I loved Deborah O'Connor's debut novel, My Husband's Son, so I couldn't wait to read her second novel, The Dangerous Kind. It is clear that Deborah O'Connor is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects, so be prepared to be deeply disturbed by this dark yet completely compelling novel.

This is a dual timeline story set in present day and 2003 and it takes a little while to get used to it as there are two sets of characters: one for each time period. I have to admit, I couldn't quite get a handle on who was who at first so do stick with it if this happens to you. Once I got my reading rhythm, my mind really started whirring: I knew the two stories had to be linked, but I didn't know how. I did kind of guess one part of it, and just as I was feeling mighty chuffed with myself, Deborah O'Connor pulled the rug out from under my feet and revealed the whole shocking truth.

I really liked the character of Jessamine Gooch, from her unusual name to her total kick-ass girl-power. Jessamine is a career woman and single mother, having adopted her daughter Sarah when she was 2 years old. Jessamine is the host of a popular BBC radio show which investigates crimes that may have been prevented if the perpetrator had been identified as a PDP (Potentially Dangerous People). Jessamine meets a woman in the street who asks her to look into the disappearance of her friend and, with the powers that be at the BBC looking to revive the tired show, Jessamine starts to investigate with no idea that she is putting her job and even her life at risk.

Once the missing woman story hooked me, that was it; I couldn't put the book down. There are some very disturbing and distressing scenes skirted around in the book which made my skin crawl but thankfully Deborah O'Connor didn't go into too many gory details. She did, however, only have to mention an unnamed BBC radio celebrity for me to feel physically sick. I'm not saying it is that person in the story, but I'm sure he was the inspiration (if you can call it that) for the book. Thankfully, the story is told from the other side so I didn't have to encounter him too often. It shows how effective the writing is to evoke such emotions in a reader so I really must applaud Deborah O'Connor for giving a voice to the victims.

The Dangerous Kind is a total skin crawler but also a totally compelling thriller. It's not for the faint-hearted but it's definitely a voice that should be heard.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

The Dangerous Kind is 2019’s Gone Girl but even better!

Told mainly from four different view points the story follows Jessamine, a radio presenter, her adopted daughter Sarah, Jitesh an intern at the BBC radio studios in present day London and Rowena in 2003.

Each with their own plot lines that slowly becomes ever increasingly entwined culminating into a finale worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.

As Jessamine begins an unofficial investigation into missing woman Cassie, a suspected victim of domestic abuse, the trail begins to spiral into an even greater darkness taking her further and further down the proverbial rabbit hole.

As well as domestic abuse she uncovers some terrifyingly plausible crimes involving the exploitation of young people in care by people in authority, people in positions of trust, even a celebrity, how far they will go to keep their depravities secret and the effects it takes on victims, abusers and their families. It will instinctively bring to mind Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile which makes this even more hard-hitting.

I have to say though, even though the storyline is centred around such horrific acts it is written and portrayed brilliantly, enough detail to bring the story and its characters to life without the need for graphic details. It is handled with an iron fist in a velvet glove and the writing style is so sublime the pages just keep on turning at a rate of knots.

And then of course – the obligatory plot twist and what a twist it is! As clichéd as that is it doesn’t take away the fact that this particular twist was an absolute stunner! I still can’t believe I didn’t see it coming or even where it came from! And just like that, it all makes perfect sense!

If you read one psychological thriller in 2019, my advice, make sure it is this one!

Now I will keep a keen eye out for the film that surely must follow!

The Dangerous Kind is set to be published on the 16 May 2019 in the UK.

Many thanks to the author Deborah O’Connor, publishers Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest, independent review.

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