Alison James

I very much enjoyed this twisty unputdownable novel. Juliette and Hugh seem to have the perfect life in a beautiful manor until one evening during a dinner party a long lost cousin of Hughs named Alexis shows up at their doorstep with a large silver suitcase. Juliette is a bit put out when Hugh offers her a room to stay in at the manor, but she is polite and accommodates this surprise guest for what she thinks will only be a couple of nights. But when Alexis's stays stretches on into weeks she becomes alarmed. Who is this long lost cousin and what does she really want? The story is told from four of the main characters points of view which is a lot of fun to read what all the characters are really thinking about each other. Very tricky. Highly recommended with lots of plot twists and surprises. Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read/listen to this advanced copy.… (altro)

SPOILERS

This features Hattie, who bonds with a group of other commuters during a delay to their journey home one night. They become friends and save each other seats and socialize together. Hattie is temping; Julian is a barrister; Casper works for an art auction house; Carmen is a university administrator; Bridget is a civil servant; and Lewis is cagey about what he does. Then one evening, during the journey, Julian dies and it turns out he was poisoned.

This was a fast fun read, although it was also a bit bonkers. Hattie spent the entire book drunk or hung over, and Bridget's character made no sense at all, which was a huge red flag/clue. Casper was so obviously up to no good and very controlling of Hattie, but on the strength of some drunken sex she can't really remember, she decides she is in love with him and is ready to emigrate to Mexico with him. I worked out that Bridget was Casper's accomplice before we even knew Casper was Neil, and I never for one moment believed Hattie had taken the real painting to Mexico with her. Were we supposed to feel sympathy for Neil at the end? I found Hattie so clueless and endlessly self-destructive that I was surprised she got he job with Saints and Sinners. I think Lewis can do better.… (altro)