean? Amber has no idea. A few hours after saying this, Amber is arrested for a murder that occurred a couple of months ago. The murder of Katherine Allen. Amber has no idea who this person is and why those words were found at the crime scene. Nor does she know where she has seen the words before. As Amber sifts through her memories, her life is in danger the closer she gets to uncovering those. It also puts her husband Luke and Sharon’s children Dinah and Nonie who are now in her care in danger.

Could it also put the rest of the family in danger? Including Luke’s brother Neil, his wife Jo and their children?

Is there a connection between the murders of Sharon and Katherine despite the gap of time in between?

Why does Amber continue to be friends with Jo despite not liking her subtle criticisms of Amber?

Why did Jo disappear with her family on Christmas day in 2003? And why does she refuse to talk about it?

So many mysteries, so much to know. All you can do is read the book.

As always, Sophie Hannah keeps you guessing throughout the book. The chapters alternate between third person narratives for the detectives of Spilling, to first person narratives by Amber and the therapist, Ginny. There is a bit of psychobabble which I didn’t enjoy because it’s about hypnotherapy and the importance of feelings over thoughts which personally to me as a psychologist are not very evidence-based. However, she still keeps you intrigued as to whodunit. While you may have suspicions about whodunit, the motives behind them are completely unknown. And yes, while it may sound far-fetched in the end, Sophie Hannah has done her research into some psychological aspects to explain the same. I admire once again how she gets into the heads and psyche of her characters. This is possibly what makes her mysteries even more exciting.

Once again, like her other books, I’d recommend reading this one for a good psychological thriller. I also give it a rating of 3.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Lasting Damage

…by Sophie Hannah.

I am going to be killed because of a family called the Gilpatricks.

That’s how the book starts on the 24th of July 2010. We are then taken back to a week earlier with Connie Bowskill the narrator. She lies in bed waiting for her husband Kit Bowskill to fall asleep and then sneaks out to check out a property listing online. While watching the virtual tour of 11 Bentley Grove, Cambridge, Connie sees something. In the living room, in the middle of the carpet is a woman lying face-down in a pool of blood. She rushes to get Kit to view it. But when he does, he sees no dead body. Nothing. Just an ordinary house for sale.  Thus begins a nightmare for Connie. She attempts to get Simon Waterhouse but is dismayed to find that he is away on his honeymoon. She has to make do with Sam Kombothekra. Who listens to her story although he is a bit sceptical. Kit does not believe Connie and thinks she is losing her mind. Until another woman comes forward with the same story. A real estate agent Jackie Napier. But with no dead body, what is it they saw?

Is it someone playing a cruel prank?

Who are the Gilpatricks?

Is Kit having an affair with the woman at 11 Bentley Grove as Connie suspects?

Or is Connie making up the entire thing herself?

To know all these answers, well, you have to read the book. Once again, Sophie Hannah manages to weave a wonderful psychological thriller. She really manages to get into the heads of all her characters and gives them intricate and unique personalities. As for the dysfunction, she’s a master at chalking them out. It was hard for me to have to put down the book while at work in the last day because I was so eager to know what happened next. And Sophie Hannah manages to do that…keep you hooked so much so you don’t want to put it down until you know the answers. I am still constantly stumped by her mysteries and mind you, I can solve most mysteries pretty quickly. If you are looking for an interesting psychological thriller, this is the way to go.

I give it a rating of 3.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Ghost Child

…by Caroline Overington.

When 5 year old Jacob Cashman is found unconscious by police and paramedics in a housing commission estate in Melbourne, his single mother and her partner are the suspects. The police don’t believe the mother’s story that a stranger bashed her son when he and his younger brother Harley went to buy her cigarettes. While she and her partner are eventually convicted, rumours still swirl in the neighbourhood about Lauren Cashman, the 6 year old sister, possibly being responsible for Jake’s death. The story narrated by Lauren, Harley, Hayley (another sister, just 18 months at Jake’s death) and other individuals who become part of their lives and the investigation explore the past and the present. The three surviving children are sent to different foster homes through the Department of Community Services and each has their own struggle. Currently, 27 year old Lauren is being hounded by the media in Sydney. Why? What is it that they have found? And did she really have a part to play in the death of her brother?

This is Overington’s debut novel and looks at the child welfare system in the country. The manner in which cases are dealt with in order to tick boxes is very interesting to read, especially for someone who has had their gripes about the same system. Moreover, she looks at issues such as class and the paths we choose. I guess in some way she shows that not everyone who goes through the foster care system ends up being a junkie or a no-good. All of this mixed with some mystery makes an interesting read and one that you could possibly finish in one sitting.

I give it a rating of 4.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Note: This has been cross-posted on my personal blog.