Member Review
Review by
Rachel B, Reviewer
I picked this novel from my Netgalley shelf in eager anticipation of a thrilling and complex mystery and I have to say, I was not disappointed.
In Katherine/Katie's story, she narrates a life half lived, having fled her native north for London, escaping a situation which is slowly revealed through Katie, now Katherine's , teen diaries.
Now a married mum of 2, she exists between school runs, living for her children , Lily and Jack , whilst grateful to her husband , Paul, for 'rescuing' her.
A creative writing course, booked on the attempt to recapture her sense of self results in an offer of mentorship from published writer, Sam.
An initial flirtation is abruptly finished on meeting Sam's wife, Viola, both of whom are immensely interested in Katherine's fledgling writing career.
On one hand, she has a husband who is worried that she is over stretching herself and risking her mental health, and on the other, 2 people who seem to believe in her, and see her a writer, her lifelong ambition.
A creeping sense of unease develops as you realise that on one side, Sam and Viola have a vested interest with a hidden agenda, Paul's solicitousness is masking a very pervasive coercive control. It makes a very convincing display of how insidious and natural abusers can appear to be, indeed, to Katherine it seems almost fair that she cleans the house, tales care of the children, even makes his coffee and all meals.
But as a reader, you sense the menacing undertones in little incidents, such Katherine forgetting to turn off her morning alarm, hearing it blaring from upstairs and running to turn it off.
Paul just stands in the bathroom berating her even though he is tending to his needs and it is the way he assumes she exists as a conduit to his needs that makes the anger in you boil.
And when you add in the way that Katie was brought up, her fledgling relationships on top of being abandoned by her father, raising herself with a depressed and lonely mother, you really hope that Sam and Viola have good intentions.
But as they also look to exploit an increasingly fragile woman, you hope that the reserves of determination which got Katie to become Katherine will rise again and help her stand against forces which would happily subsume her.
A gripping character study with twists and turns aplenty, I cannot wait to see what other books Dawn has written !
In Katherine/Katie's story, she narrates a life half lived, having fled her native north for London, escaping a situation which is slowly revealed through Katie, now Katherine's , teen diaries.
Now a married mum of 2, she exists between school runs, living for her children , Lily and Jack , whilst grateful to her husband , Paul, for 'rescuing' her.
A creative writing course, booked on the attempt to recapture her sense of self results in an offer of mentorship from published writer, Sam.
An initial flirtation is abruptly finished on meeting Sam's wife, Viola, both of whom are immensely interested in Katherine's fledgling writing career.
On one hand, she has a husband who is worried that she is over stretching herself and risking her mental health, and on the other, 2 people who seem to believe in her, and see her a writer, her lifelong ambition.
A creeping sense of unease develops as you realise that on one side, Sam and Viola have a vested interest with a hidden agenda, Paul's solicitousness is masking a very pervasive coercive control. It makes a very convincing display of how insidious and natural abusers can appear to be, indeed, to Katherine it seems almost fair that she cleans the house, tales care of the children, even makes his coffee and all meals.
But as a reader, you sense the menacing undertones in little incidents, such Katherine forgetting to turn off her morning alarm, hearing it blaring from upstairs and running to turn it off.
Paul just stands in the bathroom berating her even though he is tending to his needs and it is the way he assumes she exists as a conduit to his needs that makes the anger in you boil.
And when you add in the way that Katie was brought up, her fledgling relationships on top of being abandoned by her father, raising herself with a depressed and lonely mother, you really hope that Sam and Viola have good intentions.
But as they also look to exploit an increasingly fragile woman, you hope that the reserves of determination which got Katie to become Katherine will rise again and help her stand against forces which would happily subsume her.
A gripping character study with twists and turns aplenty, I cannot wait to see what other books Dawn has written !
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