Take Me In

Marcus and Tessa are on holiday with their three year old son, Josh, when a moment’s inattention on the beach leads to a frightening incident and suddenly, Josh’s life is in danger. Thank goodness a nearby stranger, Dave Jepsom, is there when it matters to save him. Naturally, Tessa and Marcus are overcome with gratitude. But it doesn’t end there.

Because when they get back home, suddenly Dave’s popping up all over the place. He’s a little over-familiar, a little unsettling, generally a little odd. He doesn’t fit into their lives, but he seems determined to be there nevertheless. And at the same time things in Marcus and Tessa’s world are starting to go a bit, then a lot, pear-shaped. Is it just a run of bad luck, or is Dave Jepsom - the life-saver - really a danger to their family?

Take Me In is very well written and builds a nicely sinister sense of uncertainty and foreboding. There’s doubt throughout as to how much of the threat is external and how much is created by Marcus and Tessa’s own guilts, insecurities and the clearly pre-existing deep cracks in their marriage. As things unravel the story builds to a dangerous climax; however, I was left a little disappointed by the ending, and the identity of the threat came as no great surprise.

Overall, like Sabine Durrant’s other novels this was a very enjoyable read which I would recommend, even if, for me at least, the ending was a little unsatisfying.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

This is my third book by Sabine Durrant and she is fast becoming one of my favourite psychological thriller writers.  Take Me In is a seriously creepy story which I devoured within a day.  

The blurb above explains what the book is about, but what is doesn't convey is how tense and gripping the story is.  Told through alternating chapters Tessa and Marcus weave a wonderful story full of lies, deceit and secrets that once uncovered threaten to blow their marriage and lives apart.  I felt like a rubber necker watching a car crash unfold during this book as you could see this young family about to self-destruct through guilt.

There are so many elements to this story, Tessa's background, secrets and guilt, Marcus' insecurities and work concerns, the creepy Dave Jepsom whose appearance in their lives is menacing and worrying.

If you enjoy fast-paced, knicker-gripping, nail-biting, tense stories that leave you breathless and gasping - then I would definitely recommend Take Me In.

Sometimes all it takes is one incident,one unexpected event that starts a domino effect and suddenly your world is collapsing around you faster than a tower of playing cards.

A hot beach. A young family on holiday. A fatal moment of inattention...

And now Dave Jepsom is in their lives.

Dave Jepsom, with his muscles, his pale eyes, his expressionless face.

He saved their child. How can they ever repay him? Especially as what he seems to want in return is everything.

He's in the streets they walk down. He's at the office where they work. He's at their front door, leaning on the bell...

If only they could go back. Back to when the lies were still hidden. Before the holiday, before the beach, before the moment that changed everything.

Before Dave.

But it's never how it starts that matters. It's always how it ends.

The chapter headings of this gripping thriller alternate between him and her.I was puzzled why the chapters weren't titled Marcus and Tessa but it all makes sense when you get to the final intense chapters.This is a fascinating character study of a couple who are so selfish,self centred and have such a high sense of their own importance that when their lives start to fall apart it was hard to feel any sympathy for either of them.I felt a lot of sympathy for poor little Josh and also for another character but I can't go into too much detail without giving away spoilers.The secondary characters in this story where a mixed bag of well developed,realistic but mainly unlikable,untrustworthy personalities.

It's a fast paced,riveting,well written tale of secrets,lies,social judgements,mistakes and misconceptions that had me hooked in from the first page.The tension builds as the story unfolds,you know that a confrontation is going to occur and when it does it is shocking and intense.The final chapters are ingeniously written,you really have to concentrate and follow the words carefully and the ending is definitely a OMG,WTF moment.This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely won't be my last.