Community Reviews
The book starts with a garden party thrown for new residents Rachel and Owen when they move into Pond Close.
Rachel attends but Owen stays locked in his study, writing his new book, he needs it to be a bestseller after his last book flunked.
Rachel meets everyone in the close but feels that there are things being hidden from her. People act strangely when she asks questions. It was quite awkward for Rachel.
We learn more about Rachel and Owen and the neighbours throughout the book and as the story progresses it just gets better and better; the plot twists had my jaw hitting the floor.
Wendy Clarke’s style of writing drew me in from the start and kept me captivated until the very end. This was a fantastic domestic thriller.
I would definitely recommend it
Rachel attends but Owen stays locked in his study, writing his new book, he needs it to be a bestseller after his last book flunked.
Rachel meets everyone in the close but feels that there are things being hidden from her. People act strangely when she asks questions. It was quite awkward for Rachel.
We learn more about Rachel and Owen and the neighbours throughout the book and as the story progresses it just gets better and better; the plot twists had my jaw hitting the floor.
Wendy Clarke’s style of writing drew me in from the start and kept me captivated until the very end. This was a fantastic domestic thriller.
I would definitely recommend it
This psychological thriller starts with Rachel and her husband, Owen, relocating into a new neighborhood, where the residents are primarily friendly at face value. Yet, dark secrets reveal themselves behind the village’s mask as the story develops.
The crucial moment occurs when Rachel observes Phillipa verbally abusing and neglecting her young daughter Lexi at the welcome party. Lexi almost fell into a pond, and Phillipa did not give a damn. Rachel is triggered by her trauma of being told that she might never be able to have children. She gets obsessed with rescuing Lexi from her carefree mother.
On the other hand, although she shows her husband that she will put the past behind her, Rachel concludes that Philippa is not worthy of becoming a mother. Her goal is to make friends with Philippa and get close to Lexi, willing “to do anything.” This drives the plot with tension and mystery.
Maternal instinct is a recurring theme in the narrative. She desires to be accepted in the new community, but the child’s safety takes precedence. Her complicated motives make the reader ponder how far she will be between this dangerous mother-and-daughter duo.
This book will catch the reader from the beginning, when masks start falling, and secrets await just around the corner, ready to destroy the town’s polished façade. It will appeal to the readers of character-focused thrillers exploring shades of grey between good and evil under the pressure of primal instincts. I highly recommend this book; it is a fascinating psychological thriller!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
The crucial moment occurs when Rachel observes Phillipa verbally abusing and neglecting her young daughter Lexi at the welcome party. Lexi almost fell into a pond, and Phillipa did not give a damn. Rachel is triggered by her trauma of being told that she might never be able to have children. She gets obsessed with rescuing Lexi from her carefree mother.
On the other hand, although she shows her husband that she will put the past behind her, Rachel concludes that Philippa is not worthy of becoming a mother. Her goal is to make friends with Philippa and get close to Lexi, willing “to do anything.” This drives the plot with tension and mystery.
Maternal instinct is a recurring theme in the narrative. She desires to be accepted in the new community, but the child’s safety takes precedence. Her complicated motives make the reader ponder how far she will be between this dangerous mother-and-daughter duo.
This book will catch the reader from the beginning, when masks start falling, and secrets await just around the corner, ready to destroy the town’s polished façade. It will appeal to the readers of character-focused thrillers exploring shades of grey between good and evil under the pressure of primal instincts. I highly recommend this book; it is a fascinating psychological thriller!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
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