Let down by confusing jumps between timelines and an unbelievable ending.... ( )

Another book that was just not for me, it was dismal in both plot and characters ( )

Good story, but a lot of characters and difficult to follow at times due to the way it is written. It jumps between characters, thoughts, and the past quickly without explanation most of the time. ( )

This was a fast-paced read and a pretty good mystery. I don't usually read the genre mystery/thriller, so for me, the twists and turns that the book takes did surprise me (I was never actually able to figure out the culprit so I was surprised) :) While the subject was perhaps a bit "darker" than what I normally read, I think that the author did a really good job with keeping the book suspenseful. I also liked that the author was able to allow me to really visualize the setting and characters through her vivid descriptions, particularly of the estuary town of Saltleigh.

While I did find the subject of the family massacre (no spoiler here since it's written on the book jacket), it did actually give me pause to consider what it must be like to be a survivor of such a tragedy. How does someone ever move on from something that horrific? The mother in me just really wanted to take care of Esme/Allison after all that she had been through and to tell her to put down the alcoholic drinks because of her genetics. I also began to think of the woman who Esme would have become had this tragedy not occurred and she had finished growing up in Saltleigh. With her new identity, Esme/Allison was able to go to University, get a good job and live in London. In the end, that doesn't compensate for losing your entire family, but I did wonder the adult she would have matured into had the tragedy not unfolded.

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Thirteen years ago a tragedy occurred in the village of Saltleigh. A man took a shotgun and murdered his wife and their children before turning the gun on himself. Only the elder daughter Esme survived. Thirteen years later Alison is working in London, creating anonymity, hiding the secrets of her past. Then Alison's boyfriend insists that she accompanies him to the wedding of a former girlfriend in Saltleigh and the past and present are brought into conflict.

This is a really gripping tale. Alison is, of course, Esme and when she returns to Saltleigh all the ghosts of the past are resurrected. The multi-layered plot is completely believable, characters in a small town with secrets and issues, local justice and a mistrust of strangers and outsiders. In fact the only problem with the whole book is the identity of the real killer. It is flagged up subtly but the motivation and backstory is a little weak.

However that does not detract from the excellent writing and the sense of place and atmosphere. At the end of the day Esme/Alison is one of the community and the community looks after its own. ( )