This book opens with bags of intrigue; the first chapter is chilling with Tess effectively exhuming the remains of a baby. What has she done?

The story is quite sedate in nature; a slow burner but it has a few surprises along the way. The story is predominantly played out through Tess’ therapy sessions with Evelyn.

Tess is a messed up young woman from an equally messed up family. Her mother bullies her and her older brother sees that as the done thing and to get matriarchal approval, makes #poorpoorTess’ life hell – a very dysfunctional family to say the least!

I really like Evelyn and her co-conspirator Ann; they’re both looking out for Tess, willing to fight her corner to ensure she gets the best care after whatever has happened to her. Between them they don’t know exactly what’s happened but they know Tess is vulnerable and needs someone to speak up for her.

The author definitely has a way with words. I dont think I’ve ever read the terms “phantasmagorical” and “neurological maelstroms” – I actually had to look up what “phantasmagorical” meant! And in case you’re wondering, dictionary definition is “having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination”.

This book may be a little sedate but it is very dark in places with plenty of intrigue to keep the attention.

Many thanks to Troubadour Publishing, Matador and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of Becoming Tess.

Tess became mute and mostly unresponsive when her baby died. Tess is sent to a secure unit and while there she slowly she confesses to another death she was involved in - her brother Stephan. Tess’s therapist was Evelyn and with her help Tess starts to make sense of some of her childhood. Counseling is a secret and secretive profession. Irene Dawson wrote Tess to tell her brother Stephan is dead. Police want to question Tess as blood and fingerprints put Tess at the scene. What was in Tess’s mind if she remained silent no one could reach her. Silence and invisibility Tess had learned at home. Tess can't remember how her daughter Rachel had died. Tess buries Rachel’s body in the cellar. Months before, during , and after the trial Tess didn’t speak until after she meet her therapist Evelyn. Getting her story out is a race of time as Peter- director of the progressive penal institute has taken a stand against Tess. Tess must stay on the unit until Tess is free of her secret.
I couldn’t really get into this story for some reason just didn’t hold my interest. Maybe too slow paced . i tried two different times and didn’t so I gave up. I am sure someone else will love it . this book just wasn’t for me.