The Blue Pool

The Blue Pool focuses on four friends who met at university 25 years ago; Sarah, Charlotte, Ruth and Kathy. To celebrate the end of their exams they decide to go on a trip to The Blue Pool but Sarah mysteriously disappears. The book starts in the present day and each chapter is narrated by either Charlotte, Ruth and Kathy who by this point are no longer speaking to each other. A man has admitted to knowing what happened to Sarah and reluctantly the three friends have to reunite to find out once and for all what happened. I loved that each chapter was narrated by one of the characters, the way things were revealed was done so well that I didn't even guess the twist coming.

The book goes back and forth between the time at university/the cabin and present day and it was lovely to get a feel for who Sarah was before she went missing and the circumstances leading up to it. I have to admit, I was hooked, and couldn't put the book down until I found out what happened. Each character is well fleshed out, none of them are perfect in both the past and the present and all had secrets to hide! The relationship between the girls was really well written and believable, it made me want to keep reading to find out why after are being so close, they were no longer speaking. Each one of them admits in the present to feeling guilty about something but of course things are not revealed until later on. I really don't want to say more as it would spoil the story but suffice to say it is well worth a read if you are into mysteries, like reading about believable characters and want to read a story with a twist you won't see coming but one that is also believable (unlike a lot of stories out there!). The ending of the book was excellent and satisfying. Already I want to re-read again to see the things I missed. Recommended!

Now I loved Twisted River which was the first book I read from this author so I was intrigued to see what she would follow it up with - and I have to say that The Blue Pool is a truly excellent psychological thriller that did actually keep me guessing until over halfway through and that is unusual enough to mean that I rate it quite highly.

There are some interesting characters in the mix and one of my favourite starters for ten - a past/present vibe that is done brilliantly as we see a group of friends as they were and as they are. Before a tragedy and afterwards having drifted mostly apart. When an old mystery comes back to haunt them, Siobhan Macdonald takes us on a twisty turny journey towards the truth. The truth is really quite chilling...

Novels like this are huge at the moment and that is because, I think, they often speak to the darker side of human nature and we all like to vicariously indulge in a bit of darkness - especially when it is as addictive as The Blue Pool was for me - a real page turner. It is actually gripping rather than just claiming to be. Huge points for that one.

I loved how the author knitted the relationships together, many levels of "people" with all their faults and their realities, at the same time telling a stonking good story. Really can't ask for more than that.

I read Twisted River earlier this year and really enjoyed it so when I saw this I knew I'd have to read it!

4 uni friends decide to go away for the weekend to unwind and relax while they wait for their results. 4 arrive but only 3 leave. What's happened to the 4th?

Filled with secrets and lies, twists and turns, we flash through time, from present day to the early 90's, building the backstory and dropping little hints as to what's going on leading to a shocking conclusion.

I highly recommend this to all readers as it's well written and a quick read as you don't want to put it down!