Publication date: 25th Jan 2018 (UK)
Publisher: Harper Collins
I saw this book all over the socials and was intrigued. I requested it on Netgalley and was thrilled to be accepted (let’s face it, I’m always thrilled!).
Anna Fox is a child psychologist who is agoraphobic following an incident which we’re not made aware of until much later in the book. A virtual recluse Anna lives alone without her husband and and daughter Olivia. She views her limited world through the lens of her camera, watching the comings and goings of the families in the street. Sometimes taking her interest online and finding out details about them.
Anna is content to live in this vastly reduced world and live vicariously through chat rooms and online forums. Having weekly visits from her psychiatrist and her physical therapist. That is until her camera lens gets her far more involved with the new family who have moved in across the park than she bargained for when she witnesses something happen which turns her enclosed world upside down…..or does she?
From here we follow Anna trying to make sense of what she might have seen through her alcohol and medication haze. She is desperately trying to figure out what can be happening inside her head and her home with little support from the authorities.
This is a very tense story of an unhappy woman trying to make her voice heard by people who are doubting her. Even at times doubting herself but knowing deep down that something isn’t ‘right’.
The pacing of this book is just superb. In some ways the story unfolds little by little and we’re given access to Anna’s memories of her family life and it’s ultimate disintegration but I also found each of the chapters short and snappy which I love.
The tension builds throughout until I found myself racing toward the ending, desperate to find out what happens. Oh my what an ending! My heart was beating out of my chest.
The characters are all so well written, right down to police officer Little (who I loved). This book keeps you on your toes, little twists and turns and jaw dropping moments, one in particular (which I won’t spoil obvs!).
I read this book in just over 24 hrs which is a good indication with me that I really enjoyed it. I think I blocked my children out for a while there! (I jest…..honest) and it was just a little too late to make it to my best books of 2017 which I’m beating myself up about a little.
When this book comes out at the end of January, do yourself a favour and grab yourself a copy. You won’t regret it. A fast paced awesome thriller for 2018!
See you soon
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