Casey Kelleher

4.5 Stars rounded up !
Wow! This is my first Casey Kelleher novel and I was blown away !
The story revolves around 32 year old Alessia who, after a traumatic childhood that she has put behind her long ago, is leading a happily married life with husband Carl and yound son Jacob when her past comes back to haunt her. A brick is thrown through the window in her family home , a car runs her off the road and other strange incidents have her fearing for her safety and that of her family who are unaware of her troubled past. She believes these incidents could be linked to the disturbing events that occured when she was 12 years old , the memories of which are foggy at best. At the cost of her own sanity and riddled with self doubt she tries to tap into the memories that she has been repressing through the years to unravel the mystery behind what really happened to her and her friend Sarah all those years ago and figure out who could be responsible for the present day threats to her life.
Split between two timelines 20 years apart generically titled "Then"and "Now", the gripping narrative never loses its pace and and just when you think you have figured everything out the author surprises you with another twist and keeps you guessing till the very end.
The author weaves issues pertaining mental health , child abuse and long lasting effects of psychological trauma throughout the narrative with commendable restraint without making the reader feel uncomfortable. Taut , suspenseful and fast paced, this psychological thriller is hard to put down. I was hooked and just had to finish it in one sitting!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.… (más)

Only Child by Casey Kelleher

Mixed feelings on this one. There were a few unexpected twists in an otherwise predictable story. The writing was easily followed. At the end I felt sorry for some of the characters and thankful that the truly evil person had been caught and would pay for the crime committed. That said, I never really felt invested in the characters and wonder if it is because there wasn’t more provided about some of them and their backstories. Since I don’t want to give away the story or provide spoilers, I will say that there will probably be many who will enjoy this book even though it was just “okay” for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – this is my honest review. 3-4 Stars… (más)

When I saw the cover, then read the blurb, I had to read Only Child by Casey Kelleher. The story twisted and turned, just like my mind. Great job, Casey.

I have been reading more books with diverse characters and I am so happy that I have found new authors to keep an eye on. Casey Kelleher is one of them.

Some may say that Sherrie is a helicopter mom, but she does what she always does, makes things all better for her daughter, Kayla.

The resilience of youth is alive and well in Kayle. Things don’t keep her down for long.

I knew the villain early on, but I didn’t know what made him the villain. I know the victim, now it’s a matter of getting the details.

Panic attacks. Blackouts. PTSD.

The mins is an amazing organ that does its best to protect us when our lives becomes so overwhelming we can no longer cope. I love psychological thrillers and delving into the minds of the characters. Why they do what they do. We have some great ones here.

Well…I though I knew what was coming, but I was so wrong. I love when an author can surprise me and there were plenty of surprises to keep me glued to the pages.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Only Child by Casey Kelleher.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com… (más)

I'll Never Tell by Casey Kelleher is a highly recommended psychological thriller.

Alessia has a wonderful life with her husband, Carl, and their young son, Jacob. After her past, which she keeps secret, she never thought she would have this current life of satisfaction and happiness. When a brick with a note tied around it is thrown through a front window, she immediately realizes that her current life is under attack. The note said "Found You" and it is followed quickly by other frightening occurrences that point to Alessia's past coming back to haunt her. She is sure her childhood friend, Sarah, is responsible.

The narrative unfolds through two different timelines in chapters headed as "Now" and "Then" with 20 years separating the action. Emma-Jayne, 12, had a friend named Sarah, 10, and the two played in an abandoned house they called the doll house. Something terrible happened there. Emily-Jayne keeps telling the police that Sarah did it, but they don't believe her. She is the one who was sent to an institution until she was 18. After this, she changed her name and lived a quiet, unassuming life. Meeting Carl was something she never thought would happen in her life.

This is a short, fast-paced novel and Alessia is, in general, a believable character although you will question some of her actions which seem illogical. There is a lot of sympathy for both Alessia and young Emma-Jayne. It becomes clear in both timelines that they are unreliable narrators. The plot is interesting, but after a few chapter you will be able to figure out what is going on. Soon you will be able to predict who is responsible for the harassment and just need to get to the end to see if you were right. Likely you will be correct. Setting the predictability of the plot aside, there will be a few twists and surprises. You will also have to set aside some disbelief in order to enjoy the novel. 3.5 rounded up.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/11/ill-never-tell.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4353100493… (más)