Deborah O'Donoghue

Do you know, this book particularly appealed to me because of the Moray setting in the Scotland and the remote coastal home mentioned in the blurb. The story itself intrigued me but it was definitely the setting that got me interested. But my goodness, this is a book that has so much more going on than I could have ever imagined and I found it difficult to put down.

Juliet MacGillivray is a member of the Progressive Alliance, a political party. A scandal occurs within the party at a point when Juliet is grieving for her niece, Beth. As Juliet doesn't trust the verdict of suicide that the coroner gave she travels to her family's remote summerhouse to do some digging around.

I'm a little unsure how much more to say about the plot as nothing more is given away in the blurb but the people Juliet meets in that remote place are pivotal to the story as they lead her down a path that threatens to blow apart organised crime and a massive cover up from those in power. I was actually reminded of a Line of Duty plotline which made this book even more exciting for me. Don't get me wrong, this is nothing to do with anti-corruption but it's very topical and looks at bribery and control from the bottom of the chain right to the very top.

The story starts fairly slowly, the pace then increases and eventually it builds into a crescendo. There's so much for Juliet to discover. Her partner, Declan, gets involved too and things get pretty hairy for both of them. They had no idea what they were getting into and how dangerous it could get. By the end they definitely knew!

This is a story that is very much about the seedy underbelly of life, those things that we don't like to think about and in a way can't believe actually happen, and yet there they are going on right under our noses. This is a psychological thriller that is brimming with tension and has more layers than an onion. Each time Juliet and Declan peeled back a layer it surprised me and I found it both shocking and exciting. And the ending is chilling and open for a possible sequel. For a debut novel this is so so good. I'd definitely read more by Deborah O'Donoghue.… (más)

Juliet MacGillivray is haunted by the death of her beloved niece, Beth Winters. The police deemed it a suicide but Juliet has difficulty accepting this conclusion. She sets out to investigate while visiting her summerhouse in northeast Scotland where Beth was living while studying Fine Art Textiles in a nearby art school. As she begins asking questions, Juliet realizes there are people who do not appreciate her meddling. When her partner Declan becomes involved, he too comes to realize there are those who do not want the truth exposed.

Several subjects are examined in the novel, one of them being mental illness. Erica, Juliet’s twin sister and Beth’s mother, suffers with bipolar disorder and that diagnosis is always mentioned by the media when discussing Juliet’s position as chief of staff of a political party, as if Juliet is somehow tainted by having a twin with mental health issues. Juliet also believes that the police’s determination that Beth committed suicide because of depression was influenced by her mother having a manic-depressive illness.

The sexual exploitation of minors is another subject that receives attention. There are scenes which may make readers feel uncomfortable. Immigration, political corruption, and manipulation by the wealthy also come to the fore during Juliet’s investigation.

There is quite a bit of suspense in the book. Juliet, Declan and others who become involved in investigating Beth’s death and those who might know something about it face increasing danger. Threats are made and people are hurt. The sense of danger will keep readers reading.

An issue I have with the book is that Juliet is not a really likeable character. For all her professed love for her niece, they did not seem particularly close. If Juliet really knew her niece, Juliet should have known when Beth phoned and said, “’There’s some wee things I really need to talk to you about’” that Beth had something important to discuss. If she did know her niece’s tendency to understate, her not calling Beth for three weeks indicates nothing positive about her character. At one point, Juliet realizes people think of her as “somewhat pathetic and controlling and superior all at once” and those adjectives describe her perfectly. She does not seem to be a particularly warm person. It seems that at least a couple of people think of her as a “very strong lady” but she doesn’t come across as that to me.

What also bothers me is that characters often behave unrealistically. For example, would a mother really bring her 13-year-old daughter to a party where drugs are openly used and where she is in danger of being sexually molested? Would a man who helps recruit a minor for the purpose of sexual exploitation and who viciously kills a man be so shocked when he comes “face to face with his paymasters’ depravity” that he disobeys orders and behaves as he does at the end?

The ending has weaknesses. The last few events seem largely unnecessary because there is focus on a character who doesn’t deserve attention. There is too much falling action after the climax. On the other hand, another character, one who played a pivotal role in the investigation, is just dropped; she is last mentioned as sitting in silence and shaking in shock. (Other minor characters who are introduced in some depth seem unnecessary because they never appear again.)

The book is not perfect but it is still an enjoyable escapist read. It touches on a number of important topics, and the plot, though uneven, has considerable suspense.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher, Legend Press.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).… (más)