Although I did enjoy the plot and the story in general, I wasn't a huge fan of the characters and I didn't enjoy the writing style so this was a DNF for me.

Go with the undertow, as you find yourself pulled in by this absorbing read. Sound debut, if not quite the heart-pounder you expect.

A fast paced psychological thriller full of intrigue and edge of your seat moments

Thank you netgalley for a copy for an honest review

Since the days of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, British writers have been known for fast-paced, well-plotted thrillers and mysteries. Read my complete review by clicking on the link below.

Fast-paced and engaging, this thriller grabbed me by the throat. I was taken in from the beginning which is how I can tell when a book is "gonna be good". It immersed me in its articulation and made me feel like I was actually inside the world that the author Elizabeth Heathcote created. I couldn't wait to keep reading, and I LOVE those books: the ones that make you think of them while you're not reading. This is one such book. It was so easy to read, I probably read it in record time.

I was very excited to read this. It sounded right up my street. It's sort of Rebecca-like. The story follows Carmen who is married to successful lawyer, Tom. Carmen is Tom's second wife, after Laura. But it's not Laura who intrigues Carmen: it's Zena. Tom had an affair with Zena, who tragically died in an accident many years ago. That's what Carmen believes, too. Until one day she hears rumours that Zena's death wasn't an accident...and Tom was involved...
This fun, but at times predictable and a bit clichéd. The characters did feel a bit caricaturist. Nevertheless a fun read.

I enjoyed Undertow - it had a beautiful flow about it, an intriguing mystery element and was a very good psychological thriller.

To be fair I did work out the ultimate solution quite early on but I do that quite a lot, what made me really enjoy this one was the relationship between Carmen and Tom - how the history informed the present - making Carmen suspicious of Tom and his motives for everything. That and the family dynamic - the themes of fractured and reformed family and the ever shifting changes in those relationships was a strong theme throughout Undertow and was done really well. Especially with the bond that Carmen forms, in very different ways, with each of Toms children.

It was a page turner, wonderfully addictive - for me it was waiting to see where all the characters ended up - I was rooting for Carmen to get her happy ever after, I did not care for the dead girl, Zena, at all even when the author fleshed her out and gave her softer edges - I also liked how the little twists along the way were subtle and clever. My favourite character was the more peripheral Kieran, Undertow is a character driven story all the way.

Overall great stuff. Bring on more from Elizabeth Heathcote.

I really enjoyed the tension that is created from almost the beginning of this book. It never over-reaches but just gets ratcheted up incrementally. A well plotted well written book. The reason I couldn't give the final star is that there were a couple of parts that I felt were slightly unrealistic or improbable.

A great tale of lies and half truths. Carmen is married to Tom who isn't very good at keeping his temper. Zena is the beauty who was the cause of Tom's first marriage breakdown, who dies mysteriously. Carmen wants to know what really happened to her that day. A really enjoyable read, even if Carmen grates a bit with her constant ferreting - this woman doesn't know when to leave well alone! I knew I would like it from the very first page, it kept me gripped and interested to see what would happen and certainly wasn't disappointed. Loved the book cover and style of writing and would happily read other novels by this author.