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This is the story of two babies swapped at birth and the ramifications of that event 15 years later. During her career Adele has lived in Italy, Botswana and London. Now she lives happily in Surrey, UK with her husband, son and cat. I bow down to the genius of this story. I loved it. The characters were complex and interesting, the plot entrancing from start to finish. Well observed, original and wonderfully crafted, this is my favourite Adele Parks book to date * Sun * After the death of the stepmother Elizabeth, Caro comes to stay at her home in Derbyshire wanting to start a new life. But soon things start to happen, her visions become real, the noises in the house trigger her paronia. The people of the village are mean and rude, some downright threatening. Till the neighbor Craig comes to her help like a knight in shining armor. Her long lost sister Steph too wants to mend fences.
The ending is decent, not a sappy happy ever after but darker than the entire narrative that came before it.There is an audience for this type of psychological suspense and is currently being enjoyed by many a reader, it just wasn't for me. The inclusion of a sinister story as part of the plot was a nice addition and helped move the story along. Along with the house, comes a number of outbuildings and an attached cottage with a sitting tenant, Craig, with whom she forms more than just a casual friendship. Could the place be haunted or is Caro losing her mind? This story was slow building and atmospheric, a perfect read for Halloween.
She begins the tedious task of cleaning out Elizabeth’s personal belongings. As she’s describing the house, I formed a picture of a large eerie and sinister looking house that has been neglected and rundown...very spooky and Halloweenish! It’s in a remote location...cold and drafty...full of strange noises...and still has the blood-stains from Elizabeth’s death. Caro is curious about the freak accident that lead to Elizabeth’s death—they were told she’d fallen over the banister onto the landing below—but doesn’t question it. But, the author won the Bath Novel award 2017, for this novel, so chances are I might find myself in the minority on this one, and other readers just might love the ending, especially those who just read a thriller occasionally.All of the characters, including the teenagers (Tom has three children in all) are realistically portrayed as they cope with an upheaval that would test anyone’s sanity. Given the unusual situation they behave with the range of responses that seem entirely plausible and not anywhere near as outrageous as a less confident author might have been tempted to take them. The tension is however, palpable. How on earth will the families resolve the issues that the accidental swap has posed?
Fifteen years ago, someone else took Alison’s baby from the hospital. And now Alison is facing the unthinkable. I'd describe the reading experience as tedious and arduous. Meaningless details were emphasized in great length, some of which had no significance at all and didn't carry on the plot. The way that the author creates tension around the house was very effective and I was curious to see how it would all play out. But going through Elizabeth’s belongings unearths memories Caro would rather stay buried. In particular, the story her stepmother would tell her, about two little girls and the terrible thing they do. After the death of her stepmother, Caro moves into the country house to sort through personal belongings and tidy up any loose ends while awaiting probate to be finalised regarding their father's estate. Unbeknownst to Caro, there is one loose end somebody else has been waiting to tidy up for many years.Aspen socialite Nancy Pfister has it all, including close friends and even closer enemies. 2. Murder in Aspen Using the all familiar standard trope, the main female character is a wishy-washy doormat, psychologically and emotionally fragile and who has recently left her abusive ex-boyfriend.
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