14 April 2022

This book was not what I was expecting…. It was so much better. The final twist is unusual and truly exceptional. This book explores the moral question of someone choosing to die and if it is ever okay to stand back and allow someone to make that choice. The paramedics in this story are faced with people who do not want to be saved.

This was my first time reading an Emma Christie book and I found myself completely engrossed very quickly after opening the first page. She draws you into the lives of her characters and leaves you unsure of who to trust. Your head spins with confusion as you flick the pages as the various characters share their thoughts. You are left forming judgements that eventually get blown away completely, proving your every instinct incorrect. I do not know when last an author delivered such a hugely surprising twist at the end of a story. This one packs a punch I loved it.

Stef Campbell is missing. Yet Andy Campbell claims she has gone to a remote art retreat to paint in peace. Betty Stevenson, who is Step and Andy’s cleaner is suspicious after she finds Stef’s phone still at home. Something does not fit. When the police find Stef’s photo ID in a suspected killer’s flat, they too start asking questions. Even Stef’s sister Alyson is acting a little peculiar. Andy has a secret, one he cannot reveal, especially not to the police. Who will find Stef first and they find her dead or alive?

I raced through this book in two sittings. I could not drag myself away. This was a gripping, completely engrossing read that I simply could not get enough of. I loved the intrigue and the uncertainty of this story. Only when you reach the end of this book do you see the whole picture. I absolutely loved it.

The characters in this book were brilliant. You are never sure who you can trust. Everyone has an opinion and they are all different. Andy appears to love his wife, but something about his behaviour and his lack of concern about her disappearance leaves you wondering. Betty is a little off and is carrying a lot of baggage herself. She had a troubled childhood and she comes across as a little paranoid, she is a little off, and at the same time, she obviously adores Stef. As for Stef, her behaviour does not add up. From the start, you know something is wrong. She is carrying a burden, yet you are never sure what that is. She adores her husband, and still choices to walk away from him, why?

This book had me up late, and then reading all day – a wet Saturday was the perfect excuse for snuggling up with this book. I loved this book. It was original and clever and the author delivered an exceptionally unusual twist at the end. I never suspected what coming, but after finishing the book I realised all the hints were there. This is a brilliant read that I cannot recommend highly enough.

If you are looking for a book that will knock your socks off with a truly unique twist at the end, then this is the one for you. I recommend this book for an all-night read. It’s simply brilliant.