The Second Marriage by Gill Paul / Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Avon

Publishing Date: 17th September 2020

Source:  Received from the publisher via NetGalley, thank you!

Number of pages: 400

Genre: General Fiction (Adult)

 

Synopsis:

From the internationally bestselling author of The Secret Wife comes a tale of love, sacrifice and betrayal, available for pre-order now.

JACKIE
When her first marriage ends in tragedy, Jackie Kennedy fears she’ll never love again. But all that changes when she encounters…

ARI
Successful and charming, Ari Onassis is a man who promises her the world. Yet soon after they marry, Jackie learns that his heart also belongs to another…

MARIA
A beautiful, famed singer, Maria Callas is in love with Jackie’s new husband – and she isn’t going to give up.

Little by little, Jackie and Maria’s lives begin to tangle in a dangerous web of secrets, scandal and lies. But with both women determined to make Ari theirs alone, the stakes are high. How far will they go for true love?

„The Second Marriage“ introduces us to two very well known characters – Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas, whose lives, so different yet so similar, connected through Ari Onassis. The history, even though it dictates the events, is not the most important or major part of the story, and I would say this book is more literal – than historical fiction.

I read tons about Jackie, I think that every female in this world was a bit obsessed with her, and the picture described in „The Second Marriage“ introduced me to a very different woman to the one I though she was. She was presented like a mimose, a trophy – wife, a woman without a backbone and I think there was much more to her. Maria Callas – this is absolutely different, I didn’t know much about her and thanks to the book I googled a bit, I listened to her singing, and it was brilliant. Also, I loved the way she was described in the story, a woman with a great sense of humour, knowing her worth, a strong one but with weaknesses and her story was very compelling, and I think she was the strongest point of this book, even though there were moments that you could yell at her and wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up. Hovewer, you could also see why she made those decisions.

Now. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped. I mean, the problem with writing about real, existing people (even if they’re dead) is that – I think – we should stick with the reality. I know that when I want to read truth then I should reach for biographies, nevertheless I still think that fiction can only go as far. I wouldn’t like to read about my mother, should she be Jackie O., with absolutely different personality and things that she has never done or said. Also, the book felt chopped. It followed some significant events in the characters’ lives and truly it felt as if we were ticking the things off the list, especially when it comes to Jackie – her marriage, her leaning heavily on Bobby Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe are heavily highlighted but this is actually everything I already know. I didn’t learn anything new about those women and I couldn’t be sure if I am reading about facts or it is fiction.
It mostly felt like a one, huge excuse for Mr Onassis, to be honest, even though he was pictured as a manipulative liar and I am not sure if this is really this what I wanted to stay with me after reading this book.
Maybe the author tried to tie in too many things into this book, I don’t know. Or maybe we simply know too much about the characters already and it’s not easy to accept the fiction? I couldn’t help but wonder which of the things were real and true, I simply thing the line between fiction and reality is too blurred here.

“The Second Marriage“ is a love story with a difference, full of glamour, parties, jewellery and luxurious yachts. It is fast paced – no wonder, as the lives of Maria and Jackie were filled with events – and easy to read. It is very well written, like all Gill Paul’s books, the writing style is lovely, rich and flowing. If it was about fictional characters, it would be a perfect read, I think – as it was really enjoyable and full of fascinating gossip. Even though I am truly torn about this book would I recommend it? Absolutely – if you’re in need of a light, glamorous love story and a piece of great historical fiction.

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If I Could Say Goodbye by Emma Cooper / Blog Tour

If I Could Say Goodbye by Emma Cooper

 

 

Publisher: Headline

Publishing Date: 17th September 2020

Source:  Received from the publisher, thank you!

Number of pages: 400

Genre: General Fiction (Adult)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A heart-warming and uplifting story about love, loss and finding the strength to say goodbye, from the author of The First Time I Saw You.

Jennifer Jones’ life began when her little sister, Kerry, was born. So when her sister dies in a tragic accident, nothing seems to make sense any more.

Despite the support of her husband, Ed, and their wonderful children, Jen can’t comprehend why she is still here, while bright, spirited Kerry is not.

When Jen starts to lose herself in her memories of Kerry, she doesn’t realise that the closer she feels to Kerry, the further she gets from her family.

Jen was never able to say goodbye to her sister. But what if she could?

Would you risk everything if you had the chance to say goodbye?

Rating:

Jennifer’s younger sister Kerry dies in an accident, being hit by a car, saving Jen’s life at the same time. Jen’s whole world changes. She loved her sister so much, Kerry was her best friend, and now she’s gone. Jennifer is racked with survivor’s guilt and it nearly split her and her whole family’s lives apart. Will they manage to survive those dark moments?

The characters that Emma Cooper has created are absolutely brilliant, and not only the main ones, but also the children, Jen’s parents or Nessa and her daughter. They all feel real and relatable. I loved Jen and Ed’s relationship – it was so raw yet it was so clear that they were perfect for each other, and it broke my heart more than once to see how Kerry’s death affected their marriage.
I liked Jen. Even though there were moments she was too much for me with her behaviour, even though her actions were sometimes hard to understand (yes, I know she was grieving! I know she had problems!), I fell for her and her pain. Sure, sometimes I wanted to shake her, to remind her there are people loving her around her but nevertheless her grief was so well written, the author has got into her head so well that I simply couldn’t not like her.
I also adored Ed. My heart went to him so often – you know, I could somehow relate to him as I also have seen my own husband dealing with me in my darkest times, so I really could understand Ed’s feelings. He was so strong, so brave and he loved Jen unconditionally. His chapters were sometimes heart – breaking but they also added so much lightness and humour.

The book was a bit on the slow side and there were moments that it dragged a bit, though when something happened then it left me with open mouth, so not bad then  What I also would love is a bit more time with the two sisters together – you can say there was incredible bond between them and I would love to see how they worked together, not only read about it but see with my own eyes.

It’s actually a very powerful and emotionally strong story touching upon grief and mental health and the way it affects whole families and single person. It’s sad beneath the surface but the author manages to sneak the funny elements to the story as well, thus creating a very well balanced tale that is neither too depressing nor overly hilarious, and I think she has found the magic middle. I think the author has really well dealt with grief and even though it was sometimes overpowering, it was done in such a way that I always sympathized with the characters – though feel warned that maybe sometimes it’ll be too much for you as it’s a bitter – sweet, raw and honest description of dealing with grief.

It’s a beautifully written book, folks, really. Emma Cooper has a way with words, she has proven this already with her previous books and she also doesn’t disappoint with „If I Could Say Goodbye“. There is lightness to her writing, it’s easy to follow yet there is also enough depth to it, and she can beautifuly and with sensitivity write about feelings and emotions – I could feel the grief and sadness that Jen exudes but also the desperation and uncertainty of Ed. There is joy in her writing, there is also sadness and yes, I had some problems with getting into the book, no idea why, but on the whole it was a captivating story that had me invested in the characters’ lives. Truly recommended!

 

 

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The Bench by Saskia Sarginson

 

 

 

Publisher: Piatkus

Publishing Date: 3^rd September 2020

Source:  Received from the publishervia NetGalley, thank you!

Number of pages: 368

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) 

Buy the Book:  Kindle | Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

It will always be their place . . . but will it ever be the right time?

Perfect for fans of One Day and Me Before You, this is a tragic love story spanning three decades that starts and ends on a bench. The most heartbreaking novel to date by the Richard & Judy Book Club bestselling author Saskia Sarginson.

It begins at the end.

It begins on a bench, on a heath, where a woman waits for a man.

Ten years ago, they made a pact:

On this bench, on this day, they will end a love affair that’s spanned three decades, or start again.

They should never have met. They should never have fallen in love.

But they did, until a lie separated them for a lifetime.

Can they fix the mistake, forgive the lie, erase the years in-between?

Can what was lost ever truly be found?



Rating:

 

Cat lives in America, works at a funeral parlour, being the sole earner in her home, with her father being a gambler and mother not being able to work. Sam is an English musician, travelling with his guitar through the U.S. What are the chances of those two to meet? Almost none, but they met, and there is an instant attraction between them. They get each other, both on the same wavelength and they quickly fell in love. They promise to always tell each other the truth and while Cat didn’t keep any secrets from Sam, he kept something for himself – but he was determined to be honest with Cat and tell her the truth at the airport, when he was flying home and she was there to tell him goodbye. But Sam is not there. Why? They’ve made so many plans, they planned their future together – what has happened? Will they find each other again even if the circumstances are against them, and the distance, secrets and other people keep them apart?

The story is told in chapters alternating between Cat and Sam and 1983 and 2004, letting us to really get to know them, what they think and feel, seeing both points of view. They were both interesting characters but I couldn’t completely get into their heads, and as much as their journey to find each other was dramatic and heart – breaking I didn’t have it in me to keep my fingers crossed for them. It was interesting to see how different those two were, both coming from very different backgrounds, however they both had big dreams and I liked it in them, but altogether they felt a bit… meh. Weak.

I’ve seen benches like the ones described in the book, with plaques and inscriptions on them, but to be honest I’ve never paid them much attention. Next time, when I see one, with someone sitting on it, I’ll look at them differently – who knows what secrets and stories do they hide?

I was expecting something different to be honest. For me the book felt too slow and much too much gloomy and dark and sad and repetitive. It was somehow simply too negative on the whole and I couldn’t warm to the story itself and to the characters as well and the plot felt too old for my liking and too predictable. Sure, the author added many twists and surprises on the way to make the story more interesting and yes, I appreciated them, but the story simply didn’t work form e – it’s not the book, it must be me then.

It is a story about love, melancholy, longing, lost hopes and second chances. Told over various periods of time it is a real love tribute, a lyrical love story without mythicization of love at all, oh no, it shows all the ups and downs of this feeling. A read with a difference, clever and with interesting premise.

For When I’m Gone by Rebecca Ley / Blog Tour

For When I’m Gone by Rebecca Ley

Publisher: Orion

Publishing Date: 3^rd September 2020

Source:  Received from the publisher, thank you!

Number of pages: 336

Genre: General Fiction (Adult)

Buy the Book:  Kindle | Hardcover | Paperback (out on 04.03.2021)

 

Synopsis:

Because there’s never enough time to say goodbye…

Sylvia knows that she’s running out of time. Very soon, she will exist only in the memories of those who loved her most and the pieces of her life she’s left behind.

So she begins to write her husband a handbook for when she’s gone, somewhere to capture the small moments of ordinary, precious happiness in their married lives. From raising their wild, loving son, to what to give their gentle daughter on her eighteenth birthday – it’s everything she should have told him before it was too late.

But Sylvia also has a secret, one that she’s saved until the very last pages. And it’s a moment in her past that could change everything…

Sylvia is diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38. She fights, but eventually she realises that she’s running out of time and she hasn’t long left. The biggest worry for her is the realisation that her children, Megan and Jude, will be growing up without a mother but also that her husband Paul will be struggling with life. So she writes him a „user manual“, a kind of a guide to help him when she’s gone – it’s not only about raising the children but also a kind of a memoirs and persmission for Paul to move on. Will he manage on his own?

I think that because of the fact that we know right from the beginning that Sylvia is dead, we were supposed to like her and sympathise with her. And I felt bad that I am not able to like her and sympathise with her. The pieces of advice she was giving to Paul were a great idea though truly, through her words I couldn’t find any warmth in her. She was too self – concentrated for my liking and mostly I couldn’t understand her choices and decisions.

The story is written in the „Now“ and „Then“ chapters intertwining with each other, giving us a chance to get to know the characters, giving us the insight into their past but in the end I had a feeling that we didn’t get to know the characters, either in the past, or in the present – it felt too superficial.

The book felt very dry. I was expecting tons of feelings and emotions but I got neither, to be honest. I had a feeling that the author herself didn’t connect with her characters, that she didn’t like them, so how was I supposed to like them? For me they didn’t show any emotions. It was as if they themselves didn’t like each other and yes, I know, it was like in real life, with all the ups and down, with likes and dislikes, better and worse days, we are not perfect, sure, I really get it, but on the whole it was too cold and clinical for me.

Altogether, it is a poignant story about the fragility of life with extremely interesting concept. It deals with grief, shows the importance of love and honesty and touches upon complicated and complex family dynamics and there are some really important messages in it. This is this kind of book that will make you wonder „what if“ and you will be putting yourself in the characters’ position, hoping you will never find yourself in their shoes. A book with a great potential and premise, promising debut novel, I’ll be looking for more from Rebecca Ley in the future.

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You Can Trust Me by Emma Rowley / Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Orion

Publishing Date: 3^rd September 2020

Source:  Received from the publisher, thank you!

Number of pages: 368

Genre: Mystery & Thriller

Buy the Book:  Kindle | Paperback

Synopsis:

You can trust me. But can I trust you? Olivia is the domestic goddess who has won millions of followers by sharing her picture-perfect life online. And now she’s releasing her tell-all autobiography. For professional ghostwriter Nicky it’s the biggest job of her career. But as she delves deeper into Olivia’s life, cracks begin to appear in the glamorous façade. From the strained relationship with her handsome husband, to murky details of a tragic family death in her childhood, the truth belies Olivia’s perfect public image. But why is Olivia so desperate to leave an old tragedy well alone? And how far will she go to keep Nicky from the truth?

Rating:

Olivia Hayes in an Instagram influencer with many followers. She’s also a wife and a mother, providing her fans with photos of her perfect life in the perfect Annersley House in Cheshire. Yes, she simply has it all. But does she? Nicky Wilson is a ghostwriter and her life is a mess. Hired to write Olivia’s book about life style, she stays at her house for a week so that she can interview Olivia. However, it seems that their views of a perfect book are different. While Olivia is not interested in sharing the private parts of her life, Nicky presses about her past that Olivia absolutely doesn’t want to talk about. Does Nicky know more than we suppose? Or maybe it’s Olivia that has something to hide?

The characters are well developed, even though they are not likeable. I think that Nicky was the one you feel the most sympathy to, though it has changed for me – her obsession started to annoy and irritate me, it seemed so odd and not natural and eventually she simply came across as rude and interfering. And I couldn’t understand why Nicky is pushing for the truth (if there was truth at all, that is) so much. How does she know so much? Where does it come from? Olivia is also relatively hard to warm to, with her being so controlling and reserved. She wanted to tell the story but on her terms and I don’t know, with Nicky pressing in one direction and Olivia in totally different it was somehow weird. To be honest, they are both rather unreliable narrators, you don’t know who you can trust but eventually you’re going to appreciate this fact – it made the book even more addictive!

It was such a relief where the tale switched to Olivia’s point of view. I enjoyed Nicky telling the story, even if there were some issues I had problems with, but there came a moment that I realised she can’t carry on by herself, so just imagine how relieved I was when I turned the page and have seen that it’s now Olivia’s time. Though I must admit that Olivia’s narration didn’t clear the things that irritated me so much, ie. why was Nicky pushing her so much to tell a story that she so cleraly didn’t want to tell. Olivia’s part focuses mostly on the „now“ and yes, I was already starting to worry that I won’t get what I’m looking for. However, slowly and painstakingly we are able to chew through the maze full of lies and secrets with our understanding of the situation growing and really, nothing is as it seems.

„You Can Trust Me“ had something addictive in it, I raced through it in two days and really didn’t want to put it down. The pace was maybe not too fast, but still, I had to know what has happened and what’s going to happen and kept turning page after page. The short chapters make the reading even more easier and dynamic and yes, the author has captured the atmosphere of tension and fear brilliantly – I was all the time prepared for something really, really bad to happen. I liked the author’s writing style, it was easy to follow and chatty, especially Nicky’s voice, there was something in it that made me feel as if she was talking directly to me. This is a complex, clever story where you might think you have everything worked out but it will quickly turn out that you are far, far away from the truth, a story full of twists and turns, that will keep you on your tenterhooks. I enjoyed it very much and will be checking Emma Rowley’s other books. Recommended!

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The Flip Side by James Bailey / Blog Tour

The Flip Side by James Bailey

Publisher: Penguin

Publishing Date: 20th August 2020

Source:  Received from the publisher via NetGalley, thank you!

Number of pages: 354

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Synopsis:

DIVE INTO THE LAUGH OUT LOUD ROMANTIC COMEDY OF THE YEAR!

One coin, one year and one new shot at love.

Josh thought he was doing everything right.

He found a girl. They adopted a rabbit. He finally found the perfect moment to propose.

She said no.

On the London Eye . . . On New Year’s Eve . . . Suspended 443ft in the air . . .

Now they’re awkwardly eating truffles and praying they’ll be back on the ground soon.

Realizing he can’t be trusted to make his own decisions, Josh decides to spend a year putting his faith in, well, fate.

From now on, every decision will be made by the flip of a coin. And maybe, just maybe, the coin will help him find the girl of his dreams.

After all, who says you can’t take a chance on love?

Hilarious, feel-good and uplifting. A romantic comedy perfect for anyone who has ever failed at love.

Fans of The Flat Share, Don’t You Forget About Me and Richard Curtis will LOVE this.

Rating:

Josh is 28 years old and has just been dumped by his girlfriend after proposing to her on New Year’s Eve and now they’re trapped in the possibly the longest ride on the London Eye. Ouch. Not the best possible way to start a new year, right? Moreover, Josh has been working at Jade’s family business, and living in her flat, so now he’s not only girlfriendless, but also jobless and flatless. But he gets the rabbit that he gave Jade, back. Moving with his parents again is the only possibility right now. His best friends Jessie and Jake are determined to get Josh back in the dating game, however Josh, with his lack of faith in his own decisions and judgement, and despite his friends mocking him for this, decides to flip a 50p coin to make any decision for the next 12 months. What he doesn’t know is that this may change his life completely. But for better, or worse?

The story was filled with absolutely brilliant characters! Even though Josh was not the best well developed character in the world, I liked him from the very beginning. Yes, his lack of plan was irritating, and flipping the coin somehow takes the responsibility away, right, and I mean, he was almost 30 year old, ah, you can’t always live like Peter Pan but he was funny, down – to – earth and really good at heart, and the situations he put himself with flipping the coin were brilliantly hilarious. He was a relatable and likeable character and I really enjoyed the way his journey has been unfolding.
His friends Jessie and Jake were absolutely brilliant. They stood by Josh no matter what and it was so heart – warming to see. They were so loyal and supporting and I loved how invested they were in Josh’s search fort he Sunflower Girl.

This book was full of embarrassing moments, brilliant one – liners – just like comedy of errors and also a road trip with Jesus and probably one of the best dialogues ever that followed that trip. Even though there were moments that it looked like the author has tried too much, still I loved his sense of humour, so dry and sarcastic, totally right up my street – it was probably one of the strongest points of this book because, let’s be honest, Josh’s voice was not strong enough to carry this book alone and Lucy, well, there were too many ambiguities about her, and yes, some of the scenes were there only for the sake of being in the book, and I found some of the things and events simply over the top but those are details and I’m sure James’ next book will be more polished. He was lucky, Mr. Bailey, because he managed to grasp this crucial moment that the book stayed funny before it stopped being funny, he knew when to tone it down a bit.

The author has really well balanced the funny and the more poignant moments, I was surprised with the depth he has added to his novel. Still, it was not too overwhelming and altogether it was a light – hearted and easy book with a simple plot – but does the plot always have to be complax and complicated? Absolutely not, and I truly enjoyed the lightness of the tone. It made me wonder how it would be really flipping a coin when I’m not sure what to do, maybe I should try. It kept me glued to the pages and invested in the characters’ lives. It’s a book that will make you smile and feel so optimistic, it’s full of surprises and unpredictable – well, you never knew what the coin is going to say, right? Absolutely one of the funniest books I’ve read this year and I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for more frome James Bailey.

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The Search Party by Simon Lelic / Blog Tour

The Search Party by Simon Lelic

 

Publisher: Viking

Publishing Date: 20^th August 2020

Source:  Received from the publisher, thank you!

Number of pages: 352

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

 Buy the Book: Kindle | Hardcover

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

16-year-old Sadie Saunders is missing.

Five friends set out into the woods to find her.

But they’re not just friends…

THEY’RE SUSPECTS.

You see, this was never a search party.

It’s a witch hunt.

And not everyone will make it home alive…

THE CHALK MAN meets THE HUNTING PARTY in this gripping story; witness four suspects as, alongside DI Fleet, you attempt to discover the truth about what happened to Sadie…

 

Sixteen – year – old Sadie Saunders has been missing for six days. Sadie, the beautiful and talented girl, A student, apple in the eyes of her parents, while her twin Luke has to take care of their younger brother Dylan. Before she disappeared, some ugly rumours and photos of Sadie have been circulating in the social media, with the intent of ruining her reputation. The search is led by Detective Inspector Robin Fleet and DS Nicola Collins while Superintendent Burton is demanding quick results: either find Sadie or charge someone with murder.
Not believing in police’s good intentions of finding Sadie, her friends decide to gather their own search party. The group consists of Luke, Abi, Cora, Fareed and Sadie’s boyfriend, Mayson. They venture into the woods where they believe they can find her. Nobody knows what’s expecting them in the woods, and for sure they don’t suppose that one of them is going to be fatally stabbed. Fleet is now even under more pressure, he now must solve both cases but will he manage to stay unbiased or will he bow to pressure and take the easy way out? Especially as everybody seems to have secrets, blaming each other.

The teenagers are a colourful group of very different personalities and background. They all have their own problems that they try to hide but all the time they say one word too much, blaming each other and pointing their fingers at each other. Everything rests on Luke’s shoulders as his parents absolutely are not interested in him and young Dylan, focusing only on Sadie – could it be that he’s jealous of his sister? Mason is Sadie’s boyfriend, living with his abusive, alcoholic father, having a violent temper himself. He has been spotted fighting with Sadie shortly before she went missing. Cora, Sadie’s friend, has a secret crush on Mason. Abi, always considering herself unattractive, covets Sadie’s good looks. And Fareed, with an over – protective mother, Mason’s friend, also has a secret about Sadie. Every single one of them has a motive to eliminate the beloved Sadie, right? They were all realistically written and they all had some layers to them and the dynamics between them were truly interesting.
DI Rob Fleet was a very interesting, probably the most interesting character in this story. He had a backbone and felt like a person who really has something to tell. I liked that he wasn’t afraid to stand his ground and that he had intuition – the right person in the right place. His past, connected with the little town where Sadie went missing, plays an important role in the whole story and this only added much more depth to this subplot and the story overall. He simply felt real and human and I’d trust him to solve any case, to be honest.

Now, I’m not so sure about my feelings. The book didn’t hook me. I had a feeling that there is really not much happening, that the book goes in circles and is not moving forward. The twists and new information were a few and for me came always too late, when I really stopped caring. The final twist didn’t shock me, even though, let’s be honest, I of course didn’t guess it. It made me feel truly, really sad about what has happened and how unnecessary it was. Sure, the author has done a great job, creating a plot full of theories about who did it and filled with surprises that, sadly, didn’t take me by surprise. It was probably impossible to say who’s telling the truth and who’s lying and keeping secrets but my heart was not in it and it eventually there came a moment that it was all the same for me. Nevertheless, it is a book with a good and strong plot that will keep you in suspense and asking questions. The atmosphere of uncertainty is really well captured and there is always the feeling that something really bad can happen.

 

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Fifty – Fifty by Steve Cavanagh / Blog Tour

Fifty – Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

 

Publisher: Orion

Publishing Date: 3^rd September 2020

Series: Eddie Flynn #5

Source:  Received from the publisher, thank you!

Number of pages: 304

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

 Buy the Book: Kindle | Paperback

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Two sisters on trial for murder. Both accuse each other.
Who do YOU believe?

Alexandra Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body, and needs the police right away. She believes her sister killed him, and that she is still in the house with a knife.

Sofia Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body and needs the police right away. She believes her sister, Alexandra did it, and that she is still in the house, locked in the bathroom.

Both women are to go on trial at the same time. A joint trial in front of one jury.

But one of these women is lying. One of them is a murderer. Sitting in a jail cell, about to go on trial with her sister for murder, you might think that this is the last place she expected to be.

You’d be wrong.

Rating:

 

Two calls to 911 tell about an attack on Frank Avellino, former mayor of New York City, stabbed 53 times. They are placed a few minutes after another by two daughters of the victim, Alexandra and Sofia, each pointing a finger at the other sister. Both are taken into custody and in something that looks like lottery system lawyers are signed up to them. Eddie Flynn, who never takes on a client he believes is guilty, will represent Sofia – the more troubled and with history of mental health problems. Alexandra is being represented by Kate Brooks in her first case after suddenly leaving Levy, Bernard and Groff. Alexandra is the most confident, successful one. But Kate, just like Eddie, is still a laywer with a conscience, and she’s convinced that her client is not guilty. With a DA desperate to sentence at least one of the sisters, and a biased judge working on this case, both Eddie and Kate have to work for their clients under a great pressure. One of them is guilty, that’s sure, but which one? Who is the serial killer, getting rid of people who could jeopardise their plans? Who is telling the truth?

I have to tell you in secret, I haven’t read the previous books in this series. However, don’t worry, you can read it as a stand – alone, the synopsis to this book is brilliant and well, yes, I think I’ve missed on the reading experience and I’m quickly going to catch up with the previous stories but still, don’t let it bother you if you, like me, haven’t read the other books.

You really get a feeling that the author knows what he writes about and the courtroom has no secrets from him and he truly delivered one of the most gripping and addictive court room drama, a story that feels real and authentic – you feel as if you’re a witness yourself, getting the insight of the courtroom, the cross – examinations feel like a tennis game with your head going right and left. It is fast – paced, tense, full of twists and all the gory details, very well written, the dialogues are snappy and realistic and there is not a single moment that feels flat.

About the final reveal, hmmm, well, you know, it was a fifty/fifty split, right, and I think no matter which sister it was I’d be equally happy with the end. But nevertheless, it was fifty/fifty split until the very end! I can’t say that I was more drawn to one of the sisters because I had a feeling that I don’t know them completely, and now I’m not sure if it was the author’s intention or simply he didn’t deliver completely. Sure, one of the sisters was a complete monster but it was also somehow fascinating, don’t you think? Her character was so unrpedictable, so juicy and simply fascinating. The story is told by Eddie, Kate and „she“, one of the sisters and I must admit it was a very clever move, as really, till the very end I didn’t know which sister truly did it. And no matter what, I kept changing my mind about the sisters with the twists and new information coming thick and fast. There is also a handful of brilliant and strong supporting characters that keep the things even more interesting and addictive.

I absolutely loved the way the author has written this book and the fact that the tension was there, yes, of course, but it didn’t haunt you on each and every page. I think the author was quite cool about the outcome, it was not overdone, it was not sitting all the time on my mind, and while I was wondering, sure, who didn’t, I was also incredibly involved in all the other subplots running through the pages. I was all the time wondering, not knowing what to expect, and this is always the best feeling when I’m reading the book. It’s really one of the best, quickest and refreshing books I have read in a long time, with a great build – up, never losing the pace. Highly recommended!

 

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