With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
As a debut author, this is a stunning, creepy psychological thriller to begin your writing career with. I found myself holding my breath when I was near to the end of the book. I spent most of the day reading this book, the writing was excellent and I was absolutely spellbound. I look forward to reading more books by Ronnie Turner in the future.
Highly recommended.

Wow. This was an absolutely fantastic debut by Ronnie Turner.
If you love reading suspense novels about obsessive love, manipulation and murder, this read is definitely for you.
I was certainly amazed by the character development of all three protagonists, which was done exquisitely, and it all really gets interesting as we get acquainted with each of these characters’ point of views.

This is a psychological thriller that portrays the dark and disturbing elements so cleverly. It will leave you turning the pages quickly, right until a massive twist that you will not see coming.

I urge you to pick a copy of this novel, it’ll give you chills and keep you guessing until the very end!

So happy to be given a whole budget to replenish our senior shelves in the school library. The books in there are far from appealing at the moment and I have been delighted to find books here that will intrigue, captivate and engross my senior students.

This is a fantastic read with characters they will be able to connect with, a pacy narrative and an ending that will provide plenty to talk about.

It's great to read a book that does not feel formulaic and gives some credit to their reader's intelligence too. Young people are very fussy about the books they choose to read and in this time-precious day and age it really has to be something above and beyond the ordinary to get them to put down their devices and get their noses stuck in a book.

I think this is one book that will capture their imagination and keep them turning the pages until the end. This is definitely going onto my 'must-buy' list and I really look forward to seeing what the young people themselves think of this twisty, clever and engaging novel.

OMFG!
Wow!
Wow!
Wowsers!!!!!
Ronnie Turner you are one twisted lady!
What a belting debut this is, quite shocking that it is a debut to be honest.
Lies Between Us starts with a bang and we're thrown in at the deep end and spend the rest of the book treading water as we attempt to make sense of what's going on.
Dragged straight into the story, it was practically impossible to put this one down and I read in no time at all.
Turner has a real talent for storytelling, she has a way with words that captivates, and the ability to make each word count, which isn't easy!
I was completely enthralled by the story of John, Maisie, and Miller – what a bloody trio of characters! They were all believable and I was absorbed in their stories from the off. As we already know, John's daughter goes missing and there are some utterly heartbreaking scenes as the search for her continues.
I adored that Turner chose to tell this in third person and to split the chapters between the three main characters, it gave a depth to the plot that allowed me to completely become enthralled by all that was going on and to immerse myself into the life of each of them.
Told in now and then chapters which build up to what's happening now, Turner seamlessly switches from past to present and allows us an insight into the events that have led to today's goings on.
Lies Between Us is a wonderfully wicked debut and an absolute must-read for all crime fiction fans! Go and get your copy NOW!!!

Firstly, I have to say that I don't know how to feel about this book.
The plot is fantastic, slowly uncovering the disparate lives of three characters, only for you to find out that they're all interlinked.
I can even get behind the John/Jules Tim/Heidi conundrum - maybe they're in witness protection after his attack?
But I cannot get past the fact that a third of the chapters of the book are from 'Miller's' perspective... but then Miller becomes a present day character... and the Miller chapters aren't actually written by Miller? Miller is Chubs?
I honestly finished this book and just stared at it in confusion for a few minutes, because it's a (seemingly) entirely nonsensical choice. It isn't leading you to believe one character did it and then revealing it to be someone else, it's blatantly telling you the wrong name? If surprising people was the goal, labelling the chapters 'Him' or 'Watson' or something would have kept it a secret.
I'm just so thrown.

I have been excited about this book ever since I first heard Ronnie share her news that it was happening. It sounded like a fantastic book that I would absolutely love – and I was right! This is Ronnie Turner‘s debut book and it was one hell of a way to step into the world of being an author! The book hooked me from the very beginning and kept me intrigued until the very end. Which of course, is always what we want with the books we read. She has done an incredible job of weaving the story so that the reader is left curious but lost – trying hard to put the pieces together but ultimately failing. I love when that happens. I knew there was a twist but it just was not what I thought it would be!

Ronnie Turner has created a cast of characters that you got quickly attached to. I especially liked John and Maisie. John was such a strong but vulnerable character and I just wanted to make everything okay for him. He’s holding on to the last little bit of hope he has in the hope that it will be enough to bring his daughter back to him. There are so many moments in the book when I just wanted to make everything okay for him while my heart broke in little pieces. Maisie, on the other hand, was a character that had so much strength inside her. She was so caring and loving, while hiding a secret past. I loved reading about her journey and felt absolutely heart-broken when we finally find out what happened to her. Both of the characters grow so much throughout the book.

But I cannot finish this review without also telling you that it is also incredibly creepy in parts. The way that the antagonist describes his life and the way he feels throughout really made me shudder. He is telling Blue-Eyes about his past, explaining what led him to the moment it happened and I honestly felt disgusted and disturbed reading those parts of the book. Ronnie Turner has created a very real and ultimately soul destroying character that you don’t want to listen to but at the same time are too fascinated to turn away. She definitely makes you realise you have an inner morbid curiosity inside you!

All in all, I very much enjoyed reading this book. I liked that I could not work out what was happening until the very end. I enjoyed the side character’s story and trying to work out how everything linked together. I did have a few issues with the book but ultimately they did not take away from my ultimate enjoyment of the book so they’re not worth mentioning – plus it would be a big spoiler if I did! So if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers and want to read one that will keep your teeth on edge and make you feel curious for some of the most horrid reasons – I would highly recommend this book. But be warned, it’s not for the light-hearted!

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I normally enjoy this type of book but it was just too confusing to even follow.

First of all, let me say congratulations to Ronnie Turner! This is such a gripping and brilliant novel. I know many reviewers already said it, but LIES BETWEEN US is so well-written and carefully-plotted that I was surprised that it is a debut novel.

Three protagonists and three different timelines which, at the beginning, I had a bit of trouble following, but then I quickly caught up and I found myself completely immersed in their stories. There is Maisie Green. She is a loving ICU nurse who cares deeply for her patients. She is especially fond of Tim and his family. Tim is in a coma and Maisie starts forming a friendship with his pregnant wife, Heidi, who visits him every day. I think that Maisie is the most relatable and likable character in the story. She is kind, caring, but she is also hiding something.

Then there is John Graham. He is an author, he is happily married, he has a young daughter and another child on the way. It seems that his life is perfect until someone takes his daughter and sends him pictures of the tortures she is suffering. John’s story was the hardest to read. The pain of a father who can’t protect his own daughter is described with heartbreaking details and I really felt for him.

Last but not least, there is Miller. His story is narrated over a span of years, from when he was a child to his teenage years. This character crept me out and intrigued me at the same time. His story is told in first person so the reader is right inside his mind and I was fascinated by the way it worked. It’s a very complex character, obsessed with what he can’t have, but ready to do absolutely everything to have it.

Page after page, these three character don’t seem to have any link, any connection. Their stories seem to be completely unrelated. You never know what to expect and when everything is revealed I was completely taken by surprise. Twisty, compelling, and disturbing, LIES BETWEEN US is a story of obsession, murder, and kidnapping, and it kept me guessing until the end.

Thank you HQ Digital for providing me with a copy of this thrilling and remarkable novel.

Lies Between Us is a well plotted, tense story that is hard to believe is a debut novel.

The story is told from three separate points of view which helps to add to the tension and intrigue in the story. All the characters are connected in some way but how they are connected isn’t revealed until the end after some clever twists.

I initially felt sympathy towards all of the characters in the book, but as the story progresses and I learnt more about them my opinions changed. Its obvious from the start that Miller is an unusual child but I couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for him and his feelings that he wasn’t included in family life properly. I also felt sympathy towards John as his grief and sadness at losing his daughter almost radiated from the page which was heartbreaking to read about.

The tension in the book is gradually increased as the story progresses and the characters true selves are revealed. I found the book quite hard to put down at times as there was always something happening. Just when I thought I’d figured out what had happened and what the characters connection was, something would happen that sent the story in a completely different direction. I’m normally able to work out the ending of abook but this one took me by surprise which I thought was wonderfully done by the author.

As mentioned above this is the debut novel by Ronnie Turner and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. If you like character driven, tension filled psychological thrillers then you’ll love this book.

Huge thanks to HQ stories for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Wasn't what I expected or what I usually read. I was surprised. I thought it would d b confusing but was good to follow. Fully recommend

Lies Between Us is Ronnie Turner’s debut and oh my, what a debut it is! Published by HQ Digital at the start of October, Lies Between Us is available to purchase in eBook and audio formats NOW!

Full disclaimer here, Ronnie Turner is not only a fabulous debut author she’s also a fabulous book blogger who I consider to be a friend via my book blogging circles. That, however, has not influenced this review at all. I may have been a little more excited to read the book, what with knowing the author, but that’s where it ends. And I WAS excited, really really excited.

What a book! What an emotive, chilling read. I became totally engrossed in it. Many of you will know that I am mummy to two small people. My daughter is around the age of Bonnie in Lies Between Us which makes what happened to her all the more horrifying for me. Turner’s writing made me want to hold my children tighter at night to keep them safe from the world. It made me want to relish every single moment I spend with them and it made me realise how utterly grateful I am that they are safe. The despair emanating from the pages as the reader experiences John’s hopelessness and fear for missing daughter, Bonnie, was palpable. I really couldn’t believe I was reading a debut!

I like a darker feel to my novels, it’s true. I’m often left disappointed though as what I want from a novel and what others want is quite different. I want authors to push it that extra notch and make their characters so despicable they make my flesh crawl (I may be in the minority on this one though). Turner has created a character that surpassed all expectations. Miller. Miller made my skin crawl and called out to my black heart. He is so unlikable that I actually loved him! By far the stand out character of the book for me and one that will stay in my mind for a long time to come. The story is told from three separate points of view; John, Maisie – an ICU nurse and Miller. The Miller chapters were my favourite and I looked forward to reading them more than the other characters. He made me feel so uncomfortable, and I loved it!

I’m sorry to say there is a ‘but’ though. I was really enjoying this book until I got to the end of the story. When I reached the end all I felt was confusion. I had my suspicions throughout but even with this in mind, the ending felt odd. I would have like a little more explanation. Maybe I missed something obvious (it’s very possible). The following morning after finishing the book I was still chewing the ending over, trying to put the pieces in the right order and come up with something that worked for me. But I’ve failed. I can’t get my 40-year-old brain to fathom this one out, sorry Ronnie.

Would I recommend this book? I would. As debuts go it’s really rather outstanding. I absolutely loved 95% of this book (it’s just the ending which has thrown it a little for me). It’s full of raw emotion and so deliciously chilling. If you love to hate characters then Miller is the boy for you! Brilliantly creepy, I would pick up another book by Ronnie Turner without a second thought!

Four out of five stars.

With a setting that is placed over three distinct timelines, the reader is faced with secrets, mistrust, lies, guilt, loss, fear, jealousy, anger/resentment, innocence and a search for the truth.
Great balls of fire! There is certainly a lot going on in this dark & depraved debut novel! A complex storyline, multiple timelines, and various POV’s to steer the reader on a crazy, twisted but oh-so-thrilling ride! Hats off to the author for delving deep into the psyche of her characters and delivering a plot that will have you thinking “WTAF just happened” at more than one point in this book. Full of intensity and page-turning suspense, you’ll need to be working on all cylinders to keep up with this #badboy!
I do love atypical characters and this book handed them to me tenfold! What the heck do I believe? Who the hell is telling the truth? and WTAF is going on? These are just a few of the things that screamed from my skull as I came across characters in this novel.
1984 and Miller – Ronnie, I worry about you … what a messed up mofo this guy was. Or was he? I think I especially enjoyed the chapters that Miller featured in. I never knew what quite to believe with this guy and whether or not we were really seeing things as they were.
2015 and John – married to Jules and life has just fallen apart after their child, Bonnie has been kidnapped. Was it revenge? Is his daughter alive? I was quite drawn to this character – he was well developed and probably (other than Miller) the one I was most keen to come upon.
2015 and Maisie – a nurse with her own secrets. I wasn’t completely convinced about her importance in the story until everything came together at the end. I enjoyed the snippets the reader was given, but often scratched my head and probably was a little frustrated at my lack of detective skills in piecing the puzzle together! Well played, Ronnie!
I really want to say so much more, but fear I will let a little piece slip to ruin it for others – so this gob is staying shut for now. Would I recommend this read – you bet your sweet ass I would! A fantastically chilling, menacing and utterly disturbing debut from an author I now have my eyes keenly focused on! Grab your copy today, #bookjunkies!

*This review was as part of a blog tour*

I just want to start off by saying how incredibly honoured I feel to be able to take part in this tour! I’ve always loved Ronnie’s #BookSnaps and brilliant reviews and I think that she’s a wonderful blogger, but now it turns out that she’s a fantastic author too!!
I was gripped from the opening of Lies Between Us and I found it to be very impactful with vivid imagery and dark themes which drew me right in. Yet woven into this darkness and sense of foreboding which ran throughout the book was plenty of emotion which was written so expertly and really pulled at the heartstrings.
Turner manages to get right to the core of her characters and really explore the complexity of human emotions and for me this was fascinating to read.
I’m going to try and avoid talking about the plot as I really don’t want to spoil it and I think that it would be very easy for me to inadvertently give something away, so all I will say, is that it’s brilliant and multi-layered, a little complex at times but if you pay attention you’ll definitely be rewarded.
I must admit that I did guess a big part of the storyline but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to the end and trying to work out all of the little details in between and actually I think it made reading more exciting for me and added an extra layer of suspense.
As I mentioned earlier, it’s a very dark and sinister read, and one which you may need to prepare yourself for in some scenes, but honestly it’s completely impossible to look away from even during the darkest parts and it’ll have you reading on and on right until the very end.
Overall, I’m giving Lies Between Us 4 out of 5. It’s gripping, sinister and shocking. I think we’ll be seeing plenty more from Ronnie Turner.

Illusive, dark, and disturbing!

Lies Between Us is a creepy, well-crafted thriller that takes you into the lives of a cunning, evil kidnapper, an attentive, caring ICU nurse, and a desperate, distraught father of a missing child and has you questioning what they could possibly have in common.

The prose is intricate and menacing. The characters are distressed, raw, compassionate, and in some cases depraved. And the plot told from multiple perspectives and alternating between timelines quickly unravels as it spins you through a highly complex story filled with well-timed surprises, unforeseen twists, mind games, manipulation, obsession, and pure wickedness.

Overall, Lies Between Us is one of those stories that leaves you reeling and flipping back to discover what you missed. It's gripping, gritty, and spine-chillingly eerie, and clearly showcases that Ronnie Turner is not only a wonderful member of the blogging community but a fantastic writer with an incredibly devious mind.

The phrase “thought-provoking” couldn’t be a more perfect match for the Lies Between Us. I had eagerly awaited my time with the book and went into it full of hope and excited anticipation.

For a debut author, Ronnie didn’t make it easy for herself with a lot of flip-flopping over various years and having three different voices telling us the story. I found at times I became very confused and as I was reading via kindle it was frustrating for me to flip back to look at dates and names.

If I am completely honest this book was a bit like marmite to me. Sometimes I am really in the mood for it and sometimes it’s just a no-no. With the book, there was a lot I liked and enjoyed but then there were key things that I found that had they been taken out it would have made for a much better read. The confusing elements were unnecessary. I really felt Maise’s voice really wasn’t needed.

I loved the Miller character, he has such a creepy presence and is so well written. His narrative almost had it’s own beat in my head as I read his story.

With various testing topics throughout the storyline, it made for a creepy and at times upsetting read. But the takeaway of the book for me was that it had been a challenging and thought-provoking read with characters that I will never forget.

Overall a good debut by Ronnie Turner, this dark psychological thriller will challenge any reader. Stay with it and you won’t be disappointed.

Lies Between Us will have you closing your curtains and sleeping with the light on!

What a dark and deceptive debut this was, I’m so impressed this is Turner’s first novel and I have to admit that she tricked me several times over! I like to think I’m a rather astute reader and can usually begin to guess (at least partially) correctly at the big twists but I can honestly say that I did not see this one coming ahead of time, so well done.

This is the sort of book where you have to pay close attention to while reading, it requires close focus. It’s told from three perspectives, Miller, John and Maisie and also via alternating timelines. I honestly had no idea how their stories would merge especially as they were all in different years, but I was very invested in each of their lives for different reasons. John was extremely likable and my heart broke for him as his daughter was missing and he was taunted by her kidnapper. Maisie was also relatable, but I struggled to see how her life would intersect with the others. Finally Miller was not the kind of character one can relate to (hopefully!) but I was still fascinated by him. While all three were very different they had one thing in common and that was that they were all incredibly well developed.

I don’t want to discuss the plot any further as I would be verging on spoiler territory, but I just want to end by saying again that this is such a strong debut. The writing was assured and fluid and had I not already known it was a debut I would’ve never guessed. I think fans of this genre will be pleased with this one, but remember to pay attention and don’t be surprised if you have to reread things towards the end because I absolutely had to!

Lies Between Us in three words: Deft, Complex and Tricky.

There is no doubt that Ronnie Turner can write and has a great vocabulary and an intelligent turn of phrase but this novel wasn't really my cup of tea for two reasons; one that we have all read novels whereby the main protagonists tell their story in parts, anonymously, and we switch from one to another , that I can handle but the style of that went on too long for me, so we were purposely left guessing to the very end. I wanted to switch into their heads sooner I suppose, as I found it difficult to identify with characters I couldn't get a grip on for so long. I don't take anything away from Ronnie's plotting as I know these days to get published something has to be out of the ordinary, and this was certainly that. It just didn't hold my interest for that reason. Secondly I felt a bit cheated by the end when there is a name change/reveal. It could just be me but don't we like to think we have a fair chance at guessing the perpetrators of these kinds of novels? in this case that was impossible. Again, lots of people have loved this book, but I did feel cheated and I have to be honest. If you like an edgy thriller with a decent plot then you may love it. I would love to see Ronnie try something different as I did enjoy the writing, and will be eager to see what she does next. Plus she is a book blogger and takes gorgeous photos so she gets my vote for that alone! sorry I wasn't a bigger fan.

Every parents worse fear becomes a reality for John when his daughter goes missing. “Not another child missing book” I can here you muttering, but wait Lies Between Us the debut novel by Ronnie Turner takes a familiar subject in psychological thrillers and then turns it on its head. What makes it stand out? Firstly the characters, best of luck trying to work out their connection, it’s intricately plotted, and the writing is superb, best of all I loved the way the author keeps the reader guessing throughout. If you are looking for a read that’s taut with tension and rife with suspense then look no further Lies Between Us contains bucketfuls of both.

Told from three POV this book is very much character driven, the BIG question is what connects the three? As a parent my heart went out to John whose daughter has been taken, his emotions and fears were very credible. My favourite character was definitely Miller, oh dearie me what a disturbed and creepy child he turned out to be, the chapters told from his POV add an overwhelming sense of menace to the overall story. Maisie a nurse was a character who puzzled me I knew her POV must have some relevance to the story, but as to the “how” I just couldn’t fathom it out, but once I reached the big reveal and so superbly executed might I add, I realised just how devious the author had been. Lies Between Us does require the reader’s full attention due to the complexity of the plot, there were a couple of times where I did find myself confused, my advice would be to pay particular attention to the chapters time stamps it definitely helps.

There’s nothing more satisfying than reading a psychological thriller that takes me by surprise, and Lies Between Us not only surprised me it left me sat there flabbergasted. I did manage to work out the “who” after numerous false starts, but by the time I did I had nearly reached the end of the novel, so my “detective radar” was definitely scuppered by the author. Ronnie Turner deftly explores obsession and the lengths people go to in the name of “love” it’s deliciously dark and definitely very twisted but I loved every page of this novel. I must admit as I reached the conclusion I was left wondering about a few things, but that’s the beauty of this book as the author lets the reader come to their own conclusion.

I should mention the author has the most twisted mind (I mean that as a compliment) Ronnie Turner teases and taunts the reader at every possible turn. Lies Between Us is my perfect kind of psychology thriller, it’s one that kept me constantly guessing with enough “OMFG” moments to make Lies Between Us a superbly compelling read. A promising debut from Ronnie Turner and I will certainly be reading her next book without a shadow of a doubt.

Full review to be added once published to my blog as part of the blog tour

Lies Between Us is a complex novel, multi layered and full of twists and convincingly drawn characters, so much so that it is hard to believe this is actually a debut novel. Written in a three timeline narrative, past, recent past and present day, the story is told from the points of view of father John, ICU Nurse Maisie and Miller, a young child who takes the reader through his early years. The main elements of the story really belong to Miller and John, their stories contrasting but equally harrowing to read.

John's story is quite emotional, and it is in these scene's that Ronnie Turner's talent and passion for writing clearly shines. She has a beautiful narrative style, her descriptions of the action and emotion really evoking strong feelings in the reader. John is a husband and father and in the early scenes the love for his family shines through. It is only after his young daughter is abducted, that his life takes a turn for the worst and the emotions which were once happy, now turn dark and maudlin. Turner captures the despair in John's heart perfectly and it is hard to read some of the passages without being moved. There is a truly dark side to these narrative sections also as the truth about what may be happening to his daughter is revealed. Not in any gratuitous way, but just skirting over the events enough to paint a clear and disturbing image of what is happening.

Miller's story is much darker and yet in terms of the telling it is chillingly lacking in any real sense of the heart thumping tension that John's chapters reveal. Miller is a truly twisted character and Turner has managed to worm her way into the dark recesses of his mind as his story is told back to the reader in his own voice. Miller is a sociopath, no doubt about it, and the casual and calm way in which he recounts the past is far more disturbing than you can imagine. When you take into account his age, the clinical detachment of his actions and the way in which he so simply manipulates the people around him, it will make your skin crawl.

Now, as I said earlier, this is a complex novel, and for that reason I think there is a good chance the story, the ending in particular, will divide readers. The threads of the story, woven very carefully thus far to deny the reader an early glimpse of the final picture, are drawn together, but for some I think the final reveal may leave them confused and possibly a touch unsatisfied. I had an inkling of what was happening early on in the novel, and the final reveal did confirm my suspicions but not in the way I was expecting. It is very difficult to say why without giving too much away, but I think that perhaps the ending could have been a little clearer. I have seen similar ideas or twists played out in other books, including a big hitter from last year, and audience reviews were heavily polarised as a result. I am still unsure how I feel about it myself but I do think it was potentially a little too confusing.

This brings me to Maisie's chapters. There is a clear link back to the main story of John and Miller, but you will have to wait a long time to see it. Again, I kind of guessed how the stories merged very early on, but certain elements of it added to the confusion of the ending, and Maisie's own personal story seemed a little superfluous, taking the focus away from the main drama. It did serve to emphasise the bond between an ICU nurse and their patients, and the way Maisie watched and commentated on the different moods and actions of family and friends of her patient, Tim, were very well observed by the author. I think I know what certain elements of this part of the story were meant to suggest, but it wasn't necessarily explained by the author and Maisie's own life story, as sad and emotional as it was, seemed to slow the action. It was very well written and I felt the emotional pain of Maisie seep from the page, but I just don't know that it was necessary.

All that in mind, this was a very strong debut from Ronnie Turner and she has amazing talent for creating emotion within her books, chilling the reader and developing both setting and character, with extremely keen observations of human nature, both good and bad. She has a beautiful way with prose, creating both stark and evocative imagery throughout, so much so that I am a little bit concerned about just how dark her mind is. She takes her readers right to the edge, tackling some very hard and occasionally taboo subjects without fear of glorification and does it well. One thing I know is that I am definitely intrigued and excited to see where she takes us next.

Aargh! This book has totally messed with me, head, heart and soul! I read it in a single day and barely took a breath from beginning to end. There, Ronnie Turner, you literally took my breath away with your writing. I cannot believe this is your debut novel, it is astounding.

This is a psychological thriller with a difference, and the difference is the standard of the writing. Really, I am kind of at a loss for words and, for anyone who reads my ramblings with any regularity, you will know this is a rarity. Just hold on a minute while I try and find some that adequately describe this book..

…

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Okay, I’m going to have a go at summing up why this book is such a stand out read. Firstly, the plotting is so clever. I honestly had absolutely no idea how the thing slotted together until probably the final 20% of the book where I felt like I might have an inkling. It is really cleverly done. The story is told through three voices – John, Miller and Maisie. Miller’s voice is speaking from 24 years ago, John’s from the end of 2015 and Maisie’s from six months later. Each voice is individual and distinct and perfectly pitched for the character. The connection between the three time lines is not evident at all, so you have to hunt for clues to work it out and it turns out I was totally rubbish at this. I thought I had it sussed early on, then I totally changed my mind, then I turned out to be completely wrong anyway. The plot and writing were so convoluted, it was like being in one of those Hall of Mirrors at the fun fair – everything is twisted and distorted so much that you can’t work out what goes where and which way is up.

The characterisations are brilliant. Ronnie takes us right inside the minds and hearts of the characters so completely that we can FEEL what it is like to be them at each point. When one of these characters is a very twisted individual, this is quite disturbing and made me a little concerned as to what goes on in the dark recesses of Ronnie’s mind when she is not being utterly delightful on Twitter! People have hidden depths, I tell you. I was blown away by the range and understanding of emotion that she imbues the characters with, and how vividly these are brought to life in the book. I was living this story with them, tense stomach, heart in my mouth, pulse pounding at times. I could not put this book down.

On top of this, and what makes this book stand out for me from the herd, is the beauty of the prose. Really, some of the language and imagery used in the book is like poetry, and really quite unexpected in a book of this genre. It is really obvious that this is an author who loves to read and has absorbed and incorporated the best of the writing she has read over the years into her own work. This book is really accomplished – as an aspiring writer I am in awe and ever-so-slightly jealous of the talent on display here.

This book had me sighing with pleasure at the end, even as I let out the tense breath I had been holding for the previous four hours. What a treat.