I have just finished this book and was totally compelled to find out what had actually happened.A few things were slightly disappointing as the clarity was not there for me of why Lou died,it was brushed over quickly in the end.,but overall I would recommend this book.The mother,Alice seemed incredibly together for someone whose son had just died and I found that a bit unbelievable really.Also the sister and mum were not really developed as characters which I think would have added to the realism. The relationship between Indigo and Alice was interesting to see develop. Kane and Benny were not developed enough for me.

This is a family drama - a story of 2 women and their teenage sons
Alice and her sons Benny and Lou.
Indigo and her son Kane
Kane is accused of killing Lou.
Alice sets out to find out why and how her son died.
Indigo wants to prove her son Kane is innocent and receives help from her new friend.
I found it a very moving and well written story which kept the reader engaged.until the end.
I read Emily Koch’s debut novel which I enjoyed greatly and look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
4 stars.
Neither of the women know the truth about their sons.
This is a moving story about mother’s and their sons. It is told from their points of view.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in a day! Alice's son has died and the police have charged another young man with his murder. Indigo's son has been charged and has confessed to the murder. She is desperate to clear his name. Alice befriends Indigo without revealing her true identity. What follows is a great page turning story which will keep you intrigued right to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Easy 5 stars from me! This is so good, it starts very dramatically and unfolds very naturally and organically, making the reader go through a whole range of emotions until reaching a really excellent conclusion. This is the story of two mothers and three sons. Alice Hyde is the mother of Benoit, known as Benny and Lou(is) Durand and Indigo Owen, is the mother of Kane. On 17th August their lives collide and shatter when Lou dies and Kane is arrested two days later. What follows is a very moving and powerful story of mothers love as the two women in their different but eventually joint ways try to elicit the truth of what happened to Lou. The story is principally told from the point of view of both women but the story of the night in question is told from the perspectives of the young men who were there.

The portrayal of the characters is beautifully observed and described. The teenage boys with their angst, bravado, insecurities and aggression are easy to picture and Indigo is easy to like as she is open and has a loving relationship with Kane. Alice seems so self contained and unemotional that she could easily be mistaken for a robot but you end up really admiring her and most definitely warming to her. I love the dynamic between the two mothers as they did their best for their sons and certainly going the extra mile for them when the police fail to do so.

There are some very tense scenes that are so powerful you almost hold your breath. There’s grief, guilt, regret, compassion but ultimately healing as justice is achieved. Some revelations are jaw droppers and I like the danger that emanates from time to time.

Overall, this is a slow burner, psychological drama of high quality, there is tension but also powerful emotion. Several scenes really tug at your heart, especially as a parent you are able to empathise with how the characters feel and I confess to the odd tear in my eye. I think Emily Koch is a terrific writer and delivers an excellent well written, thoughtful and thought provoking read. Highly recommended.

This didn't really work for me. The explanation of what happened and why Kane took the blame was not really believable. Neither was the reaction of the two mothers, paricularly Alice, who behaved very oddly. Her father, who was given a very small role in the story, was the nicest character. It is one of those books you skim read to find out what the ending is without really being interested in the plot or characters.

This was a really interesting story with a gripping plot. Interesting to see how the two characters and their stories intertwined.

Keep Him Close was a very engaging read. Originally it comes off as a psychological thriller but morphs into a family drama. I was taken in from the first page, and enjoyed the way the story flipped between characters, and how you see the characters from their own point of view, as well as how others see them. The conclusion was a little bit of a let down - probably because there was a lot of build up and it didn’t quite go exactly how you would have thought. That being said, it was a quick and enjoyable read.

I guess this is presented as a psychological thriller but it's far more in the way of family drama, two families, one tragedy...but just whose fault is it?

Emily Koch presents her characters pitch perfectly, involving the reader immediately into their lives, just at the point that horrible things happen. This is all about the relationships - mother and son, brothers and friends, all entangled up in guilt and grief.

As the truth emerges over the course of the story, it is emotionally resonant and often thought provoking. I read it in one sitting and recommend it.

I was captivated by this book from beginning to end
I really liked the concept of the two mother's looking for the truth about their sons
and thought this intertwined the character's together convincingly.

Good read will look for more by this author.

Thank you netgalley, Emily Koch and Random House UK for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I couldn't get into this book either and gave up fairly quickly.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I didn’t get the ending and it was a bit of a slog. You can pass